Spanish Tapas Vocabulary

Name:

Date:

Instructions: Explore the delicious vocabulary of Spanish tapas and Mediterranean dining culture

1.
What does the Spanish word 'tapas' originally mean?
A
Lids or covers — originally small dishes placed over drinks
B
Bites
C
Appetizers
D
Small plates
2.
In Spanish cuisine, what is 'gazpacho'?
A
A grilled meat dish
B
A chilled soup made from raw blended vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers
C
A type of paella
D
A hot stew
3.
What are 'patatas bravas' in Spanish tapas?
A
Baked potato wedges
B
Mashed potatoes
C
Potato soup
D
Fried potato cubes served with a spicy tomato-based sauce
4.
What is 'jamon iberico' in Spanish food culture?
A
A pork sausage
B
Cured ham from Iberian pigs, considered a Spanish delicacy
C
A meat stew
D
A type of cheese
5.
In Spanish cuisine, what is a 'pintxo' (or 'pincho')?
A
A fried fish
B
A type of pepper
C
A small snack from the Basque country, typically skewered with a toothpick on bread
D
A type of olive
6.
What does 'paella' refer to in Spanish cooking?
A
A type of bread
B
A type of pan
C
A Valencian rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan with seafood, meat, or vegetables
D
A salad
7.
What is 'chorizo' in Spanish cuisine?
A
A bread roll
B
A type of cheese
C
A grilled chicken dish
D
A cured pork sausage seasoned with smoked paprika
8.
In Spanish food, what is 'tortilla espanola'?
A
A type of crepe
B
A corn tortilla
C
A thick egg and potato omelet, a classic Spanish tapa
D
A thin flour wrap
9.
What does 'sangria' mean in Spanish?
A
Bleeding — a wine punch made with fruit, named for its red color
B
Fruity wine
C
Summer cocktail
D
Red drink
10.
What are 'gambas al ajillo' in Spanish tapas?
A
Grilled squid
B
Shrimp sauteed in olive oil with garlic and chili
C
Baked mussels
D
Fried anchovies
11.
In Spanish cuisine, what is 'pimenton'?
A
Spanish smoked paprika, a key seasoning in many traditional dishes
B
A type of olive oil
C
A bell pepper salad
D
A type of pepper plant
12.
What is 'manchego' in Spanish food?
A
A type of olive
B
A firm, aged cheese made from sheep's milk in the La Mancha region
C
A type of wine
D
A cured meat
13.
What does 'croqueta' refer to in Spanish tapas?
A
A skewered meat
B
A type of salad
C
A type of dip
D
A small, breaded and fried roll filled with a thick bechamel-based mixture
14.
In Spanish food culture, what is 'sobremesa'?
A
A type of dessert
B
A tablecloth
C
The tradition of lingering at the table after a meal for conversation and digestion
D
A type of after-dinner drink
15.
What is 'aceite de oliva' in Spanish cuisine?
A
Olive oil, the fundamental cooking fat in Spanish cuisine
B
Butter
C
Vinegar
D
Lemon juice

Answer Key

Question 1

A. Lids or covers — originally small dishes placed over drinks

Question 2

B. A chilled soup made from raw blended vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers

Question 3

D. Fried potato cubes served with a spicy tomato-based sauce

Question 4

B. Cured ham from Iberian pigs, considered a Spanish delicacy

Question 5

C. A small snack from the Basque country, typically skewered with a toothpick on bread

Question 6

C. A Valencian rice dish cooked in a wide, shallow pan with seafood, meat, or vegetables

Question 7

D. A cured pork sausage seasoned with smoked paprika

Question 8

C. A thick egg and potato omelet, a classic Spanish tapa

Question 9

A. Bleeding — a wine punch made with fruit, named for its red color

Question 10

B. Shrimp sauteed in olive oil with garlic and chili

Question 11

A. Spanish smoked paprika, a key seasoning in many traditional dishes

Question 12

B. A firm, aged cheese made from sheep's milk in the La Mancha region

Question 13

D. A small, breaded and fried roll filled with a thick bechamel-based mixture

Question 14

C. The tradition of lingering at the table after a meal for conversation and digestion

Question 15

A. Olive oil, the fundamental cooking fat in Spanish cuisine

Find more free puzzles and brain games at www.SeniorBrainGames.org