Patatas Bravas
Crisp-edged, fluffy potato cubes served with a spicy smoked-paprika sauce: the classic tapa of Madrid's bars.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Serves
- 4
- Level
- Medium
Ingredients
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Method
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The story of this dish
Patatas bravas became popular in Madrid's tapas bars during the 20th century. Nobody knows for sure which bar served them first, and several old Madrid establishments claim the honour. "Brava" means fierce or wild, a reference to the spicy sauce rather than the potatoes.
There is no single correct sauce: Madrid favours a red, paprika-based sauce, while in Catalonia and Valencia the potatoes are often served with alioli as well. Found in almost every bar in Spain today, it is one of the best-known tastes of Spanish cooking.
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