Tortilla and it's Problems

[catavino]

Found this fun post (http://iamsarahgrace.com/blog/2006/09/20/how-not-to-cook-tortilla-de-patata-or-how-to-make-fabulous-scrambled-eggs/)today and I thought some of you might relate to it! I remember my first time making one, I hadn't even been to Spain yet, nor had I ever tasted one. I was doing a private chef dinner for a client who wanted a Spanish Theme. Turned out ok, but I remember being confused by the instructions, I ended up following the instructions I used for Fritattas(basically the same thing with less grease)!

[Brian]

Flipping a tortilla successfully is a pretty daunting task, especially if it's super large. My wife will cook the first side on lower heat, so that there's not much runny stuff left. Then, instead of the old pancake in-the-air flip, she covers the sartén with a plate and turns it upside down, allowing the tortilla to fall free onto the plate. From there, if it is cooked enough, it's easy enough to slide the now-flipped tortilla back into the frying pan.

[Marina]

Cooking Tortilla for the first time is usually a sweet and sour expirience as the shape most certainly will be crap but it will still taste good. So don't dispair, it is just one of those things that you only learn by expirience. Even if someone describes you how to turn the tortilla with detail you will still feel lost the first time you do it yourself but once you learn it is a really rewarding expirience and if you try over and over and don't quite get it, you can always buy one of those double friying pans that click one into the other (http://www.sanignacio.es/es/pieza.php?pieza=89) making the turning expirience easy and relaxed.

Regarding ingredients I wouldn't worry too much of quantities. For example some people like it with more onion than others or even without onion at all. The only important thing is that the egg proportion is enough for the quantity of potato mixture - if you put the potato mixture in a bowl once it has been cooked the beaten eggs mixture should coat all the potatos -. Then every time you turn the tortilla you put 1/2 or 1 a table spoon of oil in the frying pan and when hot move the frying pan in circles so the oil covers all the base and a bit of the walls of the frying pan. And finally the most important thing you have to use a non-sticking frying pan.

[richardksa]

I had this problem following Marina's Tortilla podcast. Two plates is the answer. Slide the tortilla on to one, cover with another face to face, invert and slide off into pan. Easy.

[catavino]

The flipping I think is the easiest part, acutally the whole process is easy once you do it. For the easiest flip use two plates!

Plate on top - flip on to plate,
Plate on top of that flip on to second plate
Pan on top of that flip back to pan

No sliding, no tossing, no nothing! When I figured this out, it became much easier..:)

[Marina]

But still the first time you do it, even if the theory is clear in your head your hands don't feel confident enough. It is very important to hold the firmily the plate with one palm and the frying pan with the other and turn the frying pan and the plate in a single, fast and confident movement.

I'd be very happy to hear about your turning expiriences... you can also insert some pics for us to see the progress!!!

[Brian]

I had this problem following Marina's Tortilla podcast. Two plates is the answer. Slide the tortilla on to one, cover with another face to face, invert and slide off into pan. Easy.

Ahh, but lazy sod that I am. I prefer the one plate method, as I don't have to wash as many dishes. ;)

[Cynthia]

Ahh, but lazy sod that I am. I prefer the one plate method, as I don't have to wash as many dishes. ;)

Exactly. ;D

I made tortilla for the very first time the other night and it actually turned out very well! (This is extra surprising as I'm not an especially good cook :).) I had read a recipe in the bookstore and decided to try it when I was grocery shopping that evening... unfortunately, I couldn't remember the recipe very well, so I had to kind of make it up as I went along. The one-plate flipping method is what I used for the reasons that Brian mentioned above (and because I only have one good, flat, ceramic plate--the rest are curved and probably not very useful for this purpose). As I couldn't remember the quantities that the recipe gave, and as I don't have much cooking experience, I ended up with enough ingredients prepared for 2 tortillas. The first came out surprisingly well, the second I let cook a bit too long, but it was still pretty darn good. I invited some friends over to let them try my very first tortillas, and we had a great time! :D


Out of curiosity, what other types of things do people usually add to their tortillas? I threw some black olives and spinach in mine, in addition to the potatoes and onions, and I really liked it.

[Brian]

Exactly. ;D

Out of curiosity, what other types of things do people usually add to their tortillas? I threw some black olives and spinach in mine, in addition to the potatoes and onions, and I really liked it.

I also add in mushrooms from time to time, or if I have some about, little bits of chorizo for flavoring.

[Edith]

I add small slices of red bell pepper and parsley.

[Marina]

Usually the traditional "Tortilla de Patatas" is only potato and onion. Then you have "Paisana" with peas, peppers and a bit of chorizo, really delicious, but I'm so fond of my vegetarian "Paisana" version (http://www.notesfromspain.com/153/) that I might cook one tonight!!!

[Pepino]

Oh blimey, I can't stand no more of this! All this talk of good food, is making me seriously hungry. ;) All I've got to look forward to tonight is probably some microwave meal or other. This is not a good situation, so I'm going to make a real effort to have a stab at cooking something tasty this weekend (when my flatmate is out and it doesn't matter if I stuff it up :blush: )

At the moment, eating out is my only option if I want a tasty meal (as I'm a terrible cook even when I'm familar with the ingredients) but I can't keep doing this nearly every night, no matter how good the food is in Barcelona! :) )

[Edith]

Marina, have you ever put your tortilla leftovers in the freezer? I'm asking because this is what I would like to do, but I've been told potatoes turn funny after having been frozen.

[greytop]

Marina, have you ever put your tortilla leftovers in the freezer? I'm asking because this is what I would like to do, but I've been told potatoes turn funny after having been frozen.

I find they keep well enough in the fridge for several days and rarely last that long anyway

[Marina]

I agree with greytop. Put it in the fridge and it won't last much as it's perfect for a snack or even for breakfast. Also it works well, as cold tortilla is even nicer than hot tortilla:D. On more tip, never put tortilla in the microwave :naughty: it comes out dry.

[Marina]

I forgot to wish you good luck to Pepino with his cooking experiments. Please send a pic of the results!!!

[Brian]

I agree with greytop. Put it in the fridge and it won't last much as it's perfect for a snack or even for breakfast. Also it works well, as cold tortilla is even nicer than hot tortilla:D. On more tip, never put tortilla in the microwave :naughty: it comes out dry.

I agree, cold tortilla is excellent, almost as good as cold pizza.

[cubix]

I cooked my first tortilla a few weeks ago, It turned out pretty much perfectly, I used the one plate flip and a quick prayer. Mine didn't stick, I used the Pam non-stick spray, and a plethora of olive oil. If anything I used too much pepper and onions, next time I want to put shrooms and some other stuff in..

[Marina]

Great next time send us a pic please!!!
Can you explain to me what Pam non-stick spray is made of?

[Brian]

Great next time send us a pic please!!!
Can you explain to me what Pam non-stick spray is made of?

There are a variety of Pam sprays. It's mostly propellant, an oil (canola, vegetable, or olive), and preservatives.

http://www.pam4you.com/pages/products/index.jsp

[Alan]

I had a bocadillo de tortilla de patatas con salsicha y gambias... mmmmm

[greytop]

I found the Western Kentucky University (http://www.encounterswithspain.org/) site with a video of a couple of Spanish cooks making emapanadas and other snacks.
Follow links to "entrevistas" / "La gastronomía y el vino español"
La empanada y la tortilla de patatas (http://www.wku.edu/encuentros/recetas.html)

About 3/4 of the way through is an expert demo of flipping a tortilla using one plate. Enjoy!

[Jon Hundt]

just curious, but is flipping the tortilla essential? My oven has a top grill element, so I just stick the pan in there and cook the top. Is this an offense against nature? It works pretty well and it's easy....

[greytop]

just curious, but is flipping the tortilla essential? My oven has a top grill element, so I just stick the pan in there and cook the top. Is this an offense against nature? It works pretty well and it's easy....
That's an engineers approach, not a culinary artist's
;D

[omeyas]

I found the Western Kentucky University (http://www.encounterswithspain.org/) site with a video of a couple of Spanish cooks making emapanadas and other snacks.
Follow links to "entrevistas" / "La gastronomía y el vino español"
La empanada y la tortilla de patatas (http://www.wku.edu/encuentros/recetas.html)

About 3/4 of the way through is an expert demo of flipping a tortilla using one plate. Enjoy!

Thanks for the link, there's a lot more excellent stuff on that site. It'll take me some time to sit through it all!

http://www.wku.edu/encuentros/indice.html
Gracias

[Nellie]

just curious, but is flipping the tortilla essential? My oven has a top grill element, so I just stick the pan in there and cook the top. Is this an offense against nature? It works pretty well and it's easy....

I also use the broiler method when I make a tortilla. I know it's not traditional but I tried to master the two plates flipping method and don't think I'll succeed in this lifetime. So I cook it until it's just about set and then finish it off in the boiler for a few minutes. Works quite well for culinary novices or for people like me who get tired of cleaning up unnecessary messes. :smug:

[dave]

I also use the broiler method when I make a tortilla. I know it's not traditional but I tried to master the two plates flipping method and don't think I'll succeed in this lifetime. So I cook it until it's just about set and then finish it off in the boiler for a few minutes. Works quite well for culinary novices or for people like me who get tired of cleaning up unnecessary messes. :smug:

That's what my wife does, she calls it a frittata (not sure if that's technically correct). They're really tasty!

I just stumbled across this thread. It's just about midnight here. I now have an unbelievable craving for tortilla. crap.

I think I'm going to have to find Marina's tortilla podcast and make my first this weekend.

For now, though, it's off to bed with a painful ache in my belly. thanks alot! :-)

[Dave_K]

Thanks for the link, there's a lot more excellent stuff on that site. It'll take me some time to sit through it all!

http://www.wku.edu/encuentros/indice.html
Gracias

Yeah, cool video and site. Never would have thought it came from western Cain-tuck (though, then again, that state is home to towns called Paris, Florence, and Versailles).

[djS]

have a 7 " pan and dose me only .......

jurdy

[tanjh]

Tortilla is so good, how can anyone not like it? :D

[ValenciaSon]

just curious, but is flipping the tortilla essential? My oven has a top grill element, so I just stick the pan in there and cook the top. Is this an offense against nature? It works pretty well and it's easy....
You can flip a tortilla with this item:http://www.tienda.com/images/products/cw-02.jpg

[djS]

Now thats the fun off flipping it
like watch a rip off movie on cheap dvd you buy ......

[José Miguel]

A mí me gusta la tortilla de patatas con cebolla muy frita y trozos de pimiento verde muy fritos.