Tortillatapas Recipes

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Either by hand or with a pastry cutter, cut in the shortening till the mixture is crumbly. If the mixture looks more floury than crumbly, be sure to add just one or two more tablespoons of shortening till it is crumbly. Add about 3/4 cup hot water to the mixture, or just enough to make the ingredients look moist.
• With your hand or a large fork, knead the mixture making sure to rub the dough against the sides of the large mixing bowl to gather any clinging dough. If the dough still sticks to the side of the bowl, add a couple more tablespoons of flour until the dough forms a soft round shape. The dough is ready to roll out now, but it is best to let it rest. Cover it with a dish towel, and let it sit for about an hour or so.
• Take the dough, and pull it apart into 10 to 12 balls. Lightly flour your rolling area, and roll each ball with a rolling pin to about 1/8 inch thickness.
• Place each tortilla on a medium hot cast iron skillet. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until the tortilla does not look doughy.

TORTILLA DE PATATA

Steps:

• Halve the potatoes lengthwise and, with a sharp knife or, preferably, a mandoline, slice them crosswise about 1/16 inch thick. Toss the potatoes with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and half of the pepper. In 9 inch castiron skillet, heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the potatoes and cook, tossing occasionally with a spatula, until golden and crisp. Try to avoid clumping but, if they stick together a bit don't worry. Set the pan aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in another skillet over medium low heat and saute the onions, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, or until very soft and slightly golden.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the eggs together and stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper, and the onions. Remove the potatoes from the pan with a slotted spoon and let them drain for a moment in a colander. Wipe the potato cooking pan with a paper towel, then add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet. Heat the skillet over low heat, stir the potatoes into the egg mixture, and immediately pour it into the hot skillet. Cook for about 8 minutes, or until the bottom of the cake is slightly golden. Place a large plate upside down on top of the skillet, invert it, and turn the cake onto the plate. Slide the cake back into the pan. Finish cooking in the oven for 4 to 5 more minutes, or until the eggs are set. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then cut into wedges or squares, depending on the number of people you want to serve. Serve warm or at room.

TORTILLA DE PATATAS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep stockpot over medium-high heat until almost smoking, 2 to 4 minutes. Add potatoes and onion; they should be mostly covered with oil. Season with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring occasionally and maintaining a gentle simmer, until potatoes are just fork-tender, 8 to 12 minutes; do not overcook.
• Drain potato-onion mixture in a colander; reserve oil for another use or discard. Allow to cool for a few minutes, then taste and season with more salt, if needed.
• Meanwhile, crack eggs into a large bowl and season with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt; whisk until well beaten. Add potato-onion mixture and toss to coat.
• Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil, then pour in egg-potato mixture. Level it with a spatula and cook for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for about 5 minutes. Run a rubber spatula around the outer edges to make sure it's not sticking and to help it form its shape.
• Once it starts to firm up around the edges and in the center (although it will still be a little runny), place a large plate over the skillet. Flip the omelet onto the plate, then slide it back into the skillet. Use the spatula to help press the edges in and under, to maintain a rounded edge. Cook over high heat for 1 minute, then reduce to low and cook until it feels set in the center and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 2 to 3 more minutes.

FLOUR TORTILLAS

Steps:

• Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until tiny bubbles start to form around the edges of the pan (the milk should be 180 degrees F), 4 to 5 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat and stir in the lard until melted. Let cool for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl until completely combined. Pour in the warm milk mixture and stir with a rubber spatula until a shaggy dough forms.
• When cool enough to handle, knead the dough in the bowl until almost completely smooth, about 3 minutes; do not overwork, the dough should be soft and only slightly elastic and not sticky. Wrap in plastic and let rest at room temperature for 1 hour to relax dough.
• Divide the dough into 16 balls about a scant 3 tablespoons each (or 46g.). Arrange the balls on a rimmed baking sheet and cover with a damp kitchen towel until ready to use.
• Working with one dough ball at a time, roll out on a lightly floured surface to a 7-inch round.
• Heat a medium cast-iron skillet or large griddle over medium-high heat.
• Working with one at a time (unless using a large griddle), cook the tortillas, reducing the heat if they are getting dark too quickly, until air bubbles form on the surface and the bottom is brown in spots, about 30 seconds. Poke any large bubbles with a fork to release steam, flip the tortillas and cook until brown in spots on the other side, about 30 seconds. Stack and wrap the tortillas in a clean kitchen towel and keep warm. Repeat rolling and cooking the remaining dough balls.

OVEN-BAKED SPANISH TORTILLA - TAPAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 7 x 10 inch baking sheet with foil and brush with the olive oil.
• Place a little olive oil, the garlic, scallions, and peppers in a skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring for 10 minutes, or until the onions are softened, but not browned. Let cool, then stir in the potato.
• Beat the eggs, sour cream, cheese and chives together in a large bowl. Stir the cooled vegetables into the bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour the mixture into the baking sheet and smooth over the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown, puffed and set in the center. Remove from the oven and let cool and set. Run a spatula around the edge, then invert onto a cutting board and peel off the foil. Invert again with browned side up. If the surface looks a little runny, place it under a medium broiler to dry out.
• Let cool completely. Trim the edges if necessary, then cut into 48 squares. Serve on a platter with wooden toothpicks, or secure each square to a slice of bread.

SPANISH TORTILLA

Steps:

• Put a large non-stick frying pan on a low heat. Cook the onion slowly in the oil and butter until soft but not brown - this should take about 15 mins. Meanwhile, peel the tomatoes (if using) by scoring the skins with a cross, putting them in a bowl and pouring over just-boiled water. Drain the water after 2-3 mins and the skins will peel away easily. You can then coarsely grate them.
• Add the potatoes to the pan, then cover and cook for a further 15-20 mins, stirring occasionally to make sure they fry evenly. When the potatoes are soft and the onion is shiny, crush 2 garlic cloves and stir in, followed by the beaten eggs.
• Put the lid back on the pan and leave the tortilla to cook gently. After 20 mins, the edges and base should be golden, the top set but the middle still a little wobbly. To turn it over, slide it onto a plate and put another plate on top, turn the whole thing over and slide it back into the pan to finish cooking.
• Once cooked, transfer to a plate and serve the tortilla warm or cold, scattered with the chopped parsley. To accompany the tortilla, take slices of warmed baguette, stab all over with a fork and rub with the remaining garlic, pile on the grated tomatoes and season with sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil.

HOMEMADE TORTILLAS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Stir in water and oil. Turn onto a floured surface; knead 10-12 times, adding a little flour or water if needed to achieve a smooth dough. Let rest for 10 minutes., Divide dough into 8 portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 7-in. circle., In a greased cast-iron or other heavy skillet, cook tortillas over medium heat until lightly browned, 1 minute on each side. Serve warm.

TORTILLA TAPAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to fan 180C/ conventional 200C/gas 6. Heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a pan. Tip in onion and potatoes and fry gently for 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender, turning frequently, adding garlic and peppers for the last 5 minutes. Tip into a large bowl, season and cool for 5 minutes.
• Stir in the eggs, chilli flakes and parsley. Leave to sit for 5 minutes, then put a nonstick 20cm square tin in the oven to heat up. After 5 minutes, remove tin and brush with oil. pour in the egg mixture and return to oven.
• Cook for 15-20 minutes. (Check it's ready by pressing the top lightly. If it is still runny, return to the oven for a couple of minutes.) Once cooked, remove and leave to cool for 5 minutes, then turn out on to a board. Cut into squares and serve.