Tortilla Española (Spanish Potato Omelette)
Photo: blackieshoot / Unsplash
Spain's beloved potato omelette: thin slices of potato and onion slowly poached in olive oil until meltingly soft, folded into beaten eggs and cooked into a thick, golden cake that's just set and juicy in the middle.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Slice
Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, then into thin slices about 3mm (1/8 inch) thick. Toss them with the sliced onion and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl.
- 800g potatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 tsp salt
Cook the potatoes slowly in oil
Heat all the olive oil in a 24cm (9-10 inch) non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat. Add the potatoes and onion; they should bubble gently, not fry hard. Cook for 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally, until very soft but barely browned.
- 400ml olive oil
- 800g potatoes
- 1 onion
✅ Done when: potatoes break apart easily with a spoon and show almost no color
Mix with the eggs
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Cook the first side
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Flip
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Finish
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Slice
Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, then into thin slices about 3mm (1/8 inch) thick. Toss them with the sliced onion and 1 teaspoon of salt in a bowl.
- 800g potatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 tsp salt
Cook the potatoes slowly in oil
Heat all the olive oil in a 24cm (9-10 inch) non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat. Add the potatoes and onion; they should bubble gently, not fry hard. Cook for 15-20 minutes, turning occasionally, until very soft but barely browned.
- 400ml olive oil
- 800g potatoes
- 1 onion
✅ Done when: potatoes break apart easily with a spoon and show almost no color
Mix with the eggs
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Cook the first side
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Flip
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Finish
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The Story Behind the Dish
The earliest known written reference to a potato omelette in Spain dates to an 1817 document from Navarre. Potatoes, once considered animal feed, became a staple in the 1700s, and an egg-and-potato cake was a cheap, filling way to feed many mouths.
Today it's in every bar in Spain, served as a pincho with a cold beer or a coffee.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Few dishes are as Spanish — or as debated. The great argument is whether a proper tortilla contains onion.
💡 Fun Fact
Spaniards split into "concebollistas" (with onion) and "sincebollistas" (without) — both camps are fiercely loyal.
Navarre and Extremadura, Spain
42.81°N, -1.65°W
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