Patatas Bravas - Easy Crispy Spanish Potatoes
Patatas bravas are one of Spain’s most beloved tapas, simple, hearty, and full of flavor. The potatoes are pan-cooked until tender inside and golden outside, then topped with a silky paprika-based sauce that brings warmth, depth, and just enough heat to keep things interesting. It’s a dish that feels casual and cozy, yet always exciting.
Ingredients
For the potatoes
- 2 ¼ pounds (1kg) potatoes , peeled or not, cut into 1-inch (2.5cm) pieces
- 3 tbsp (45g) olive oil
- salt to taste
Bravas sauce
- 1 tbsp (15g) olive oil
- 1 small onion , finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 tbsp (10g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp (6g) sweet paprika
- 1 tsp (3g) hot paprika
- 1 cup (240ml) chicken or vegetable stock
- 1 tsp (5ml) vinegar
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Garlic aioli, optional
- 2 tbsp (30g) mayonnaise
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- salt to taste
Instructions
Prepare the potatoes.
- Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add potatoes, season with salt, and cook gently, stirring occasionally for a few minutes until slightly golden.
- Add water and cover with a lid.
- Simmer until the water is evaporated.
- Remove the lid and continue cooking while stirring constantly, until the potatoes are tender, golden and crisp.
- Transfer the potatoes to a medium bowl.
- Keep warm.
Make the bravas sauce.
- In the same pan, add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil and sauté the onion until soft and translucent, for about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic, cook for 1 minute.
- Stir in sweet and hot paprika, cooking briefly to release their aroma.
- Sprinkle the flour, stirring constantly to make a light roux, for about 1–2 minutes.
- Slowly pour in the stock while whisking continuously to avoid lumps.
- Simmer gently until the sauce thickens, for about 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Pour the sauce into a blender and process until perfectly smooth.
Serve.
- Place potatoes on a serving dish, spoon the bravas sauce generously over them.
- Drizzle with garlic aioli if using, and serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving out of 4Calories: 170kcalCarbohydrates: 10.5gProtein: 1.7gFat: 14.6gSaturated Fat: 2.1gSodium: 201mgPotassium: 206mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1.5gCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg