I have long coveted my mom’s tortilla de patata “cheat’s”
pan. It basically looks like two frying
pans stuck together, mouth to mouth, with a hook to attach them to each
other. Although most likely frowned upon
by tortilla de patata purists, it effectively eliminates the perilous technique
of making a real tortilla. Now, I am
certain could, if pushed, manage to flip my tortilla to a plate, the insides
still jiggly and uncooked, hot pan dangerously near my fingertips, then
successfully slide this wobbly egg and potato structure back right smack in the
middle of my pan to finish cooking. I am
sure I could. And I’m sure I will…one
day. But this was not that day.
pan. It basically looks like two frying
pans stuck together, mouth to mouth, with a hook to attach them to each
other. Although most likely frowned upon
by tortilla de patata purists, it effectively eliminates the perilous technique
of making a real tortilla. Now, I am
certain could, if pushed, manage to flip my tortilla to a plate, the insides
still jiggly and uncooked, hot pan dangerously near my fingertips, then
successfully slide this wobbly egg and potato structure back right smack in the
middle of my pan to finish cooking. I am
sure I could. And I’m sure I will…one
day. But this was not that day.
I was tired and achy and craving tortilla de patata. Not only did I not have the awesome skills of
traditional tortilla flipping, I didn’t have my mom’s cheat’s pan either. So I had to make do with this.
traditional tortilla flipping, I didn’t have my mom’s cheat’s pan either. So I had to make do with this.
This is, essentially, a cheat within a cheat. My sneaky way of satiating my egg and
potatoes craving (why oh why can’t I crave things like pink chiffon, working out, and trips
to the dermatologist?), without having to go all the way towards making a full
on tortilla de patata. It may not be the
best, or noblest, thing to do, but when you’re feeling under the weather, and you
are in desperate need of earthy potatoes in an eggy blanket, this does very
nicely.
potatoes craving (why oh why can’t I crave things like pink chiffon, working out, and trips
to the dermatologist?), without having to go all the way towards making a full
on tortilla de patata. It may not be the
best, or noblest, thing to do, but when you’re feeling under the weather, and you
are in desperate need of earthy potatoes in an eggy blanket, this does very
nicely.
And the sriracha?
When you are finding yourself a bit slow on the ignition, but still have
a mountain of work to plow through, I find that nothing gets my motor running
quite like a spicy breakfast.
When you are finding yourself a bit slow on the ignition, but still have
a mountain of work to plow through, I find that nothing gets my motor running
quite like a spicy breakfast.
Potato Omelet with Sriracha
- A couple of glugs of olive oil
- 1/2 cup cubed potatoes, cut in 1-cm cubes or smaller (the
bigger the cubes the longer they will cook) - 1/2 a white onion, sliced
- 2 eggs
- Sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
- Sriracha
– Heat a small non-stick skillet. Add the oil – you want a nice, generous
coating. This isn’t to avoid sticking
(as I use a non-stick skillet) but because your potatoes and onions are going
to slow-cook in this.
coating. This isn’t to avoid sticking
(as I use a non-stick skillet) but because your potatoes and onions are going
to slow-cook in this.
– When the oil is hot, add the onions and sauté until
softened. Once onions are soft, add
the potatoes and cook until the potatoes are soft and the edges are golden, and the
onions have taken on a burnished hue.
This may take some time. Be
patient and toss the potatoes occasionally so they don’t scorch.
softened. Once onions are soft, add
the potatoes and cook until the potatoes are soft and the edges are golden, and the
onions have taken on a burnished hue.
This may take some time. Be
patient and toss the potatoes occasionally so they don’t scorch.
– While the potatoes are cooking, break the eggs into a
bowl. Beat with a fork until a uniform
layer of bubbles appears on the surface. Like this.
bowl. Beat with a fork until a uniform
layer of bubbles appears on the surface. Like this.
– When the
potatoes and onions are done transfer them to another bowl and place the
skillet back on the heat. Add a swirl of
oil if the pan is dry.
potatoes and onions are done transfer them to another bowl and place the
skillet back on the heat. Add a swirl of
oil if the pan is dry.
– Add the eggs to the pan. As the bottom sets, push the sides of the egg a bit so the uncooked egg runs underneath.
When there is just a thin layer of wet egg left on top add the potatoes and
the onion to one side of the egg. Flip
the other side over the potatoes. Cook a
few seconds more then transfer to a plate.
Drizzle with sriracha and enjoy immediately.
When there is just a thin layer of wet egg left on top add the potatoes and
the onion to one side of the egg. Flip
the other side over the potatoes. Cook a
few seconds more then transfer to a plate.
Drizzle with sriracha and enjoy immediately.
I have an 8-inch non-stick skillet that I use especially
for eggs and this is what I use here, so these quantities are suited for that
size. I find that a 2-egg omelet cooked here
makes the perfect hearty breakfast for one.
You want your potatoes completely soft inside and slightly crisp along
some edges, and your eggs just done. The
sriracha is a fantastic condiment for mild yet stalwart flavors like egg and
potato. Plus, as I mentioned, a spicy
breakfast can be just what the doctor ordered.
for eggs and this is what I use here, so these quantities are suited for that
size. I find that a 2-egg omelet cooked here
makes the perfect hearty breakfast for one.
You want your potatoes completely soft inside and slightly crisp along
some edges, and your eggs just done. The
sriracha is a fantastic condiment for mild yet stalwart flavors like egg and
potato. Plus, as I mentioned, a spicy
breakfast can be just what the doctor ordered.
I see nothing wrong with taking
shortcuts and opting for the quick route sometimes, as long as you don’t sacrifice
overall healthfulness. What are your
favorite “cheat’s”?
shortcuts and opting for the quick route sometimes, as long as you don’t sacrifice
overall healthfulness. What are your
favorite “cheat’s”?
A delicious combo!
Cheers,
Rosa
I love tortilla. Nice cheats version Joey.
Oh but you do say it just right: potato and Sriracha! A perfect Cheat!
I can't think of anything that goes better with potato torta than sriracha! (Oh, and my favorite cheat has to be adding tinned liver spread to thicken up caldereta or mechado gravy!)
I like how simple this recipe is! I've always imagined fried potato cubes to be part of a perfect breakfast but strangely enough, I've never, ever had it for breakfast before. haha Relative to the margarine blocks that people assume is butter, "real" butter is kind of expensive so it's a rarity for me to buy the real kind. when the recipe calls for butter I use the cheap, salty kind and cut back on the salt. It's sad I know but the end product does taste good so I'm not really complaining! hahaha! 😀
Thanks Rosa! I agree 🙂
Hi Barbara! Me too 🙂 When you're craving what can you do right? 😉
Hi Tanna! I think potato takes so well to spice!
Hi Midge! I use tinned liver spread to thicken the sauce of our adobo sometimes…my hubby loves it!
Hi Gio! Potatoes are great for breakfast! Think hash browns 😉
Thanks for the great ideas! I definitely want to start cooking with potatoes more. Last night I made a similar omelet! I cooked the onions then put them into the egg, threw in a slice of provolone, then added some sliced avocado before closing the omelet. It was delicious and topped it off with some Tabasco (ran out of Sriracha, haha). I'm going to try this one out soon!
I wish I had one of those cheat pans! I never succeed in flipping my tortilla without some sort of disaster and this also looks delicious!
Hi Noah! Oooh! Avocado! That sounds awesome 🙂
Hi Simone! The cheat pan is great…my mom's tortillas always look so perfect for it!
Wow! A spicy breakfast is hardcore for me, I would have omitted sriracha 😉 I know, I am a coward…
I want a cheating pan too!! I know it's cheating, but it seems easier, right?
Anyway, you could try making tortilla de patatas with small size pans. This method decrease the level of risk disaster! I made a tutorial in my blog in case you want to have a look 😉
(Btw, I've been reading you for a long time, and now, at last, I have a english blog to reference my comments!!)
Hi Ana! It is much easier and your tortillas turn out perfect 🙂 Your blog is great and so are your video tutorials! I will try it on a small pan when I build up my confidence 😉
Everything tastes better with Sriracha.
Hi Buon viaggio! Truly!