Spanish Tortilla with Bravas Sauce

This thick, potato omelette is the perfect example of humble ingredients elevated to something special. Potatoes and onions, a chickpea flour batter in place of the traditional egg mixture, good olive oil and seasoning – that’s all you need. Serve with a smokey tomato sauce or some aioli and a simple salad and you have the perfect summer lunch or supper. Or use this recipe as part of a tapas spread – serve little plates of olives, smoked almonds, paella, tortilla, patatas bravas, grilled peppers and a big jug of sangria. All we need now is some sunshine and good company.

Liz x

Ingredients (serves 4-6)

For the tortilla:

• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 1 white onion, peeled and sliced
• 4-6 potatoes, scrubbed and sliced into 4mm thick rounds
• a small mug of chickpea flour
• a small mug of water
• salt and pepper to taste

For the smokey bravas sauce:

• 1 white onion, peeled and finely diced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tin chopped tomatoes

To serve:

• salad
• parsley

Method

1. Turn your oven to 200C and find a deep, oven and hob safe frying pan. If you don’t have one you can bake the tortilla in a lined oven dish instead.
2. Start with the chickpea flour batter – the longer it has to rest and rehydrate, the better. Whisk together the chickpea flour and water with a generous pinch of salt and pepper and a tbsp of olive oil. Set to one side while you prepare the potatoes and onions.
3. Cover the sliced potatoes with water and boil until just tender.
4. Meanwhile, pour 2 tbsp of olive oil into the frying pan, turn to a medium-high heat and add the sliced onions. Sauce until the onions are soft and golden (around 8 minutes).
5. Drain the potatoes and add them to the onions. Turn the heat down to medium-low and carefully stir the potatoes and onions together to evening spread the ingredients.
6. Then pour the chickpea flour batter over the potatoes and onions and allow the base of the tortilla to cook on the hob for 5 minutes on low. Drizzle with 2 tbsp olive oil and move the pan to the oven to cook until set (around 10-15 minutes).
7. Meanwhile make the bravas sauce by frying the onion and garlic in the olive oil until golden, add the smoked paprika and tin of tomatoes (swirl the juices out of the tin and into the pot with a splash of water) then season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer until rich and thick.
8. Remove the pan from the oven and let the tortilla settle for 5 minutes. Then carefully loosen and turn out onto a plate or chopping board. I like to loosen it with a palette knife, place a board or plate upside down on the top of the pan, then use oven gloves and swiftly turn the plate and pan upside down. Then carefully lift the pan off the plate and the tortilla should neatly pop out onto the plate. Resting it really makes a difference here.
9. Slice into wedges and serve with the bravas sauce – sprinkle with parsley. Salads and aioli go perfectly alongside too. Enjoy!