"I made Spanish Tortilla - My Way. A little Spanish, a little Quichey, and with a whole heck a lot more flavor!"
The Making of Spanish Tortilla - My Way
It all started with some potatoes in the pantry that needed to be used before they needed to be tossed.
I don't like to toss food, even if it is to the chickens or the compost, so I decided to use them up and make some of Lindy's Family Potato Salad to go with some of The Bested Most Tenderest Ribs Ever.
I had six large russets; and with only BB and me at home, I certainly didn't need to make that much potato salad, so I boiled them all and used four in the salad leaving me with two to go.
So now what should I make?
The next morning was Sunday and as you may already know, BB and I like to enjoy a leisurely, fairly late in the morning, brunchy kind of breakfast, with some bubbles.
I kept thinking about crisp potatoes on the bottom of a quiche-like dish. But with the potatoes already cooked, I felt the crisp part would be lacking. Then my brain went on our trip to Spain.
And the tapas.
And the display cases filled with edibles like Spanish tortillas, olives, bread stuffed with prosciutto and cheese, pizza squares (no they do not do the typical pie in Spain, they make their pizza on a square cookie sheet and cut them into squares)... sold cold or hot, your choice.
I also remembered BB telling me when he lived in Pamplona, he loved the tortillas, hot or cold. So I thought that's what I'll make, a Spanish Tortilla.
In doing some investigation into what exactly that was, I was a little disappointed in what was the flavor department. Pretty much you deep-fry potatoes in olive oil until they are soft, remove them from the oil, mix up some eggs, add salt and pepper and fold the potatoes into the eggs, then pour into a pan and cook; place under the broiler and done.
Sounds boring.
And fattening.
So I made Spanish Tortilla - My Way. A little Spanish, a little Quichey, and with a whole heck a lot more flavor and by using already cooked potatoes - a lot less fat.
Video How to Make Spanish Tortilla My Way
I decided to use my handy trusty cast-iron skillet. Did you know that a properly seasoned cast iron skillet is as good as your chemically sprayed Teflon pan? Well, it is.
The Care and Feeding of a Cast Iron Skillet
The key to using and caring for cast iron is simple - keep it seasoned. My mother has used cast iron for as long as I can remember - and still uses it today at age 92. She said that when she can't lift them anymore, then she's going to just stop cooking.
She had to re-season her pans once, and she was none too happy about that. My ex-husband, TR, and I moved in with my parents for a short while after he was released from the Air Force, while we looked for a new place to live. TR has never been a sit-back-and-do-nothing kind of guy, and his new job had not yet started, so he thought that he would be totally helpful and do something useful around the house. He found Mom's pans in the kitchen. Dark as night, black and shiny. Dirty he thought.
So he cleaned them.
Cleaned them good as the day she bought them.
25 years previous.
She was less than happy. Much less.
Don't clean your pans so they look new. At least not your cast iron pans.
I rarely use soap on mine and always put them directly on the stove to dry over high heat. Then, using a paper towel, I rub a little olive oil over the surface. Once cooled, they are as good as non-stick to use..
Step by Step Instructions
I started with some chopped onion which I sautéed in some extra virgin olive oil mixed with a little ghee or clarified butter until they just began to brown.
Then I added the potatoes along with a good pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper, which I also just let begin to brown. But not too much.
To the eggs, I added a bit of a local dry jack cheese, Pepato, which is studded in black peppercorns, so good. If you can't find that you could use another semi-dry cheese such as Manchego or Asiago, along with some cream, a bit of finely minced rosemary and parsley. Now we are talking flavor town!
I poured the eggs over the potatoes and gently stirred them into the mixture.
Using a rubber spatula, I gently lifted the eggs and potatoes from the edge allowing the raw eggs to seep under; when the eggs were firm but not cooked through I placed the pan on the top shelf of a 350º oven and cooked it for about 5 minutes, or until the eggs were completely cooked and then turned on the broiler for about 3 - 5 minutes to brown the top. Watch this closely so they don't burn cause it happens fast!
And then, binga banga boom.
Spanish Tortilla - My Way!
I loved loved loved the way this turned out. Onion and potatoes, nestled into fluffy creamy eggs along with the subtle flavors of rosemary and parsley shining through. And it was easy too. All you need is...love.
OK...love, potatoes, onions, eggs, cream, parsley...well, now you have the recipe.
Enjoy!
Spanish Tortilla-My Way
Equipment
- Well seasoned 10-inch cast iron pan OR heavy bottomed non-stick skillet
- Cheese grater
Ingredients
- 6 large eggs
- ½ cup cream
- 1 ounce shredded semi-dry cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter I use clarified butter or Ghee
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 2 large cooked russet potatoes about 2 cups quartered then sliced about ¼ inch thick
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F. In a large mixing bowl combine the eggs and cream, whisk until well combined, then add the cheese, parsley, rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir to combine - set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter together in an ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over a medium heat; add the onions and sauté, stirring often, until beginning to brown around the edges. Add the potatoes along with a good pinch of salt and freshly ground pepper; cook, stirring gently so as not to break up the potato, until just beginning to brown.
- Give the eggs a good whisk, then gently pour around the potatoes. Using a rubber spatula or spoon, stir gently to incorporate the potatoes into the eggs. Cook, lifting the outside edge of the tortilla and allowing the raw egg to slip in under the edge until the tortilla is mostly cooked. Transfer the pan to the top rack of the oven and cook until cooked through about 3 - 5 minutes. Turn on the broiler to high and cook until the top is browned (watch so it doesn't burn). Remove the pan from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Cut and serve.
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