Egg Dishes/ Spanish Recipes

Spanish Tortilla Omelette

Spanish Tortilla (or Tortilla Española) looks easier to make than it really is! Last year I attended a 5-week intensive course in Spanish cooking in Madrid and one of the first dishes we made was a Spanish Tortilla. My first thoughts were “I traveled thousands of miles to Spain in order to make a simple omelette?”

Well, I was quickly humbled since I wound up burning my tortilla and it was “too dry” according to the chef! 

It turns out that making the Spanish tortilla was more difficult than I thought. Different from the flat Mexican tortilla, this dish is more like an omelette, made of eggs, potatoes and sometimes onions. The trick is to cook the potatoes and eggs thoroughly enough, while still leaving the tortilla moist and creamy inside. Also, don’t forget the delicate layering effect of the omelette- if you slice your potatoes too thick, you’ll be left with a ‘chunky tortilla!’

The Spanish Tortilla has a long history- legend has it that the simple but nutritious tortilla was invented in the early 1800s by a Spanish Carlist general to feed his army. Today, it is a mainstay of Spanish culture- you’ll find the Tortilla Española offered in most tapas bars in Spain. So, if you want to learn Spanish cooking, you definitely need to learn to make this dish!

Here area few tips to make a successful Spanish Tortilla:

Tip #1- slice the potatoes thinly and cook thoroughly on the stove top

First, peel the potato, cut in half lengthwise then slice crosswise thinly into pieces 1/8 inch thick (2-3 mm). Cook on stove top in olive oil until soft, but not overcooked.

Tip #2- slice the onions into thin strips and cook in olive oil

Cut the onion in half through the root, then into thin strips; cook thoroughly in olive oil

Tip #3-When cooking the eggs with the potatoes and onions, do not burn the bottom of the tortilla.

Cook the tortilla over medium-low heat until the mixture is cooked through but still moist on top. Place a lid on top to help the cooking of the eggs. You’ll be flipping the tortilla over onto a large plate so it’s important that the eggs are not runny.

 

Tip #4- After you flip the tortilla over onto a large plate, gently slide it back down into the pan to cook the underside.

This will be the test to see if you’ve burned the bottom of the tortilla!

Tip #5 -Tuck the edges under with a rubber spatula to neaten up the tortilla.

 

Spanish Tortilla Omelette

Print Recipe
Serves: 3-4 Cooking Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

  • 2 cups potatoes (one large or two smaller potatoes), sliced thinly
  • 1 1/2 cups sliced onion
  • 7-8 eggs
  • Olive oil
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1

Peel the potato, slice in half lengthwise, then slice crosswise into thin pieces 1/8 inch (2-3 mm) thick. Heat several tbsps olive oil in a medium-size skillet, add potato slices and salt/pepper and cook for about 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are soft. Remove from pan and set aside.

2

Peel the onion and cut in half lengthwise (through the root), then slice thinly lengthwise into long strips. Heat oil in skillet, add the onions with a little salt and cook covered for about 10 minutes until soft. Combine the cooked onions with the potatoes in a bowl.

3

Whisk the eggs in a large bowl and season with salt and pepper; add the onions and potatoes and combine well.

4

Heat several tbsps olive oil in a medium-sized pan, add the egg mixture and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover with a lid and cook until the eggs are almost cooked on top (but still a bit moist). Be careful not to burn the bottom part of the the tortilla as the eggs cook on top.

5

When the eggs are almost cooked through, place a large plate on top of the pan and flip the tortilla over onto the plate. Slide the tortilla back onto the pan and cook the underside for several more minutes until the bottom browns. Tuck the edges of the omelette under using a rubber spatula to neaten the presentation.

6

Remove from pan and serve; the tortilla should be moist inside and colored medium brown on the outside.

Notes

For a variation, you could add some cheese or thinly-sliced tomatoes into the omelette.

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13 Comments

  • Reply
    John/Kitchen Riffs
    January 10, 2018 at 10:04 am

    I havaen’t made this dish in ages! And it’s a good one. Trickier to do than it looks, though, as you mention. Good job with this! Fun recipe — thanks.

    • Reply
      Fran Flint
      January 12, 2018 at 3:06 pm

      Thanks John- yes, it’s a bit tricky, but after the first try, it gets a lot easier!

  • Reply
    Simply Sweet Justice
    January 12, 2018 at 4:41 am

    This looks delicious, Fran. There is a wonderful French restaurant near me that makes this, and I’ve always wanted to try it. Hope your new year is off to a fabulous and delicious start! I so enjoy all of your posts and great recipes.

  • Reply
    Fran Flint
    January 12, 2018 at 3:08 pm

    Happy New Year to you! You have been one of my most loyal ‘followers’- thanks so much!

  • Reply
    Sizzle and Grill Manual
    January 15, 2018 at 10:01 pm

    This is my first time making a tortilla omelet. This recipe looks so good that not trying it might be a big regret. Can I try tossing this one out on the gas grill? as we here in Alabama love grilling that we almost do all our dishes together with the grill. Will that have a different outcome?

  • Reply
    Fran Flint
    January 16, 2018 at 3:21 am

    Thanks so much for stopping by my blog! One standout thing of the Spanish Tortilla is its unique shape, which you get by cooking it in a round skillet. Also, the slightly puffy texture is achieved by cooking it in a skillet. So, unless you could use a skillet in your gas grill, you’ll get a totally different texture with a Spanish Tortilla. I suppose if you first combine the cooked potatoes and onions with the eggs and then cook them directly on a grill plate, you’ll wind up with something more like scrambled eggs- you could always give it a try! I’d like to find out how it turns out!

  • Reply
    David
    January 17, 2018 at 12:01 am

    Thanks for this tutorial, Fran! I have never tackled a Spanish tortilla because I was missing some of the details you provide. Thanks, and I will give it a try! Hope all is well with you!

    • Reply
      Fran Flint
      January 19, 2018 at 2:13 am

      Thank you David. I hope you can try this recipe- it’s easy and delicious!

  • Reply
    Marcellina
    January 17, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    Hi Fran! How wonderful to have had an intensive course in cooking Spanish food in Madrid! I didn’t realise there was so much to a Spanish tortilla. I make this quite often and add a little chorizo or ham maybe a little tomato or peas which would probably be frowned upon by your teacher chef. Also I have to admit, I cheat. I finish it in the oven to prevent the burnt bottom!

    • Reply
      Fran Flint
      January 19, 2018 at 2:12 am

      Yes, I agree- adding something like chorizo or tomato would definitely dress-up the tortilla. Great idea!

  • Reply
    Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
    January 19, 2018 at 12:28 am

    Eggs can be so tough to make and they do burn easily. I’ve never had a Spanish tortilla, but it looks delicious!

  • Reply
    Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
    January 19, 2018 at 2:29 am

    Fran, this is one of those things that probably a lot of people who’ve made it decided they didn’t like it, not realizing that they hadn’t made it properly, underdone potatoes and overdone, rubbery eggs being the biggest problems. Yours looks perfect!

  • Reply
    Raymund
    January 24, 2018 at 5:12 am

    Now this is the one I would love to see at my breakfast table, Yum!

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