Spanish Patatas Bravas

Some dishes earn their place in a country's soul not through complexity, but through pure satisfaction. Patatas bravas—crispy potato cubes swimming in spicy tomato sauce and cool aioli—represents everything great about Spanish tapas culture: simple ingredients, bold flavors, and the kind of food that makes you want to order another round.

The name means "fierce potatoes," and while the heat level varies from bar to bar, the principle stays the same: potatoes fried until their edges crackle, then dressed with sauces that provide both fire and relief.

Ingredients

For the potatoes:

🥔 2 pounds waxy potatoes (Yukon Gold work well)
🫒 Vegetable oil for frying
🧂 Sea salt to taste

For the bravas sauce:

🍅 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
🧅 1 small onion, finely diced
🧄 3 cloves garlic, minced
🫒 2 tablespoons olive oil
🌶️1 teaspoon smoked paprika (pimentón dulce)
🌶️ 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika (pimentón picante)
🌶️1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
🍯 1 teaspoon sugar
🧂 Salt and pepper to taste
🍶 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

For the aioli:

🥚 3 egg yolks
🧄 2 cloves garlic, minced
🍋 1 tablespoon lemon juice
🫒 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
🧂 Salt to taste

Instructions

Make the bravas sauce first. Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

Build the sauce base. Add both paprikas and cayenne, stirring for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. Stir in sherry vinegar and adjust seasoning. Keep warm.

Prepare the aioli. In a bowl, whisk egg yolks with minced garlic and lemon juice. While whisking constantly, very slowly drizzle in olive oil until thick and emulsified. Season with salt. If too thick, thin with a few drops of warm water.

Prep the potatoes. Wash and peel potatoes, then cut into 1-inch cubes. Try to keep them uniform for even cooking. Pat completely dry with paper towels—moisture is the enemy of crispy potatoes.

Heat the oil. Fill a large, heavy pot with 2-3 inches of oil and heat to 350°F (175°C). Use enough oil so the potatoes can move freely.

Fry in batches. Working in batches to avoid overcrowding, fry potato cubes for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy on all edges. They should float and bubble vigorously.

Drain and season. Remove potatoes with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season immediately with sea salt while they're hot.

Assemble and serve. Arrange hot potatoes on a serving plate. Drizzle generously with warm bravas sauce, then add dollops of aioli. Serve immediately with toothpicks for easy eating.

Technique Notes

The key to perfect patatas bravas is achieving maximum crispiness. This means: completely dry potatoes, oil at the right temperature, and not overcrowding the pot.

Some Spanish bars parboil their potatoes first, then fry them. This creates an extra-fluffy interior, but it's not essential for good results.

If your aioli breaks, start over with a fresh egg yolk and slowly whisk the broken aioli into it—it usually comes back together.

Serving & Storage

Patatas bravas are best eaten immediately while the potatoes are still crispy. The sauces can be made ahead and refrigerated—the bravas sauce for up to 5 days, the aioli for up to 3 days.

In Spain, these are never eaten as a meal but always as tapas, alongside other small plates and usually with beer or wine.

Remix Ideas

Smoky version: Add a chopped chipotle pepper to the bravas sauce for extra heat and smoke.

Herb aioli: Fold chopped parsley or chives into the aioli for color and freshness.

Roasted option: For a healthier version, roast potato cubes at 425°F until crispy, then toss with the sauces.

Spicy aioli: Add a pinch of cayenne or a small amount of bravas sauce to the aioli for unified heat.

Perfect patatas bravas should make you reach for a cold beer and settle in for a long evening of conversation. They're proof that the best bar food doesn't need to be complicated—just potatoes that shatter when you bite them, sauce with enough heat to wake you up, and aioli cool enough to calm you down. Serve them alongside Gazpacho Andaluz for a proper Spanish tapas experience.