Are you hungry, feel like a nibble or gorging yourself?
You don't know what you want either? Then welcome to my blog.
I'm Luca, and maybe I can give you some ideas, advice, technical notion or just make you want to eat something good.
I am 35 years old and I am a food junky. I grew up between Tuscany, Liguria, Sardinia, Germany, England and now I live in Spain.
I'm a chef with a passion for his profession and vocation. I've been through many very different kitchens and worked with various chefs. Some of them more known, some of them better and some of them you are better off not knowing ............ instead, explore new flavors, combine tastes, listen to your palate, close your eyes, breathe the food …..
and cook with love!
Luca Dessole Sunday, April 7, 2013
“Patatas Bravas” a classic tapas and the secrets for the perfect fried potatoes!
Ingredients
400 gr. tomatoes or a can of peeled tomatoes
1 large onion
3 cloves of garlic
a red pepper
pepper to taste
1 teaspoon smoked paprika - pimienton ahumado
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 or 3 tablespoons of sugar (depending upon the acidity of tomatoes)
10 potatoes
enough e.v. olive oil / peanut oil
salt
Introduction
I do not remember seeing one tapas bar that does not serve the classic potatos called "bravas". It consists of a simple fried potatoes usually served with a spicy sauce and often with a second sauce made with garlic called "ajoaceite" or "aioli".
Sick of seeing them always in the same way, I did my own version. A rustic tapas served in a rustic way, ...... in a flower pot!.
The potato cut into wedges and skin on. A natural sauce, without ketchup and with the addition of red peppers (probably the most used vegetables in Spain!).
The secret for a good fryed potatoes? The type of potato, the double cooking and a good oil.
For the type of potato: preferably with yellow pulp, hard and with low water content.The quantity of starch is not crucial, however once cut, best leave in cold water for at least 10 min. to get rid of the excess starch.
For the use of oil there are two schools of thought: extra vergin olive oil or peanut oil
The extra virgin olive oil is definitely the healthiest being cold pressed without the use of solvents, but its flavor is strong and often intrusive. That peanut is not so healthy but the flavor is certainly more delicate and with a higher smoke point. Every oil has its maximum temperature (smoke point) that it can reach before becoming cancerous.
Cooking: To get crispy potatoes you must fry them twice.
The first is at low temperature to cook inside (aprox. 100 degrees), thats means low heat for about 5-7 minutes depending on the size.
The second on high heat to form a crispy crust. After the first fry, let them rest on a tray or out of the oil for at least ten minutes before immersing the second time at high temperature (180 degrees).
The sauce ” brava”: sautè the onions, and peppers ( roughly cut ) until they turn a bit brown. Add the whole garlic without the skin, the chilly,the paprika “pimienton” (possibly the smoked one) and then 400 gr. of chopped tomatoes or a can of plum tomatoes. Follows the white vinegar and the sugar. Cook like a tomato sauce, actually a bit more thick. About 30 min ..
Blend everything with a robot and put it back on the fire for a couple of minutes to remove the air that came in from blending. Remove the air will bring the sauce to its original color without that opaque effect created from the emulsion. Also removing the air will extend the life of the sauce. Than more air / oxygen, than more rapid it speeds up the process of fermentation and oxidation. I recommend this step for all the cream and sauces.
Comments (3)
ah questa la farò molto presto… non ho capito solo una cosa, dopo la prima cottura a fiamma bassa, le devo lasciare riposare, ma l’olio lo devo spegnere o lo tengo acceso, per poi aumentarlo al momento della seconda cottura a fiamma alta?
Se lo tieni acceso, lascialo al minimo per non bruciarlo. Se no spegni e al momento che vuoi friggere lo metti alto.
Sembra buona domani la preparo! Le tue ricette sono fantastiche!