“Why don’t you make a Spanish Omelet?” That was probably one of the first questions I got asked by International students in Missoula, who wanted to know how to make a Spanish omelette. How could I deny them that gastronomic pleasure? So here we share the secret to create one of the most traditional dishes in Spain ;-)
Spanish omelet: when, where and why it was created?
Before answering the answer How to make a Spanish omelette?, let’s explore where it comes from. The truth is that there isn’t a single story that tells when, where and who created the Spanish omelet. There are a couple of explanations:
For instance, there is a famous legend which tells that General Tomás de Zumalacárregui was who invented the Spanish omelet dish in 1835. It was basically a dish easy and quick to prepare specially to feed his troops during the Carlist wars. This is probably the most popular explanation, but as of today it hasn’t been 100% documented and confirmed.
Also, there is this second story that tells that the Spanish omelet was invented in 1835, in Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz). And why was it invented specifically in that small town? Well, as Javier López Linaje, professor at the CSIC, describes in his book “La patata en España. Historia y Agroecología del Tubérculo Andino”, it appeared as a result of both by chance and necessity. It was in the 18th century, a period of poverty and need, when in search of new ways of cooking food that was cheaper and accessible to everyone, the Spanish omelet was created.
If you haven’t try it yet, here you have the recipe to make your own Spanish Omelet:
Spanish omelet recipe
Ingredients to make a Spanish omelet
- 6-7 medium potatoes, peeled
- 1 whole Bellow onion
- 4-5 large eggs
- 2-3 cups of olive oil for pan-frying
- Salt to taste
Spanish omelette step by step:
1. Peel and cut the potatoes. Peel the potatoes and slice them in pieces.
2. Peel and chop the onion. Peel and chop the onions, and then mix potatoes and onions into a bowl. Add salt to the mixture.
3. Fry the potatoes and onions. In a large frying pan heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Place the potato and onion mixture into the frying pan, spreading it over the surface. Make sure the oil almost covers the potatoes.
4. Beat eggs and mix with potatoes and onions. Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat with a fork. Pour in the potato onion mixture when is done from frying. Mix together with a spoon.
5. Cook the tortilla on a pan. Pour 1-2 Tbsp of olive oil into a frying pan and heat on medium. When hot, stir the mixture into the pan and spread out.
6. Turning the tortilla. When the mixture has browned on the bottom, you should turn it over to cook the other side. Turning the tortilla is probably the most crucial step, so we recommend you to take the frying pan to a sink and place a dinner plate over the frying pan. With one hand on the frying pan handle and the other on top of the plate, turn the frying pan over quickly. The tortilla will fall onto the plate.
7. Return the tortilla to the pan. Then slide the tortilla into the frying pan again, and use the spatula to shape the sides of it. Let it cook for 3-4 minutes.
Spanish omelet almost ready to serve. And the best part: now you also know how to make a spanish omelette.
¡BUEN PROVECHO! :)
And if you want to try another famous Catalan dish aside from the Spanish omelet, we also invite you to make pa amb tomàquet.