It certainly is a poor man or woman who cannot find a few eggs, a couple of potatoes and an onion in their store cupboard!
The ever-practical Spaniard realized this and thus created their marvellous "tortilla" - an easy-to-make dish that could be savoured by rich and poor alike.
Not only cheap to make the tortilla, or Spanish omelette, is immenseley adaptable: you can eat it hot or cold, depending on the weather and your mood; you can enjoy a small slice as a "tapa" (snack) in between meals; or, accompanied by a multi-coloured mixed salad and crusty, fresh Spanish bread, you have a marvellous main meal! Should unexpected guests come knocking at your door ... just whip out the ever-adaptable toritilla, pour them a glass of smooth, Spanish wine and they are bound to be delighted!
Unlike the better-known French omelette which should be made quickly and over a high heat, the Spanish omelette needs to be cooked more gently, so that the middle is not too runny. The French omelette is best eaten straight away and always hot. Its Spanish counterpart, on the other hand, improves if left to rest for at least five minutes before eating, keeps well for a couple of days in the fridge, and can easily be re-heated in the microwave, unless you prefer it cold.
As with the French omelette, the Spanish tortilla is made in a frying pan (preferably non-stick) but, unlike the French version, both sides need to be cooked. For this reason, it is possible to buy special tortilla frying pans - a sort of double pan which allows you to just swish it over and cook the other side!
I have to say, I prefer the traditional method of placing a plate on top of the pan, turning the tortilla out and then returning to the pan to cook the underside. But, perhaps the simplest method is to just place the frying pan under the grill to brown the tortilla.
Whichever way you choose to prepare it, once cooked, leave it to cool a little, cover with a large plate, then gently ease the omelette out. It should be circular, about an inch-and-a-half thick, and it is usual to cut it in slices or wedges. Having said that, you can divide it into small cubes, pop a cocktail stick on top, and serve along with other "bits and pieces" as apéritifs.
Spanish recipes for tortilla vary slightly from region to region - also what you have in the fridge and what you fancy! You can replace the potato with, say, spinach, leave out the onion, add a bit more garlic, etc, etc. Just use your imagination!
Below is a recipe for a traditional potato-and-onion tortilla.
TORTILLA - Spanish Omelette
Ingrediants:
Olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed with 1 teaspoon salt 2 medium-sized potatoes, peeled and diced Black pepper 6 eggs, beaten
Method:
1. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan. 2. Add onion, garlic, pepper and potatoes. 3. Gently fry until golden-brown and potatoes slightly softened. 4. Tip potato-and-onion mixture into bowl containing the beaten eggs. 5. Stir and transfer to a large frying pan containing clean oil. 6. Cook over a low heat for 10-15 minutes. 7. Transfer pan to a preheated hot grill until top is browned. 8. Alternatively, turn upside down onto a plate and return to pan to brown underside. 9. Carefully tip onto plate and slice as you would a cake.
Linda Plummer lives on the Costa Blanca, in Spain, and is webmaster of http://www.top-tour-of-spain.com with its FREE newsletter, the Magic of Spain.
Yes, it sounds dangerous and the potential for messes seems... Read More
Sweet and sour fish is one of the most popular... Read More
EASY No-Roll Pie Crust3 cups flour1 teaspoon salt2 teaspoons sugar2/3... Read More
Serendipity frozen hot chocolate is a signature dish at the... Read More
SERVING SIZE,one roll (of 18). CARBS PER SERVING,: 2.8 grams... Read More
Twenty-three chefs who cooked for world royalty and heads of... Read More
Are you struggling to lose or maintain your weight? Then... Read More
There are two ways to pronounce scone. "Skon" in England... Read More
You can trust me that I make sure to take... Read More
As I walked through the grocery store aisles a few... Read More
Seafood Fettuccine is always a top seller in our restaurants.... Read More
These pasta recipes are excellent for dinners or parties.In this... Read More
A customer emailed us and said that her mother loved... Read More
Many of us have an inner baker inside us that... Read More
Eating steak has always been a symbol of prosperity. During... Read More
Chili cooks always want to discover that award-winning chili recipe... Read More
Green vegetables are the food most missing in modern diets.... Read More
Sole/flounder is a refreshing sweet and mild flavored fish which... Read More
Bottom Layer:1/2 cup butter or margarine1 cup sugar2 cups flour1/2... Read More
The Microwave Generation of the 1990's has now finished school... Read More
Spain is famous for its tapas and, whichever Spanish bar... Read More
Different cultures have their own way of taking some water... Read More
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five elements... Read More
Ribollita is a delicious low fat Italian soup, a bit... Read More
Fudge is a treat that everyone loves. It doesn't matter... Read More
Spaghetti has always been a favorite family meal. My teenage... Read More
What makes Thai BBQ chicken recipes so delicious? It is... Read More
IngredientsRomaine Lettuce (head $1.29) 1 pound of steak ($10 per... Read More
Ingredients: ¾ cup cold water plus 2 Tablesps (very important)... Read More
I love bananas for breakfast.I think bananas a convenient food... Read More
Many people have different ideas on how to prepare great... Read More
With everyone watching their weight and seeking out recipes that... Read More
Easy summer salads are the way to go, now that... Read More
Sharp and sour but sweet and succulent all at the... Read More
Before you set off on your next family walk or... Read More
In high school, learning a new recipe (especially dessert recipes)... Read More
Prep Time: 5 Minutes Cook Time: 30 Minutes Ready In:... Read More
Strudel Makes the WomanGrandpa Max loved butter cookies. He liked... Read More
Our family has recently made the switch from ground beef... Read More
These muffins are not only tasty, but they're also a... Read More
Here are two **Must Try** Mexican recipes! They are HOT,... Read More
Little pounded shrimp balls seasoned and fried till lightly brown.... Read More
Come August, there is nowhere I'd rather NOT be than... Read More
You can trust me that I make sure to take... Read More
Grilling recipes give people tremors just thinking of the explosive... Read More
Numerius was a slave and ate one meal a day... Read More
New York style cheesecake recipes are made with a combination... Read More
From the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a... Read More
You will find that this recipe is very easy to... Read More
Ribollita is a delicious low fat Italian soup, a bit... Read More
Wild Watercress soup is a delicious and nutritious recipe with... Read More
In the early nineteen forties,women shopped with ration stamps that... Read More
Juniors cheesecake restaurant was founded in 1950 by Harry Rosen,... Read More
Remnants of dried peas were found in Egyptian tombs. Hot... Read More
First of all, paella is not exactly the dish but... Read More
Many low fat low cholesterol recipes are usually bland and... Read More
Making beer is easy, inexpensive, and most of all, fun.... Read More
Sometimes the easiest way to get children to eat healthy... Read More
If you are seeking a very unique flavored bbq sauce... Read More
One of my fondest childhood memories is the celebrations around... Read More
As you look over a couple of prime rib recipes... Read More
There are two ways to pronounce scone. "Skon" in England... Read More
It's tomato time! If you're a gardener, you might be... Read More
Americans love dessert so much that some of us eat... Read More
FELIZ NAVIDAD...IT'S A LOW CARB CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS FIESTA!We low carbers... Read More
Mornings are hectic. If you make your pancake batter the... Read More
Recipes & Food and Drink |