Easy Patatas Bravas (Fried Potatoes) Recipe

It's nice when you have time to be in the kitchen exploring new recipes, introducing new flavors, and spices to your meals, but sometimes you just don't have time. In cases like that, when you get back from work, you need something simple yet satisfying like patatas bravas.    So, what are patatas bravas? Patatas bravas are simply fried potatoes. You'll feel like getting a warm hug after a hectic day when you eat them. And that's why you need to give them a chance because they are incredibly crunchy and tasty. The patatas bravas recipe is straightforward, and you don't need any special ingredients. The one particular thing that makes these potatoes different from others is the special patatas bravas sauce. And we'll teach you how to make that as well.   

What Are Patatas Bravas?  

We've already mentioned what patatas bravas are, but we can talk about their origin. Patatas bravas are a traditional dish from Spain made out of white potatoes. The name "bravas" indicates the potatoes are spicy. And sometimes they're going to be called papas bravas, or patatas a la brava.   Patatas bravas are served with a spicy sauce across restaurants and bars throughout Spain, like tapas. But they've originated in Madrid.   They are the crowd's favorite because patatas bravas sauce goes perfectly with beer and other alcoholic beverages served in bars and restaurants.    The potatoes are cut into wide cubes and fried in deep oil. It would be best to serve them hot topped with the secret spicy sauce.   

When to Prepare Patatas Bravas  

Patatas bravas are an excellent choice almost anytime you crave something salty and crunchy. You can make them when you don't have much time to spend in the kitchen, or you just lack the inspiration and want something simple and easy.   You can prepare them as appetizers or as a main dish for lunch or dinner. Top them off with lots of spicy sauce, serve them with a big bowl of fresh salad, and enjoy.    And they are indeed the perfect party dish that you can make just as your friends are coming, and serve them warm patatas bravas. As we mentioned, spicy bravas go perfectly with beer, so you know what to make for your next party.   

The Secret of Good Fried Potatoes  

We never met a person who doesn't like fried potatoes. But maybe we can understand if those who say they don't like them never ate good fried potatoes.    Many countries and cultures have their variant of fried potatoes, their true staple. There are many variations; some are simple, some are a bit complicated, with few, or a lot of spices, without, or with sauces. But something that is the same for every fried potato recipe is the crunchiness and tastiness.    The secret of good fried potatoes lies in the crunch. Your fried potatoes need to be crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. And you will achieve that by frying them in deep and hot oil. You can, but you should never put your potatoes in a shallow pan with just a bit of oil in it. That will ruin your potatoes and make them taste bad.   

How to Make Patatas Bravas 

If you want to finally apprehend how to make patatas bravas, you've come to the right place. You'll need to get white potatoes and olive oil. Patatas this way are fried in olive oil, which makes them super tasty. It's not the same when you fry them in vegetable oil, but it's delicious and out of this world when you do it this way. It's essential to cut potatoes in bite-size pieces; you shouldn't do it like making French fries. And when the potatoes are done, you need to salt them, and you should use a good amount of salt.  Finally, it's time for the sauce. The spicy sauce is drizzled all over fried potatoes. If you are not a big fan of spicy food, don't worry because the sauce usually served with patatas bravas isn't that spicy. It's just the perfect amount of spices combined and a little bit of heat. Of course, if you like it hot, you can always spice it up a bit more to your liking. And that's the typical red and spicy patatas bravas sauce.   However, many will serve their potatoes with aioli. And if you don't know what that means, it's a sauce made out of garlic, olive oil, salt, and eggs, similar to mayonnaise. And that sauce is also native to Spain.  

The Best Patatas Bravas Recipe 

The key to the best patatas bravas recipe lies in simplicity whether you tried patatas bravas before or not, now you'll know how to make and enjoy them whenever you want.   We also believe that this is the simplest authentic specialty you could make, so don't skip on it.  

• 4 medium white potatoes 
• 2 cups of olive oil for frying 
• Sea salt to taste 
• ½ of the bravas sauce 

1. First, peel the potatoes, rinse them, and dry them well.  
2. Cut them into bite-size pieces, not too small and not too big.  
3. Put the olive oil into a pan and heat it over medium heat.  
4. When the oil is ready, you should add the potatoes and lower the heat a little bit. You want to let them cook for just a few minutes.  
5. Remove the bravas in the making from the oil and put them in the fridge to cool off for a few minutes. This step is essential, and you shouldn't skip it.  
6. While the potatoes are cooling off, heat the olive oil.
7. Add the potatoes back in the saucepan and oil, and fry them until they are crispy, crunchy, and golden.  
8. Place the patatas bravas on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil, and sprinkle them with sea salt.  

Patatas Bravas Sauce 

Now it's time to mix up the perfect sauce for your crunchy potatoes.  

• ½ cup of olive oil 
• ½ tbsp of hot smoked paprika 
• ½ tbsp of sweet smoked paprika 
• 1 tbsp of flour  
• 1 cup of vegetable broth 
• Sea salt to taste 

1. In a saucepan, heat the olive oil. 
2. Add both paprikas to the oil, and stir to combine.  
3. Add the flour and stir to combine.  
4. Add the broth gradually, and stir well until everything is combined.  
5. Cook the sauce on low heat, and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. But keep an eye on it not to burn, and stir it occasionally.  
6. Season with sea salt to taste.  
7. And finally, drizzle over your fresh patatas bravas.  

When are you planning to make these potatoes, now that you know how simple they are. We recommend you do it as soon as possible.   And if you want to try something a bit different, call us and make a reservation at Stubborn Seed to try our crunchy truffle braves with truffle aioli, garlic crumbs, and aged parmesan. The classic version is excellent, but ours is marvelous, and we are more than proud of it. And you should come, taste it for yourself, and be the judge of it.