Patatas bravas

Patatas bravas is a Spanish dish of fried potato pieces served with a spicy garlicky tomato sauce. It’s enjoyed as a tapa (appetizer) in tapas bars and homes throughout Spain — usually accompanied with a little wine, sherry or beer and lots of good conversation.

To save on calories, without diminishing the flavor, our version of patatas bravas is made with potatoes that are baked until crisp. Baking the potatoes also leaves us free to make the sauce, which is a simple and delicious mixture of tomatoes, red onion and garlic seasoned with chili, smoked paprika, and a dash of red wine vinegar.

We use authentic Spanish smoked sweet paprika, because it adds a unique richness and smokiness to the sauce, but if you can’t get your hands on the real stuff, regular paprika is a reasonable substitute.

To serve patatas bravas, you can either spoon the sauce over the top of the potatoes (like we do), or you can mix the potatoes into the sauce, or you can serve the sauce on the side to dip the potatoes into – it’s up to you. In any case, sprinkle chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley over the top for an appetizing green garnish. And for a fun way to eat it, use toothpicks to skewer the potato pieces.

Although patatas bravas makes a great appetizer, it also works really well as a side dish. We often enjoy it served with grilled marinated tuna and a green salad. Also, as a variation, you can serve the sauce — thinned with a little stock, wine or water — as the base of a Spanish stew together with peppers, potatoes, olives, seafood, chicken or beans.