''Patatas bravas'' (, also called ''patatas a la brava'' or ''papas bravas'', all meaning "spicy potatoes") is a dish native to
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
.
It typically consists of
white potatoes that have been cut into cubes, then
fried in
oil and served warm with a spicy "brava" sauce. The brava sauce is primarily sweet or smoked paprika (using high-quality Spanish pimentón de la Vera) and olive oil based, often thickened with
cornstarch
Cornflour, cornstarch, maize starch, or corn starch (American English) is the starch derived from corn (maize) grain. The starch is obtained from the endosperm of the kernel. Corn starch is a common food ingredient, often used to thicken s ...
. Some regions call for the addition of tomato paste, although there can be many variations.
The dish is commonly served in
restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...
s and
bars throughout Spain as a variety of
tapas
Tapas () are appetisers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be combined to make a full meal and are served cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as , which are battered, fried baby squid; or , spicy potatoes). In some bars ...
.
Consumption
''Patatas bravas'' are served in
bars in servings that contain approximately a quarter
kilo of potato. It is frequently consumed as part of
tapas
Tapas () are appetisers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be combined to make a full meal and are served cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as , which are battered, fried baby squid; or , spicy potatoes). In some bars ...
.
The sauce for patatas bravas is also sometimes served over
mussel
Mussel () is the common name used for members of several families of bivalve molluscs, from saltwater and Freshwater bivalve, freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other ...
s. This dish is known as ''mejillones en salsa brava''.
See also
*
French fries
French fries, or simply fries, also known as chips, and finger chips (Indian English), are '' batonnet'' or '' julienne''-cut deep-fried potatoes of disputed origin. They are prepared by cutting potatoes into even strips, drying them, and f ...
*
Potato chip
Potato chips (North American English and Australian English; often just chip) or crisp (British English and Hiberno-English) are thin slices of potato (or a thin deposit of potato paste) that has been deep frying, deep fried, baking, baked, ...
*
Papas arrugadas
*
List of potato dishes
* ''
Patatas a lo pobre''
References
Spanish cuisine
Fried potato
Deep fried foods
National dishes
Tapas
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