Spanish Tapas Date Night

Spanish Coastal Martini

We are very excited that March is here. Spring is right around the corner, and we’re craving meals that still feel a little comforting but also a little lighter and fun. This week’s Spanish Tapas Night checks all those boxes with garlic steak bites, gambas, crispy patatas bravas, a bright citrus salad, and a really delicious Spanish Coastal Martini.

Kate will admit she is not a big martini fan, and she was skeptical when Kevin started testing this one. But after one sip she was sold. The olive oil and Castelvetrano brine give it this beautifully smooht yet savory coastal flavor that pairs perfectly with the tapas spread. We definitely encourage you to give this week’s cocktail a try.

If you want to make the evening even easier, the garlic aioli can be mixed earlier in the day and stored in the refrigerator until dinner. And don’t forget to press play on this week’s Khruangbin playlist while you cook. Their warm, dreamy sound is the perfect backdrop for a relaxed tapas night.

We hope you enjoy this week’s menu and a cozy night around the table together.

Kevin & Kate

Spanish Coastal Martini

Spanish Tapas Date Night

Spanish tapas dinner with garlic steak bites, patatas bravas, shrimp, citrus salad, olives, and garlic aioli served family style.

Your Weekly Essentials

Grocery List →

Everything you’ll need to make this meal — plus a few pantry staples you probably already have.

Make Ahead ➝

Get a head start this week and make the homemade garlic aioli in advance.

This Week's Playlist ➝

Set the mood with the warm, dreamy sounds of Khruangbin.

notes from the kitchen

Just a few kitchen tips to make the most of this week's ingredients and flavors.

CHOOSING YOUR POTATOES

We like Yukon Gold potatoes for the patatas bravas because they roast up with a creamy, almost buttery interior while still getting beautifully crisp on the outside. Russet potatoes will also work perfectly well if that’s what you have on hand.

PICK YOUR FAVORITE STEAK

You can use almost any cut of steak for the garlic steak bites. We used ribeye for its richness and flavor, but sirloin, strip steak, or even filet will all work nicely depending on what you prefer or have available.

OUR FAVORITE OLIVES

For the Spanish Coastal Martini we love Castelvetrano olives. They’re buttery, mild, and slightly sweet, which pairs beautifully with the savory flavors in the drink. If you have another favorite olive, feel free to use that instead.

USING DUCK FAT

If you made last week’s duck breast menu and saved the duck fat, this is a great place to use it for roasting the potatoes. If not, olive oil works perfectly well and will still give you great flavor and crisp edges.

MARTINI INGREDIENTS

For the martini we like Beefeater gin for its clean, classic flavor. You can use either Fino sherry or a dry vermouth such as Dolin Dry depending on what you have available.

Heads up: We may earn a small commission on products we’ve linked here. We only recommend the real-deal favorites from our kitchen.

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we hope you enjoy this week. and as always,

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Spanish Tapas Date Night