Entremeses Recipe: Easy Spanish Appetizer Platter 2026

Entremeses are the classic Spanish appetizer spread served before the main course at festive tables. This recipe brings together cured meats, manchego cheese, olives, pickles, fresh fruit, and nuts on one generous platter, with a quick Russian salad on the side. It is an easy, fast appetizer that works beautifully for a crowd.

The idea is simple: arrange everything so the board looks abundant and inviting, and let guests help themselves. We use serrano ham, chorizo, salami, and fuet, plus manchego cheese, and balance the salty bites with grapes, dates, and cherry tomatoes. Nothing needs cooking except the potatoes, carrots, and egg for the salad.

Because most of the components are ready to serve, this platter comes together in about 20 minutes. Prepare the Russian salad ahead if you like, then assemble the board just before your guests arrive. It is a reliable choice for holidays, parties, or any gathering where you want a no-fuss appetizer.

Ingredients for Entremeses

Serves 4 as an appetizer.

• 1 large potato
• 2 small carrots
• Salt
• 1 small can of tuna
• 1 can of preserved peas
• 1 hard-boiled egg
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• Serrano ham
• Chorizo
• Salami
• Fuet
• Stuffed olives
• Kalamata olives
• Pickled gherkins
• Breadsticks
• Saltine crackers
• Manchego cheese
• Grapes
• Almonds
• Dates
• Cherry tomatoes

How to Make Entremeses Step by Step

1. Make the Quick Russian Salad

First, make a quick Russian salad, which is optional but pairs perfectly with the cured meats. Dice 1 large potato and 2 carrots into small cubes and boil them in salted water for 10 minutes. Drain and mix with 1 small can of drained tuna, 1 can of preserved peas, 1 chopped hard-boiled egg, and 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise. Chill in the refrigerator until serving time.

2. Arrange the Cured Meats and Salad

On a serving board, place the Russian salad in bowls, glasses, or individual shot glasses. Add the rolled serrano ham, sliced chorizo, overlapping salami (some inside a glass), and fuet cut into small pieces. Arrange the meats in different ways, such as rolled or overlapped, to create a dynamic and easy-to-eat appetizer board.

3. Add the Bowls, Cheese, and Crackers

Next, place all the ingredients that go in bowls: stuffed olives, Kalamata olives, pickled gherkins, and breadsticks. In the remaining gaps, arrange the saltine crackers and manchego cheese cut into thin wedges.

4. Fill the Gaps with Fruit and Nuts

Finish with the grapes, almonds, dates, and cherry tomatoes, tucking them into the empty spaces. Serve this entremeses board as an appetizer before the main course.

Tips for the Best Entremeses

Vary the Cured Meats and Cheese

We chose a good variety of cured meats including serrano ham, chorizo, salami, and fuet, accompanied by manchego cheese. If you prefer soft cheeses like camembert or brie, serve a sweet counterpoint such as tomato jam. For a striking presentation, arrange the meats in different ways, such as rolled or overlapped, to create a dynamic and easy-to-eat appetizer board.

Balance Salty and Sweet

To balance the salty cured meats, we included dates and grapes in this selection of entremeses. Dried apricots also work very well and are especially nice for special occasions like Christmas meals. You can choose any other dried fruit you like or have on hand. The crunchy element comes from almonds, which could be replaced with macadamia nuts or hazelnuts, while the tomatoes add a fresh touch that can also be achieved with strawberries, cherries (if in season), or blueberries.

Make It Ahead and Keep It Flexible

The Russian salad is ideal to prepare the day before, so you can assemble this appetizer board in no time. As complements, we included stuffed olives and Kalamata olives, but other varieties you like are equally valid; for a striking presentation, try to include different olives such as green, black, or arbequina, marinated or milder in flavor. We also included breadsticks and saltine crackers, though you could use small toasts or sliced baguette instead. There are no fixed quantities for the cured meats and complements, as this depends on your guests and the tray you have; the important thing is a attractive arrangement of the ingredients.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

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Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

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