5 Spanish Recipes To Liven Up Your Next Dinner

There are few foods that compare to the sweet, spice and community that Spanish food has to offer. Spain has been around for centuries with it’s wide array of food, flavor and culture. You can taste the love, tradition and pride in every bite. Want to bring the people in your life closer this season? Here are 5 Spanish recipes to liven up your next dinner.

This recipe is great to cure a crispy golden potato craving.

1. Spanish Tortilla

Are you craving something warm, soft and golden for your next dinner? This recipe is perfect for you. This Spanish tortilla recipe is great when you’re craving that warming comfort of golden potatoes and egg. Liven up your next dinner, with this fun filled recipe. 

Ingredients

• 6 Yukon Gold potatoes
• 2 large pinches of salt
• 1 ½ cups olive oil
• 1 onion
• 10 eggs
• 1 pinch parsley
• 1 pinch paprika
• 1 dollop mayonnaise

Directions

Begin by peeling your potatoes and cutting them into thick slices. Put your potatoes in a strainer over a large bowl and lightly sprinkle with your salt. Lightly toss to thoroughly coat your potatoes and let sit for 15 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels. Dice your onion. Take a medium skillet and heat up your olive oil over medium high heat. Add in your potatoes and cook until golden brown for 10 to 14 minutes. Add in your onion and cook until translucent. This should take around 5 minutes. Transfer your potatoes and onions into a large bowl. In another bowl, lightly beat your eggs then add to your potato onion mixture. Drain oil from the pan and put back on the stove. Lightly brush with olive oil and heat on medium low. Pour your egg mixture into the pan and place a tortilla lightly over the top, about 10 to 12 minutes. Carefully, invert your tortilla and let cook for an additional 4 minutes.  Note, that you can put your skillet in the broiler to firm it up before transferring over to a plate or let cook for longer if it still is a little runny. Remove from heat and let sit for 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and plate. Garnish, serve and enjoy. 

This recipe is a great way to keep healthy and get that taste of sweet seafood.

2. Paella

This Spanish classic is the perfect balance of spice and sweet lobster. If you’re looking for a way to liven up your diet without increasing your calorie count, paella is a perfect happy medium. Treat yourself and your guests with a lovely paella for your next dinner. 

Ingredients

• 4 lobster tails
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• Water
• 1 pinch sweet Spanish paprika
• 2 pinches of saffron threads, in ½ cup water
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 small pinch chile pepper flakes
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 large Roma tomatoes, chopped
• 6 oz green beans,trimmed
• 1 lb prawns or shrimp, peeled and deveined
• ¼ cup chopped parsley

Directions

Begin by taking a large pot and bring 3 cups of water to a rolling boil. Add in your lobster tails and boil for 1 to 2 minutes, until light pink. Turn the heat off and remove your lobster with a pair of tongs. Do not drain the water from your pot. When your lobster is cool enough, shell out your lobster and cut into large chunks. Next, in a large pan, heat up your olive oil over medium high heat. Add in your onion and saute for 2 minutes. Add in your rice and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Add in some of your lobster cooking water, follow the directions on the rice for the exact amount of water you need to add. Add in your garlic and lightly stir in your saffron. Add the rest of your spices and green beans. Bring to a rolling boil. Let it slightly reduce then cover. Cook on low for 20 minutes. Uncover and lightly sprinkle your shrimp over the rice. Add some additional water if you need to and cover, letting cook for another 10 minutes until your prawns or shrimp are cooked through. Add in your lobster chunks until warmed. Garnish with your parsley. Serve and enjoy. 

This recipe is great for parties and that special potato craving.

3. Patatas Bravas

This celebrated recipe is the ultimate potato dish when you’re looking  for something that embodies that sense of life, community and potatoes that we all crave. And while this recipe does take some effort, the results are well worth the patience. 

Ingredients

• 2 ½ lb yukon gold potatoes
• 1 small pinch baking soda
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch pepper
• ½ cup parsley

Salsa Brava

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• 2 dashes of hot sauce
• 1 pinch salt

Garlic Aioli

• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Directions

Begin by preheating your oven to 500 F. Prepare a baking dish or sheet and warm up in your preheated oven. Take a pot and add your baking soda and salt. Add in your water and bring to a rolling boil. Add in your potatoes and cover. Cook for 1 minute. Let drain and return to the pot and stir for 30 seconds. Add in your olive oil, salt and pepper. Thoroughly coat your potatoes. Take your warmed pan and baking dish and rearrange your potatoes in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and flip and return to the oven for an additional 15 to 25 minutes. For your salsa brava, heat your olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat. Add in your onion and cook until golden. This should take around 8 minutes. Add in your garlic, salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, hot sauce and tomatoes. Stir and reduce the heat. Simmer for 20 minutes. Combine the ingredients for your garlic aioli. Plate your potatoes and lightly drizzle with your salsa brava and garlic aioli. Garnish to your liking. Serve and enjoy. 

These peppers are a great way to spice up your life.

4. Pimientos De Pardron

Are you craving a sweet bite of peppers but want a little more texture in your life? This recipe is a must try for you. These spicy fried peppers are a perfect appetizer or quick snack that will rock your world with spice and richness. 

Ingredients

• ½ lb pradron peppers, washed
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 small pinch sea salt

Directions

Begin by washing your peppers in cold water and pat dry. Heat up your oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Place your peppers in a single layer and cook in batches. Fry for 5 minutes until their skins are browning. Remove from the heat and lightly salt. Serve and enjoy. 

Take your squid game to the next level with this recipe.

5. Calamares a la Romana

This recipe is for all the foodies out there who are looking for a sweet delicate seafood for their next dinner. This fried squid recipe is perfect for when you’re looking to impress yourself and your family with your cooking skills and control of spices. Cook to impress for your next dinner, with this recipe. 

Ingredients

• 1 lb squid rings
• 2 eggs
• 80 ml milk
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 dash sunflower oil
• 1 lemon

Directions

Place your squid rings into a small bowl. Add in your olive and lightly squeeze a lemon over the top. Mix together and let sit for 30 minutes. Take another bowl and lightly beat your eggs, adding milk and flour. Stir well. Next, bread your squid rings one at a time. Take a medium skillet and heat up your oil on medium high heat. Fry your rings for 1 minute in small batches. Let sit on a paper towel lined plate, sprinkle salt and add more lemon juice to taste. Serve and enjoy. 

There are few foods that compare to the sense of spice, freshness and life than that of Spanish food. Bring your family together this year, with these recipes.