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    Home » Appetizers & Hors d'Oeuvres » Smoky Grape Appetizer

    Smoky Grape Appetizer

    Aug 22, 2018 · by Valentina · 16 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This Grape Appetizer is ideal for a casual, fun cocktail party, or simply for a most delightful snack. Roasted Green Chile-wrapped grapes sit with Manchego cheese and chorizo on a toothpick, providing the perfect bite of sweet and smoky flavors.

    Roasted Hatch Chile wrapped around a red grape with a slice of Chorizo and cheese, all on a toothpick.

    This truly unique, bite-sized grape appetizer is loaded with fresh, smoky and sweet flavors.

    They're Spanish-inspired with chorizo and Manchego cheese, and served like tapas. (Tapas are small Spanish savory dishes, typically served with drinks at a bar.)

    When Hatch Chiles are in season (August & September), I use them for this recipe, otherwise I use Poblano Chiles.

    These are super fun for any sort of entertaining, and they also make for a great afternoon snack with a drink.

    The Ingredients

    Bundle of bright green Hatch Chiles with black background.
    • seedless red grapes
    • roasted green chiles (Hatch or Poblano)
    • hard chorizo - Spanish chorizo is cured and smoked with a deep smoky and herbal flavor.
    • Manchego cheese - Manchego is a prized sheeps milk, Spanish cheese that's firm with a buttery texture and intense flavor that's somewhat nutty, salty and sweet.

    (See recipe card below for quantities.)

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Seedless red grapes. Green is fine too, but the color contrast is great with the red grapes.
    • Hatch or Poblano chiles. For a much milder flavor, use Anaheim chiles or green bell peppers.
    • Hard chorizo. I would really try to use the chorizo, but if you can't, a hard salami or even pepperoni will work.
    • Manchego cheese - A couple of good Manchego substitutes are Pecorino Romano and Asiago.
    • You can skip the peppers all together if you want to -- the grapes, cheese and chorizo are also a fabulous combination on their own.

    Recipe Tips

    While these particular ingredients were put together purposefully to create an amazing bite, you can definitely switch things up for the grape appetizer and still get delicious results.

    • Vegetarian? Skip the chorizo, and add a second piece of cheese.
    • Don't have time to roast the peppers? You can buy jarred roasted peppers. They are usually red, which would be pretty with a green grape. Just be sure they're large enough pieces to wrap around the grapes.
    • Spicy version. Be sure you buy the hot Hatch chiles (they should be marked this way). The Poblanos will vary in heat and it's hard to know when you buy them, but typically they're between mild and hot, airing on the more mild side. Just taste them first to know what you're getting. You can also use Pepper Jack cheese to heat it up.

    How to Make Them

    Bundle of charred and roasted Hatch Chiles.

    (More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)

    - Roast the peppers, if you haven’t already (here’s how), then cut off the stem, remove the seeds and cut them each, vertically, into strips.

    - Wrap a chile strip around each grape, using a toothpick to secure it. If it doesn’t go all the way around, that’s okay. Push the wrapped grape gently towards the top of the toothpick.

    - Beneath the wrapped grapes, add a piece of the chorizo, followed by a piece of the cheese.

    Roasted Hatch Chiles wrapped around red grapes with slices of Chorizo and cheese, with toothpicks.

    Serving Suggestions

    This Spanish-inspired grape appetizer is delicious served with, or followed by, all sorts of different first and main courses. Here are a few favorites . . . .

    • Creamy Avocado Gazpacho
    • Easy Tomato Gazpacho
    • Chipotle Tequila Lime Chicken
    • Mediterranean Marinated Flank Steak
    • Chopped Mexican Salad with Pepitas

    Can you make them ahead?

    • You can roast the chiles up to 2 days ahead of time. (Keep them whole until you’re ready to prepare the tapas.)
    • Once assembled, keep refrigerated and lightly covered with plastic wrap until you’re ready to serve them.
    • They can be assembled up to 4 hours ahead of time.

    I hope you love these grape appetizers as much as I do!

    Grape Appetizer on a toothpick with chorizo and cheese.

    Grape Appetizer Recipe

    Valentina K. Wein
    This Grape Appetizer is ideal for a casual, fun cocktail party, or simply for a most delightful snack. Chile-wrapped grapes sit with Manchego and chorizo on a toothpick, providing the perfect bite of sweet and smoky flavors.
    *You will need 2 dozen toothpicks.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine Spanish
    Servings 8
    Calories 67 kcal

    Equipment

    • toothpicks

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 roasted & peeled Hatch Chiles (click here for How to roast and peel peppers) *
    • 2 dozen red, seedless grapes, washed, dried
    • about 2 ounces chorizo, thinly sliced and cut into 2 dozen bite-sized pieces
    • about 4 ounces Manchego cheese, thinly sliced and cut into 2 dozen bite-sized pieces

    Instructions
     

    • Prep chiles. Roast chiles,if you haven't already. (Here's How.) Then cut off the stems and remove the seeds. Then cut them each, vertically, into about 8 equal sized strips.
    • Assemble. Wrap a chile strip around each grape, using a toothpick to secure it. If it doesn’t go all the way around, that’s okay — if it does, try to overlap the ends before sticking the toothpick through. Push the wrapped grape gently towards the top of the toothpick. Beneath the wrapped grapes, add a piece of the chorizo, followed by a piece of the cheese.
    • Keep refrigerated, lightly covered with plastic wrap, until you’re ready to serve them. They can be made up to 4 hours ahead of time.

    NOTES

    Nutritional information is only an estimate.

    NUTRITION

    Calories: 67kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 0.5mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 78IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 0.001mg
    Keywords summer party food
    Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. David @ Spiced

      August 23, 2018 at 4:20 am

      I absolutely love tapas! In fact, there was a tapas restaurant back in Atlanta that we used to go to occasionally...gosh, that was like 8 or 9 years ago now. I'm totally going to keep an eye out for Hatch green chilies in our area. I see one of our local supermarkets on that list, so maybe? Hopefully! And I love this tapas idea...so much flavor in such a small bite. That's how I roll! 🙂

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 23, 2018 at 1:16 pm

        Thanks, David! If your market is on the list, they should be there! Enjoy and I hope you make a tapa or two. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Danielle

      August 23, 2018 at 11:49 pm

      5 stars
      Tapas is always our go-to when we are hosting a dinner party. These would be a great addition.

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 24, 2018 at 8:16 am

        Thanks, Danielle. Hope you love them.

        Reply
    3. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry

      August 24, 2018 at 1:12 am

      5 stars
      Who doesn't love tapas? Tapas is always perfect for a dinner party. These have got my mouth watering, they look so good

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 24, 2018 at 8:17 am

        Thank you! I agree, Tapas are fun for a party.

        Reply
    4. Kavita Favelle

      August 24, 2018 at 2:49 am

      I am a huge fan of tapas, I love that kind of eating lots of small portions of many different things. These looks great, love the charring from the roasting and the combination of hot, sweet and savoury!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 24, 2018 at 8:18 am

        Thanks so much, Kavita. I do love that char-hot-sweet combo. 🙂

        Reply
    5. Danielle Wolter

      August 24, 2018 at 3:56 am

      5 stars
      Yay for hatch chili season! Love those chilies. Tapas is one of my favorite ways to eat when we go out. Love the ability to try so many different dishes - so Fun!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 24, 2018 at 8:18 am

        Me too! It's the best way to eat. 🙂

        Reply
    6. kim

      August 24, 2018 at 4:12 am

      5 stars
      Love this easy, delicious appetizer idea! Will be trying soon for sure!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 24, 2018 at 8:19 am

        Enjoy it Kim!

        Reply
    7. David

      August 25, 2018 at 6:43 pm

      Fabulous tapa! Drive home from Santa Fe through Hatch last Saturday... you can be assured that we stocked up!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 25, 2018 at 10:32 pm

        Awesome, David. So cool you drove through the home of the Hatch. 😀

        Reply
    8. cathy

      August 26, 2018 at 12:23 pm

      These tapas are a bite-sized flavor festival. Great job!

      Reply
      • valentina

        August 26, 2018 at 7:02 pm

        Oh my gosh Cathy, that might be my new favorite food quote. "Bite-sized flavor festival!" Yay!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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