Pinchos "Spanish Finger Sandwiches"

Pinchos are tasty little sandwiches found in almost every tapas bar. These come in an almost endless variety. Spaniards often have these for tapas, but more commonly in the late morning "snack" called almuerzo.

You see these in sandwich form as well a topping placed on top of a single small piece of bread. These little sandwiches originated in the Basque region and are also sometimes called Montaditos. They are called pinchos because they are usually held together with a toothpick, which the Spanish call a pinchito!

Let your imagination run wild with the toppings! Get some small (usually about 3" long) baguettes and go crazy! The toppings range from a simple slice of chorizo to Russian salad to more exotic seafood salads. The are ENDLESS possibilities. If you are lucky enough to visit a proper pinchos bar in Spain, you might find over 100 different kinds! Here are few very basic examples:

Pincho de jamon - with a nice slice of authentic cured Spanish Serrano or Iberico ham

Pincho de chorizo - with a nice peppery slice of chorizo

Pincho de lomo - with a nice slice of cured Spanish pork

Pincho de queso - with a piece or two of cured Manchego cheese

Pincho de pollo - with a small slice of grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, etc.

Pincho de tortilla - (my wife's favorite!) with a small wedge of Spanish tortilla

Pincho de Ensaladilla Rusa - with a scoop of nice ensaladilla Rusa

Pincho de salmon ahumado - with a slice of smoked salmon


These are just the more basic types, they can get much more elaborate if you go to the right place. Have fun with these and enjoy!

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