Tapas Plate With Marinated Chickpeas

Tapas is the name of a wide variety of appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold, such as mixed olives and cheese or warm, such as chopitos, which are battered fried baby squid. There are tapas restaurants all over the world now. To me it just means little bits of a lot of different finger foods until you have had a meal. "Eat when you drink, and drink when you eat", is the philosophy.

When the temperature hits the "it's too hot to cook" mark on your thermometer this is the perfect weeknight meal. With the addition of a Caponata it becomes a party.

Did I forget to mention, hands on time, total time, 15 minutes, and no cooking. Lets see Rachael beat that!

Look at this and not one speck of butter or bacon grease.

Tapas Plate With Marinated Chickpeas
serves 4
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1-15 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
1/2 raisins
1/4 cup chopped roasted red peppers
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 scallions, sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and black pepper
1/2 pound Manchego cheese, sliced
1/4 pound thinly sliced Serrano ham or prosciutto
1/2 cup mixed olives
1/2 small loaf country bread

In a medium bowl, combine the chickpeas, raisins, roasted peppers, parsley, scallions, olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Serve with the cheese, ham, olives, and bread.