Spanish Omelet

The Spanish omelet (tortilla) is one of the best-known Spanish dishes, and it would be very rare to find a tapas bar that does not offer the Spanish tortilla. This tapa is versatile, and other ingredients such as mushrooms, tomatoes, and peppers can be added to create variety. Spanish tortilla can be served warm or cold, and is often topped with mayonnaise or tomato sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) waxy potatoes
- 1 large white/Spanish onion (optional)
- About 1 liter oil (olive oil preferred)
- 6 eggs
- 1 pinch salt
Steps
- Peel potatoes. Slice quite thin.
- Heat oil on low heat in a large sauté pan.
- Add potatoes. Fry until soft and cooked through, not browned; do not rush. Cover the pan so steam cooks the top potatoes.
- Slice the onion thinly. Fry lightly in a frying pan, stirring frequently, a few minutes until sweet. Or add to the potatoes for the last five minutes of cooking.
- Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add salt.
- Add the hot potatoes and onion to the egg. Mix gently. Leave 5 minutes so the egg starts cooking and coats the potato slices.
- Drain the oil. Reserve for another use.
- Pour the potato, onion and egg mix back into the pan. Cook about 5 minutes on low heat, keeping the pan moving so it does not stick. A non-stick pan helps.
- When the edge of the tortilla looks cooked, place a large flat plate over the pan like a lid. Hold the plate with one hand. Turn the whole thing over, preferably over the sink the first few times.
- Check the pan is clean. Scrape off stuck bits. Add a bit of oil if dry. Slide the omelette back into the pan, raw side down.
- Cook a few more minutes.
- Repeat the turning a couple of times to cook evenly.
- Transfer to a large plate. Cut into wedges. Serve with more tapas.
Notes from the original
- Sliced tomatoes, fresh bread, and mayonnaise make this into a great meal.
Source. Adapted from “Cookbook:Spanish Omelet” by Wikibooks contributors, revision of 2025-06-21, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Changes. Steps rewritten into short commands. Introduction shortened. Wiki formatting removed. This adapted recipe is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photo. Tortilla patatas.jpg (author listed on the file page), CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia. Resized; otherwise unchanged.






