Tapas Recipes With Potatoes

Spain is famously known for their tapas, which are essentially small plates of food that you nibble on before a meal. They´re usually made with very simple & minimal ingredients, but pack a big punch of flavors. With that being said, I´m going to show you how to make 4 Classic SPANISH TAPAS using Potatoes.

Folks, this is what Spanish cuisine is all about. Grabbing very basic and humble ingredients, like the potato, and turning them into extraordinary dishes. All 4 of these tapas are easy to make, loaded with flavors and each one is done in 30 minutes or less.

The 4 recipes we will be making are: Patatas Bravas, Patatas a lo Pobre, Ensaladilla Rusa and Patatas con Aioli. All 4 of these tapas are extremely popular here in Spain. In-fact, you will find all of them at almost every tapas bar and restaurant here in Spain.

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TIPS & TRICKS to make these Recipes: I used yukon gold potatoes to make these tapas. But you can use whichever type of potatoes you like. I also used a Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil to make these tapas. Very important to use Spanish olive oil here, as it´s what gives these dishes that authentic Spanish flavor.

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Tags: boiled potatoes, brave potatoes, ensaladilla rusa, garlic aioli, gluten free, patatas a lo pobre, patatas bravas, poor man´s potatoes, potato salad, potatoes, vegetarianI’ve been on a Spanish foods kick lately. Perhaps I just miss the shared conversation and camaraderie of tapas style meals. I most certainly miss traveling. So last week I made this patatas bravas recipe, a simple dish of spicy fried potatoes.I love me some Spanish tapas, and this recipe for patatas bravas was the perfect treat when we are home missing travel and craving the experiences we had in Spain.

Patatas Bravas is a simple dish of fried potatoes served with a spicy sauce. The potatoes are typically cut into bite-sized pieces, pan fried in olive oil, and drizzled with salsa brava and sometimes garlic aioli too.

Patatas bravas are typically served in bars as a tapas dish throughout Madrid and southern Spain. Every country seems to have their own version of fried potatoes as bar food, and patatas bravas are one of Spain’s most popular tapas dishes.

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I sure couldn’t get enough of them one evening after sipping too many sangrias while watching a flamenco show. Patatas Bravas are certainly the best kind of food for when you’re having drinks with friends. It’s exactly the kind of salty, filling dish you crave with a few beers or a glass (or two!) of wine. Plus, patatas bravas are such an easy tapas dish to make at home.

Patatas Bravas literally translates to “brave potatoes, ” after the spicy sauce that is drizzled over them. In Spain, they are sometimes called patatas a la brava or papas bravas. But if you see patatas bravas on a menu, or want to make the recipe below at home, know that they are simply Spanish-style fried potatoes with a spicy sauce.

Bravas, as they’re typically referred to in Spain, are usually served with a patatas bravas sauce called salsa brava. It’s a red sauce made with hot paprika. Every restaurant has their own version, and most keep their recipe as a well guarded secret. Some sauces are made with tomatoes, and some are not. And some salsa brava is truly spicy, while others are mild and savory. I’ll talk about both sauce styles below and give some options in the recipe for you to customize it to your liking.

Delicious Melt In Your Mouth Potatoes In A Rich Tomato Sauce

, authentic bravas sauce is made with garlic and onion sautéed in olive oil, a bit of flour for thickening, chicken broth, and a whole bunch of hot paprika. The onion, garlic, and hot paprika together have quite a kick!

Most of the bravas we tried in Spain were more on the savory side rather than hot and spicy. My recipe for patatas bravas sauce below includes tomatoes and is more smoky and sweet with just a hint of spice. (I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to spicy things).

Some restaurants will also serve patatas bravas with aioli, a creamy garlic sauce. In the United States, aioli is usually just garlic flavored mayonnaise. A chef’s short-cut, if you will.

Spanish Patatas Bravas

Traditional aioli, like the kind I saw made in Barcelona and along the Mediterranean coast, was simply olive oil and fresh garlic emulsified together into a creamy sauce. The name for aioli actually means “garlic and oil” in Catalan/Valencian and Provençal.

And though it is simple, it’s not easy. Just two ingredients with maybe a pinch of salt. But the traditional method is by hand (though, I’m sure a few chefs and home cooks whip out a high powered food processor too).

It takes practice and patience to make real aioli. A special mortor and pestle that emulisfies the oil while mincing the garlic until it becomes a creamy looking sauce. Slow food at it’s finest!But don’t fret over making the accompanying aioli from scratch as aioli is another sauce you can buy online if you’d like to save some time.

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For my aioli recipe below, I took the shortcut and made it with mayo. But I still have a longing and appreciation for the real thing.

To save time and make these a bit healthier, I chose to bake the potatoes instead of pan frying them. By baking them, you can also make a larger batch to serve as an appetizer when entertaining friends.

For the salsa brava, you can choose between smoky paprika, hot paprika, or regular paprika depending on what flavor profile you prefer. Or if you want, make all three! I recommend roasting the tomatoes the night before so they have time to cool before making the salsa brava.

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Also, for easy drizzling, I recommend purchasing a reusable condiments bottle, like this OXO Squeeze Bottle Seton Amazon. But you could also reuse an empty catchup or mustard bottle too.

Add the potato pieces to a large bowl, drizzle with the olive oil, add the sweet and smokey paprika, and toss them to coat with the oil and paprika.

Wash and rinse the tomatoes, then slice them in half. Add tomatoes to a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and toss to coat.

Spicy Garlic Spanish Potatoes

Rachelle is the founder of and was named one of USA Today's 10Best Food and Travel Bloggers. She believes the best way to learn about a destination is through its flavors and collects recipes from her trips to recreate them here on The Travel Bite. In her spare time she enjoys running and yoga to balance out her food obsession.These delicious Patatas Bravas are made with crispy, roasted potatoes smothered in a homemade sweet and spicy tomato sauce with a drizzle of creamy garlic aioli. Plus, you don’t need to go to the Spanish tapas bar to enjoy this easy meal at home.

Serve them as an appy or party food, as a complete meal for lunch or dinner, or as a side dish. However you decide to serve it, you are guaranteed to take your potatoes to the next level!

So what are patatas bravas? The phrase literally means potatoes with salsa brava, which is a spicy tomato sauce — kind of like Marinara Sauce but spicier and smokier. These saucy potatoes are a staple at Spanish tapas bars where they are traditionally served for dinner Spanish tapas style, along with other delicious snacks. I first tried them years ago in Spain and have become obsessed ever since. Once you try them, you too will understand why.

Potatoes With Spicy Tomato Sauce Tapas Recipe

There are a few different ways to prepare these and they often differ from region to region. Some versions are served with a mayonnaise sauce or aoili, others are served tossed in the tomato sauce, and some have tomato sauce just spooned on top. The options are endless, but a few key ingredients always stay the same: potatoes, tomatoes, and spices. Smoked paprika is one of those key spices, since the smokey flavour is what this brava salsa is all about!

Serve these roasted potatoes in a serving dish with the bravas sauce and garlic aioli drizzled on top or on the side. I also like to sprinkle some parsley on top and serve.

You can serve patatas bravas by itself as an appetizer, or as a side dish with a dinner entree. Some other Spanish-inspired dishes that you can serve these with are:

Delicious Patatas Bravas

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