How To Host The Perfect Spanish Dinner Party

Hereâs a tip to save time and money this year: instead of going to Spain, make Spain come to you! Thatâs right. Itâs time to host your very own Spanish dinner party. Youâll need recipes for drinks and a three-course meal, as well as some useful Spanish phrases for total authenticity. Weâve got you covered on all fronts. All you have do is come up with the perfect guest list without offending anyone in the process (good luck with that!). Spain, here we come.
Recipe For The Perfect Spanish Dinner Party
Drink: Tinto De Verano

When you think âSpanish drink,â sangria may be the first thing that comes to mind. But in reality, sangria is mostly served for touristsâ benefit and isnât consumed by locals on a regular basis. A more common alcoholic beverage among Spaniards is tinto de verano (âred wine of summerâ), a refreshing spritzer made with red wine and lemon-lime soda called gaseosa. Hereâs a simple recipe for one glass, so for your Spanish dinner party, just septuple it, or whatever.
Appetizer: Tapas
When youâre in Spain (or pretending that you are), tapas are pretty much unavoidable. And why would you want to avoid these delicious bites, served as small plates so you can consume a wide variety? You wouldnât. Because of the rich and flavorful quality of our upcoming main course, we chose three tapas that are on the simpler side. If youâre feeling adventurous, though, feel free to expand your tapas repertoire â this list is a good starting point for a basic Spanish dinner party.
Tortilla Española (âSpanish Omeletteâ)
One of Spainâs most common traditional dishes, the tortilla española is often served as an appetizer or even as a light dinner. Itâs a solid choice for your dinner party because itâs relatively easy to make, and its only ingredients are potatoes, eggs and onions. Hereâs a recipe you can follow.
Albondigas (âMeatballsâ)
Albondigas are Spanish meatballs simmered in a tomato-wine sauce. They can be made with beef, pork, veal or any combination of the three. This tasty tapa does take a while to cook (a little over an hour) but trust us, itâs worth it! Follow this recipe for meatball perfection at your Spanish dinner party.
Patatas Bravas (âBrave Potatoesâ)

This tapa is ubiquitous in Spanish bars, but can vary from one spot to another. Patatas bravas apparently get their name because they have a spicy kick to them â theyâre âbraveâ or âfierceâ little guys. This recipe includes a garlic olive oil aioli to drizzle over the potatoes and a dusting of hot smoked paprika.
Main Course: Paella

Though it originated in the Valencia region on Spainâs eastern coast, paella has become a popular dish across the country. The base is always rice flavored with saffron, which gives it that distinct yellow/golden color, but from there it can be customized in many different ways.
Spain is known for its fresh and tasty seafood, so many varieties of paella include fish, clams, shrimp and mussels. Others include chicken or rabbit. Still others contain all of the above! A vegetarian-friendly paella is also an option, and it often includes beans, artichokes and eggplant. This scrumptious recipe is a fairly standard version, combining chicken and seafood, but feel free to tailor it to you and your guests by replacing or removing any of the meats.
Dessert: Churros Con Chocolate
In my humble opinion, the best part of any meal is dessert, and this sweet treat is sure to please. Churros are staples of Spanish and Portuguese cuisine. Theyâre fried dough pastries, usually sprinkled with cinnamon or powdered sugar. The person who first came up with the idea to dip them in thick, hot chocolate is unknown, but they should be found and rewarded. Itâs common for people in Madrid and other Spanish cities to eat churros con chocolate for breakfast or a snack, and they often become a go-to food for socializing. Hereâs a good recipe to work from.
Key Spanish Phrases For Your Spanish Dinner Party
Iâm hungry â Tengo hambre
Iâm full â Estoy lleno/a
Please â Por favor
Thank you â Gracias
Youâre welcome â De nada
Enjoy your meal â Buen provecho
Itâs delicious! â ÂĄEs delicioso/a!