Healthier Patatas Bravas

The popularity of patatas bravas has been both a blessing and a curse.

Blessing: As Spain's most iconic tapa, you find versions of this dish in practically every establishment that serves food throughout the country.

Curse:  A lot of places do not do them well.  Most bars don't cook the potatoes twice, or use frozen pre-cut pieces.  However, more often than not, the real culprit behind an abhorrent experience with this famous little plate is bravas sauce from a jar.

Solution:  Make this cheap, simple, and easy dish at home.

An Updated Classic: Spanish White Bean Stew

I don't know about you, but I'm a little bit bored of finding the same five to seven tapas at "Spanish" restaurants in the U.S.  If you've been to too many of these places, you might assume Spanish fare has nothing more to offer than tortilla española and patatas bravas.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  A country the size of Texas, Spain has so much regional culinary variation, limiting ourselves to paella and a handful of tired tapas is like saying you've tried Mexican food after only eating at Taco Bell-- it's just plain wrong.

If the chefs at our Spanish restaurants won't step their games up, it's up to us.   With this in mind, I decided to revamp a Spanish classic that much like the region it comes from, is well-known in Spain, but relatively obscure to the rest of the world.

A Spanish Classic: Tortilla Española

Chances are if you've been to Spain, you've probably had a version of this.  Also known as tortilla de patatas (to distinguish it from the tortilla francesa, which does not contain potatoes), this culinary creation is as versatile as it is ubiquitous in the Iberian peninsula.  That's right, even the Portuguese eat this, and you should too.

Espinacas con Garbanzos: Because Spinach and Chickpeas Doesn't Have the Same Ring to It

While the name in English is anything but sexy, the taste of this tapa I greatly enjoyed from my time in Spain greatly exceeds the mundane Anglophonic title.  Though spinach and chickpeas might garner a lukewarm reaction from dinner guests, espinacas con garbanzos is sure to excite the Spanish and non-Spanish speaker alike-- granted, once you've tried the dish, the English name will do just fine.