Cubed fried potatoes with a spicy paprika sauce – Patatas bravas are one of the most popular Spanish tapas. While there are different versions around the country, the passion for these spicy potatoes is high.
Quick facts about Patatas bravas
- Also known as: Spanish Spicy Potatoes
- Definition: Patatas bravas is a Spanish tapa made with potatoes and a spicy sauce, usually cubed and fried, served hot, and known for the hot paprika flavour.
- Context: invented in Madrid, with only sweet and hot paprika sauce; some versions add tomatoes to the Brava sauce. In Barcelona and Valencia, you can find a version of Patatas bravas with a two-sauce combo that includes alioli.
- Served: hot
- Texture: crunchy, soft, creamy
- Flavour: savoury, smoky, spicy
- Pronunciation: puh·TA·tas BRAA·vas
- One-line verdict: Patatas bravas is for the potato lovers who love a kick, when regular fries and ketchup are not enough, and want to try something local.
Why it’s worth ordering
You’ll want to try Patatas bravas because they are a great combo of crispy potatoes and warm, spicy sauce. Whether you’re eating the version with only the paprika sauce or the version with the alioli sauce added, the combination is delicious. A fun snack to eat while talking with friends.
This tapa also goes very well mixed with others like calamares fritos or boquerones fritos. You’ll find them on virtually every tapas bar menu in Spain. They are one of the most rewarding first orders for anyone new to tapas. That is a great reason to have Patatas bravas in mind when choosing what tapas to order.
Taste and texture
Having the potatoes cut into cubes instead of sticks gives the texture room to remain soft on the inside, while keeping the outside golden and crunchy. Eating one cube starts with tasting the salty, slightly crispy exterior and continues with enjoying the warm burst of soft potato texture. Add the velvety brava sauce, and you get the local smoky and mildly hot taste of paprika. Mix with alioli sauce and your experience gets a creamy, garlicky addition.
As you take bite after bite, you mix the potatoes with the sauces you get. You mix the potatoes with whichever sauce you prefer, get lost in conversation, and by the time you remember to eat, the potatoes start to soften and get a luxurious coating from the sauces.
How to order it
Ordering Patatas bravas is as simple as asking the waiter:
- “las bravas, por favor”
- “una bravas”
You’d order this tapa together with other tapas and share them. Nobody will kick you out of the bar if you’re alone and want to enjoy them alone, but it’s not really customary.
Quick decision guide
You’ll like it if: you like potatoes and smoky, mildly hot flavors.
Frequently asked questions
Patatas bravas aren’t usually overly spicy hot. The bravas sauce is made with hot and sweet paprika rather than chilli, so the heat is milder than you might expect — more warmth than burn. The best thing to do is to share them with somebody and try just a little at first.
Probably not. The recipe for the Brava sauce says to add chicken stock, and while the original alioli sauce uses just olive oil and garlic, many places use store bought which has eggs.
