Potato Tortilla — Classic Spanish Omelette

Welcome to a taste of Spain! Today, we're making a Potato Tortilla, or 'Tortilla de Patatas,' a cornerstone of Spanish cuisine. You'll find this humble yet incredibly satisfying dish in every corner of Spain, from bustling tapas bars to family kitchens. It's a simple omelette made with potatoes and eggs, but its charm lies in its versatility. This recipe adds a colorful medley of carrots, bell peppers, and tomatoes, turning the classic into a vibrant and hearty meal perfect for breakfast, lunch, or a light dinner. Let's get cooking!

Cooking: 45 minutes
Quantity: 2 Servings
Per serving
Calories: 563 kcal
Proteins: 17 g
Fats: 38 g
Carbohydrates: 40.5 g

Ingredients for Potato Tortilla:

  • 200 g new potatoes
  • 200 g carrots
  • 100 g onion
  • 150 g sweet bell pepper
  • 100 g tomatoes
  • 4 chicken eggs
  • 30 g butter
  • 30 g olive oil
  • ground paprika, black pepper, parsley

How to make a Potato Tortilla.

Boil the peeled new potatoes until tender, drain the water, and let the potatoes dry slightly. Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan, then add the butter. Fry the potatoes until golden brown, then place them on paper towels to absorb any excess oil.

Close-up of boiled potato slices being fried to a golden crust in a pan.

Frying the boiled potatoes

Next, add the remaining olive oil to the same pan and sauté the finely chopped onion for a few minutes. If you have green onions or leeks, you can add a little of those as well.

Finely chopped onions being sautéed in a pan with olive oil.

Frying the onion

Peel the carrots, grate them on a coarse grater, and add them to the onion. Increase the heat and sauté the vegetables for 5-6 minutes.

Grated carrots being fried together with chopped onions in a pan.

Frying carrots with the onion

Core and seed the sweet red pepper, dice it into small cubes, and add it to the carrots and onion. Simmer for 5 minutes until the pepper softens.

Diced red bell pepper added to the pan with carrots and onions to simmer.

Adding sweet pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes

Slice a ripe, fleshy tomato into thin rounds and place them on top of the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and cook over low heat for 5 minutes.

Thinly sliced tomatoes layered over the vegetable mix in the pan, simmering.

Add tomatoes, salt, pepper and simmer for another 5 minutes

Now, return the fried potatoes to the pan, arranging the pieces evenly. Press them down slightly so they don’t stick out from the vegetable mixture.

Fried potato slices being added back into the pan on top of the cooked vegetables.

Adding the fried potatoes

Crack the fresh chicken eggs into a bowl; it’s best to use organic, free-range eggs. Add a pinch of salt and mix the eggs with a fork. There’s no need to beat the egg mixture vigorously; just break up the structure of the whites and yolks. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables, cover with a lid, and as soon as the eggs are set, you can remove the tortilla from the heat.

Whisked eggs being poured over the potato and vegetable mixture in the pan.

Pour the eggs over the vegetables and cover with a lid

Sprinkle the potato tortilla with parsley or cilantro, season with red paprika, and serve hot.

The finished potato tortilla in the pan, garnished with chopped parsley.

Sprinkle the finished potato tortilla with fresh herbs

And there you have it – a beautiful and delicious Potato Tortilla, bursting with the fresh flavors of vegetables! This dish is wonderful served warm straight from the pan, but it's just as delightful at room temperature, making it perfect for picnics or packed lunches. In Spain, it's often cut into small squares and served as a tapa. Feel free to get creative and add your own favorite ingredients like chorizo, cheese, or spinach. We hope you enjoy this taste of Spain. ¡Buen provecho!