Elegant Tapas For All:  Make-Ahead Meals For Summer Entertaining

Elegant Tapas For All: Make-Ahead Meals For Summer Entertaining


7 minute read

How to feed a crowd and make everyone happy with your meals and tapas at your next big shindig?

First off, let's start with the host. One of the biggest challenges any good host faces (that's you!) is how to have fun with your guests while also ensuring everything is prepared so you don't feel like a bus boy (or girl) all day long. 

Does that sound about right? Double-duty doesn't even begin to cover it! You're the bartender, the DJ, the dishwasher, the server, the entertainer, the cook, and the overseer. You may even question why you signed up for this in the first place!

Alas, planning a summer get-together at your home is fun, and it's long overdue. You've been looking forward to it all winter long, especially these past several months as social gatherings have largely been restricted. 

The biggest task to tackle is, as always, what to eat. Food is usually the center of any social gathering, so it should be delicious, attractive, appeal to a variety of preferences, and if you really want to go out on a limb, meet different dietary requirements. 

Outdoor dinner party menu ideas are abundant. The problem is that there are so many tapas to choose from! The same goes for classic summer cocktails too.

Rather than cooking a variety of totally different dishes, we recommend using a few basic ingredients and assembling them in different ways. So all you'll have to do is chop, marinate, grill, and assemble. 

Grab a notebook and pen and jot down a list of ingredients for your next shopping trip as you take five minutes to read this guide. We're taking the work out of your summer entertaining preparation, and infusing it with fun. And as you plan out your summer soiree, why not sip a homemade cocktail or two? 

Summer Cheeseboard

This is a central component of any summer gathering. Not having a cheeseboard at a summer party is like not salting the rim of your margarita glass. If you're going to throw a party or mix up a cocktail, do it right! 

Ensure you place the cheese tray in as cool and shady a spot as possible to prevent cheese sweat from forming. An ingenious way to counteract this is to assemble the cheese on a chilled tray. Place the tray in your freezer for an hour to create a cold base. This will keep the cheese fresher longer. 

So, what kinds of cheeses should you go for? Keep in mind that super soft cheese like cream cheese and goat cheese are apt to spoil more quickly, so ration those ones out in small amounts and replenish as necessary. Cranberry-bedecked goat cheese and herb and garlic cream cheese are a couple popular choices.

Other delicious options include: cheddar, brie, camembert, gouda, parmesan, and if you dare––gorgonzola or other types of blue cheeses. If you're serving a cheese wheel, rather than sections or slices, remember to include one small spreader for each cheese to avoid cross-contamination, which is a big deal for some people! 

And although it's called a cheeseboard, you're allowed to skate the boundaries and add some flair to it. Chutneys, fruit compotes, jams, nuts, tapas and dried fruits pair well with cheeses and dress up an otherwise monochromatic board quite nicely.

Mezze Platter

Tapas Mezze Platter

A "meze" is a light snack, sort of like Spanish tapas. That hummus and pita plate you put out as an appetizer? That's a meze. So are the olives, pickled onions, dips, grilled mushrooms, and roasted tomatoes. Are you drooling yet? You can add whatever you want to this plate, including grilled eggplant, baba ganoush, seasoned artichokes, tzatziki, and more. We highly recommend adding thin slices of toasted baguette rubbed with fresh garlic. They make perfect platforms for piling on all those delicious toppings. 

You can find many of those tapas items in the condiment aisle of your local supermarket. Others you can create at home. Chop, marinate, and grill a variety of veggies, such as carrots, onions, bell peppers, broccoli, eggplant, and mushrooms the day before. They're extra delicious served up cold as marinade really does its best work overnight.

Fresh, Crisp Greens

Note––this is not a salad. A salad includes a variety of ingredients, some of which don't appeal to all, like radishes, for instance. The best thing about an assortment of leafy greens is what they can become with a little creativity. 

Collect rocket, microgreens, baby spinach, red oak, baby kale, arugula, mustard greens, and more. Toss them together and lightly drizzle choice olive oil and fresh-squeezed lemon juice. Sprinkle with good quality rock salt and black pepper, and toss again. From here, so much is possible. 

These tender tasty greens can be the first to go on those wee toasts before you add additional mezes. They're also super nutrient-dense, loaded with minerals, and they deliver a satisfying chew that blends well with crisp raw or roasted veggies, cheeses, and olives. And those greens add a gorgeous, vibrant splash to your summer spread.

A Meat Masterpiece

You'll definitely want to feature classic favorites here, especially for those who have certain expectations for specific inclusions (ie. Aunt Ruth, with shandy in hand). Those include slices of salami, glazed honey ham, pepperoni niblets, and more. However, we draw the line at bologna!

More elegant fare includes a pile of seasoned shredded chicken, steamed fish with lemon and herbs, chilled mussels and oysters, beef carpaccio, smoked salmon with capers, fresh tuna sashimi, each in their own elegant dish.

Of course, chicken wings are everyone's favorite! Fry them up with oil, salt, and pepper, and serve dips alongside, including hot sauce, ranch, sriracha, honey mustard, honey garlic, teriyaki, and more. 

Bread Basket

This is always the first thing I go for at any backyard barbecue, picnic, or formal dinner party. Bread is a belly's best friend, if you're not gluten intolerant, that is! Include fresh doughy rolls, crisp bread sticks, rustic sourdough, baguette slices, and wheat-free versions of bread. 

Don't forget the butter! If you want to go extra fancy, bring your butter to room temperature and whip it up with smashed, freshly-roasted garlic. Otherwise, store butter in an elegant ceramic butter dish with lid to keep it fresh and protected.

Surprise & Impress Your Guests...

You may have noticed that you haven't seen classic summer barbecue meal ideas in this post, such as corn on the cob, potato salad, grits, tapas or devilled eggs. First of all, devilled eggs never belong outside in the summertime, for any length of time. Do you really want to be the host that poisoned their guests with spoiled mayo?! Second, as far as traditional trough-style barbecue stuff goes, can we say been there done that? Those options actually require more time and effort on your part anyways than the more elegant meal ideas offered here. Dress your dinner table to impress with more mouthwatering nibbles. Get more great tips in our Summer Entertaining Guide: 9 Ideas For A Festive & Fun Fourth Of July Summer Party.

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From our kitchen to yours, enjoy good times and tasty tapas all summer long!

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