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Tortilla española. ¡A comer! Posted by on Jul 12, 2010 in Spanish Culture

España es famosa por su cultura tan particular. También por la gran cantidad de ciudades llenas de historia y encanto. El carácter de su gente contribuye a que sea un país demandado para pasar temporadas, o vivir en él de forma habitual. Pero si hay algo que merece quitarse el sombrero en mi tierra, ¡es la tortilla de patatas! Así que pongámonos manos a la obra. Ya veréis que es un plato muy sencillo. Para cuatro personas, (o mejor aún, para menos y poder repetir) necesitaremos los siguientes ingredientes:

–         5 o 6 huevos

–         5 patatas medianas

–         aceite de oliva, indispensable para el toque perfecto

–         sal

–         una cebolla mediana

Si la cocinera soy yo, la cebolla sobra, manías que tiene una… En primer lugar troceamos la patata en cuadraditos, y la freímos en abundante aceite de oliva bien caliente, y a fuego medio.

Mientras tanto, en un cuenco, batimos los huevos. Añadimos un poquito de sal, y a seguir batiendo hasta que estén bien esponjosos o empiece a dolernos la muñeca.

Cuando empiecen a estar doraditas, las retiramos del fuego y quitamos parte del aceite que hemos usado. ¡Cuidado para no quemarse! Mezclamos bien las patatas con los huevos en el cuenco, rectificamos de sal, y volvemos a poner todo en la sartén. Un pequeño truco para que salga más suave es añadir un chorreoncito de leche.

Para que no se pegue, haremos leves movimientos circulares. A fuego lento, esperaremos a que el huevo esté un poco cuajado, y entonces le daremos la vuelta. Se puede usar una tapadera grande, un plato llano o, si el cocinero es experto, lanzándola y volteándola en el aire. Como yo quiero estar segura de que probaré la tortilla, uso alguna de las dos primeras opciones. Cuando esté hecha por el otro lado, más o menos dorada según el gusto, es hora de apagar el fuego.

La tortilla española puede servirse fría, caliente, en tacos, para tapear, sola, o acompañada de un buen tomate picado, mahonesa si sois atrevidos, y un buen vino de la tierra. ¡Que aproveche!

Spain is famous for its peculiar culture. It also boasts a fair amount of charming cities full of history. The character of its people makes it a sought-after country to spend some vacation time, or even to settle in. But if there is anything that deserves taking your hat off in my country, it is the Spanish omelette! So let’s get to work and make one. You will see that it is a very simple dish. For four people, (or even better, for two, and that way you’ll be able to have seconds) we will need the following ingredients:

–    5 or 6 eggs

–    5 medium-sized potatoes

–    Olive oil, essential for the perfect touch

–    Salt

–    One medium-sized onion

If I am the cook, we can get rid of the onion, my funny ways… First, we cut the potatoes into little pieces, and fry them in abundant hot olive oil, over medium heat.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, we beat the eggs. We add a pinch of salt, and continue beating until they are well aerated or your wrist starts hurting.

When the potatoes start browning, we remove them from the fire and drain the excess oil. Watch out or you’ll burn yourself! We mix the potatoes with the eggs in the bowl, add more salt to your taste, and put everything back in the frying pan. A small trick to make it softer is to add a dash of milk.

To prevent the omelette from sticking, we stir it in slow circular movements. Over a low heat, we wait until the egg starts to cook, and then we flip it. You can use a wide enough lid, a dinner plate, or, if the cook is an expert, by throwing it up and flipping it in the air. Since I want to make sure that I have something left to eat, I will use one of the first two options. When you think the other side is cooked, and brown enough according to your taste, it is time to turn off the fire.

La tortilla española can be served cold, warm, in cubes, as a snack, alone, or with a good fresh tomato salad, mayonnaise if you dare, and a good local wine. Bon appetite!

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About the Author: Magda

Hi all! I’m Magda, a Spanish native speaker writing the culture posts in the Transparent Language Spanish blog. I have a Bachelor’s in English Philology and a Master’s in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Granada, in Spain. I have also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, and then worked as an English teacher in several schools and academies for several years. Last year was my first at university level. In addition, I work as a private tutor, teaching English and Spanish as a foreign language to students and adults. In my free time, I’m an avid reader and writer, editing and collaborating in several literary blogs. I have published my first poetry book recently. And last but not least, I love photography!