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.
This bite-sized grape appetizer explodes with fresh, smoky and sweet flavors.
They’re Spanish-inspired with chorizo and Manchego cheese, and served like tapas. (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 Anaheim or Poblano Chiles.
These are super fun for any sort of casual entertaining, and they also make for a great afternoon snack with a drink.
Ingredients for Grape Appetizers
- seedless red grapes
- roasted green chiles (Hatch, Anaheim or Poblano)
- hard chorizo
- Manchego cheese
And you will need toothpicks to hold everything together.
How to Make Them
(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.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
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.
- You can skip the peppers all together if you want to — the grapes, cheese and chorizo are also a fabulous combination on their own.
- Again, you can use any green chiles you like. Anaheim chiles will be the most similar to Hatch, and Poblanos can sometimes be on the hot side. (Try them before using them to see if you like the level of heat.)
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
- Quick Spanish Tomato Salad
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 Recipe
Equipment
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.
David @ Spiced says
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! 🙂
valentina says
Thanks, David! If your market is on the list, they should be there! Enjoy and I hope you make a tapa or two. 🙂
Danielle says
Tapas is always our go-to when we are hosting a dinner party. These would be a great addition.
valentina says
Thanks, Danielle. Hope you love them.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
Who doesn’t love tapas? Tapas is always perfect for a dinner party. These have got my mouth watering, they look so good
valentina says
Thank you! I agree, Tapas are fun for a party.
Kavita Favelle says
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!
valentina says
Thanks so much, Kavita. I do love that char-hot-sweet combo. 🙂
Danielle Wolter says
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!
valentina says
Me too! It’s the best way to eat. 🙂
kim says
Love this easy, delicious appetizer idea! Will be trying soon for sure!
valentina says
Enjoy it Kim!
David says
Fabulous tapa! Drive home from Santa Fe through Hatch last Saturday… you can be assured that we stocked up!
valentina says
Awesome, David. So cool you drove through the home of the Hatch. 😀
cathy says
These tapas are a bite-sized flavor festival. Great job!
valentina says
Oh my gosh Cathy, that might be my new favorite food quote. “Bite-sized flavor festival!” Yay!