Tortilla de Patatas is one of the most popular dishes across Spain.
In this step-by-step video, you will learn how to cook it. This specific
recipe is made with onions, many other variants are OK too. You can add
green pepper, chorizo, parsley, even plain (eggs and potato) tastes
delicious too. It is an appetizer which combines well with fresh bread,
mayonnaise or ketchup. For a more authentic taste, use organic or
natural ingredients, and use a pan instead of an electric fryer.
Ingredients for 3 people:
- 3 Russet organic potatoes
- 4 pastured eggs
- 1/2 organic onion
- olive oil
- sea salt
Remember
to cook in low heat, or you will burn the surface of the pie. If the
inside looks liquid, it still needs some more time, it should be firm,
but not too dry. Do not over fry the potato pieces, stop right before
they start to turn brown.
WAYS TO COOK IT:
A) TRADITIONAL:
Use a frying pan instead of a deep fryer. Do not cut the potato too
thick or too thin. I prefer cubes, but slices are fine too. Pros: The
tortilla will taste better; Cons: It will take longer to cook,
especially if you are cooking for more than two people; a little more
messy to cook.
B) CONVENIENT: Use a deep fryer. Do not set fryer
to top temperature, since the potato chip will be more cooked outside
than inside. In the movie the cubes seem to be large, but that's because
the camera is very close. Pros: Fast; less messy; good when you are
cooking for a large group and if you want to save on costly olive oil.
Cons: Does not taste as good. Some say that the real tortilla has never
been made with an electric deep fryer... well, electric deep fryers did
not exist back then!
TO ONION OR NOT TO ONION, THAT IS THE
QUESTION: Well, a tortilla with just eggs and potato is great, try it
with onion and see what you like better. Also, some saute the onion
before adding it to the mix, other don't cook it, they just add it to
the mix raw. Some people add pepper and even chorizo, well, there are no
rules, you decide what you want in your tortilla!
WAIT, HOW AUTHENTIC IS THIS RECIPE?
When
it comes to traditional recipes, everyone claims to know the real
official recipe, (they are right and everyone else is wrong) and some
people even take it a little too personal. If you travel all over Spain,
you will find that traditional dishes are cooked differently in
different regions and by different cooks. There are NO official recipes,
so be prepared to find differences. However, there is one thing all
Spanish cooks have in common: Our love and respect for the ingredients
we work with. Enjoy!