Why Spanish Potatoes Taste Better: My Favorite Dishes to Make at Home
Find out why Spanish potato dishes taste so good, and how you can make some of the best potato recipes at home.
I wholeheartedly understand why potatoes are loved worldwide, they’re versatile, readily available, and cheap. What’s really amazing is how each cuisine uses and transforms this humble vegetable into completely different dishes.
Obviously I’d tried patatas bravas before moving to Spain, but I hadn’t expected how many other potato recipes there were. Even now, after 7 years,I continue to stumble across dishes I haven’t tried. What sets Spanish potato recipes apart, or makes them distinctive, are the herbs and spices used. I’ll explain why, and give you some of my favorite recipes that are easy to make at home.
What Goes Into a Spanish Potato Dish
Like most Spanish dishes, potato recipes vary by region so this is going to be a generalized summary. Not all regions will cook in the same way or use the same herbs and spices as enthusiastically. And, many recipes also call for chorizo, chicken, or other protein sources.
Unlike many cuisines, cheese doesn’t feature heavily with potatoes (although this combo is certainly a winner). However, common accompaniments include onion, garlic, white wine, or stock.
In general, here’s what makes a Spanish potato dish:
- Herbs: Rosemary, thyme, parsley, bay leaves, or oregano.
- Spices: Cumin, paprika (sweet or smoked), cayenne pepper, saffron, or cloves.
- Sherry vinegar: This is found in so many Spanish recipes and not just potato dishes. It really can make a dish pop and just adds that little bit of something.
- Chorizo: While there are many types of Spanish chorizo I would say it’s often described as having a smoky flavor profile, thanks to the paprika. Naturally, Chorizo and potato are a flavor match!
If you’re drooling already and keen to try a potato recipe, I’ll start by sharing my top vegan recipes, then vegetarian options, and end with some meat and potato dishes (hello all you chorizo lovers out there!).
Vegan Spanish Potato Recipes
Good news my vegan friends, there are loads of tasty vegan potato recipes that are loaded with Spanish flavors, herbs and spices. Here are a few Spanish potato recipes that are our standout favorites:
Patatas Panaderas
Patatas Panaderas (Oven-Roasted Spanish Potatoes) is a one-pan recipe that requires just five minutes of prep. The key flavors come from sherry vinegar, onion, rosemary, and garlic. Everything is cooked slowly in the oven, which makes the onion slightly caramelized and gives the potatoes a lovely tender interior and crisp edges.
🍽️ Serving: Side for 4-6
⏰ Ready time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
✅ Difficulty: Easy One pot recipe
To serve: It’s traditionally served as a side dish or part of a tapas spread.
Papas Arrugadas
Papas Arrugadas (Canarian wrinkly potatoes) get their curious name from the way the potatoes look after they’re cooked. Don’t let this put you off though, they’re just cooked with a lot of salt and shrivel a little. This isn’t the end of the story though as they’re served with one or more mojo sauces.
If you haven’t tried mojo sauces before, you’re in for a treat. Absolutely loaded with flavor, these not only complement their wrinkly potato friends perfectly but can be used as a spread or dip, so I always make extra.
🍽️ Serving: Tapas for 4
⏰ Ready time: 45 minutes
To serve: Serve it as part of a tapas spread or as an appetizer.
Patatas a lo Pobre
Patatas a lo Pobre (Poor Man’s Potatoes) is deceptively tasty for how simple it is. It’s literally potatoes roasted with red pepper, onion, garlic, salt, and olive oil. With the aid of paprika, rosemary, and lemon, the result is magical.
🍽️ Serving: Tapas/side for 6
⏰ Ready time: 55 minutes
✅ Difficulty: Very Easy
To serve: Serve it as a main or side dish.
Vegetarian Spanish Potato Recipes
Patatas Mozárabes
Patatas Mozárabes (Potatoes Mozarabic) is my current personal favorite. I can’t get over the sauce. It’s mind blowing. It’s not just me either, whenever we have people over, it jumps to the top of their list too.
Anyway, an Andalusian recipe, it consists of boiled potatoes with a creamy sauce made with mayonnaise, olive oil, spices, mustard, and a touch of honey. It combines so many spices, including cloves, and I think that’s the secret to this punchy little number.
🍽️ Serving: Tapas for 2-3
⏰ Ready time: Under 20 minutes
✅ Difficulty: Easy
To serve: Serve it as a tapa or appetizer.
Patatas a la Importancia
Patatas a la Importancia is potatoes simmered in broth which gives it a rich flavor, despite looking like fairly normal scalloped potatoes. The potatoes are also lightly battered which helps, and there’s the boost from white wine, saffron, and smoked paprika. The texture is rather soft and creamy, and they’re really delicious.
🍽️ Serving: Tapas for 4 | Main for 2
⏰ Ready time: Under 1 hour
✅ Difficulty: Easy
To serve: This can be a main or a side dish.
Tortilla Española
The classic Spanish tortilla (or omelette) is up there with the most popular and famous tapas recipes. While it can be a bit tricky to make at home, we made a newer, easier, healthier, tortilla recipe than our original.
This version has just six ingredients and you can make it in around 25 minutes. The ingredients you’ll need are potatoes, olive oil, onions, eggs, nutmeg, and salt and pepper. Note, the nutmeg is not traditionally used but well worth experimenting with.
🍽️ Serving: 6 slices
⏰ Ready time: around 30 minutes
✅ Difficulty: Moderate
To serve: Serve it as a tapa or as a main with some salad.
Spanish Potato Recipes with Meat
Rioja-Style Potatoes with Chorizo
Rioja-Style Potatoes with Chorizo (Patatas a la Riojana) comes from the Rioja region, known for its gastronomy and world-class wines. This is effectively a potato stew that is transformed into something magical with the help of chorizo sausage, chorizo pepper, and paprika. It gives off a lovely smoky flavor thanks to the smoked paprika and chorizo. Warming, delicious, and oh-so-satisfying.
🍽️ Serving: Main for 6
⏰ Ready time: Under 1 hour
✅ Difficulty: Easy
To serve: This is a main you can serve as is or with some bread.
Huevos Estrellados – Spanish Eggs and Potatoes
Huevos Estrellados is something of a classic when it comes to potato recipes. Golden, crispy potatoes topped with perfectly fried eggs and salty jamón—huevos estrellados (also known as huevos rotos) is one of Spain’s most iconic tapas dishes.
This classic Spanish eggs and potatoes recipe is simple, affordable, and packed with flavor. With just a handful of ingredients and under 30 minutes, you can recreate this Madrid favorite at home.
🍽️ Serving: Tapas for 2
⏰ Ready time: 30 minutes
✅ Difficulty: Easy
Catalan Beef Stew (Estofado a la Catalana)
Catalan Beef Stew (Estofado a la Catalana) is not a quick recipe and has a million ingredients, but it is worth it. To whet your appetite, here are just some of the ingredients you’ll need: cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate – yep, they all go in the stew. This is ready in 3 hours and 15 minutes so plan ahead, and invite some friends to impress them.
🍽️ Serving: Main for 24
⏰ Ready time: 3 hours, 15 minutes
✅ Difficulty: Easy
To serve: This is definitely a main meal. Even though there are two potatoes in the stew, this isn’t much and I like to serve it with mashed potato.
Lacón a la Gallega
Lacón a la Gallega is a tapas made with potatoes and cured ham, along with a little paprika, salt, and olive oil. This one is easy, no fuss, and obviously tasty, without needing to try.
🍽️ Serving: Tapas for 4
⏰ Ready time: Under 20 minutes
✅ Difficulty: Easy
Final Thoughts
I hope you’ve found some new potato recipes you’re excited to try. We’ll keep making and posting new ones. In the meantime, why not check out some salad recipes to go with your potato dishes, or desserts for that perfect sweet finale.
