Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas
Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas deliver crisp-edged russet potatoes with a punchy, smoky heat from paprika and chipotle. A tangy, garlicky mayo blended with sherry vinegar and tomato paste balances the spice, creating a rich contrast in every bite. Serve these tapas-style potatoes for casual gatherings, game nights, or as a bold side at dinner.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook20 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 49 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 8 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 56 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 43
- Heart Health
- 45
- Metabolic
- 52
- Digestive
- 62
- Inflammatory
- 32
- Performance
- 35
- General Wellness
- 1
For the sauce: Combine the garlic, smoked paprika, and salt in a mortar and pestle or a food processor; process until smooth. Stir in the mayonnaise, sherry vinegar, tomato paste, chipotle chile powder, and cayenne pepper until blended. Cover and refrigerate the sauce.
- 2
For the spice blend: In a small bowl, mix together the salt, black pepper, paprika, and chipotle chile powder. Set aside.
- 3
For the potatoes: Pour water into a large saucepan. Stir the salt, smoked paprika, cumin, and bay leaves into the water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and cover; simmer for 10 minutes.
- 4
Stir the potatoes into the seasoned water, bring back to a boil, and simmer until the potatoes are tender but not fully cooked, 4 to 5 minutes. The tip of a paring knife should slide easily into the center of a potato cube. Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, about 45 minutes.
- 5
Heat vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- 6
Add the cooled potato cubes and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a baking sheet lined with paper towels to cool slightly. Toss in a bowl with the spice blend; drizzle the sauce on top or serve it as a dipping sauce.
- Calories 1553.31 kcal High 78%
- Protein 5.5 g Moderate 11%
- Carbohydrate 63.89 g 23%
- Total Fat 148.82 g High 191%
- Saturated Fat 21.38 g High 107%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 24.79 mg Moderate 8%
- Sodium 398.28 mg Moderate 17%
- Dietary Fiber 13.7 g Good Source 49%
- Total Sugars 22.61 g --
- Added Sugars 20.42 g High 41%
- Calcium 50.28 mg Low Source 4%
- Iron 2.53 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 1011.27 mg Good Source 22%
- Vitamin A 4.54 mcg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin C 23.22 mg Good Source 26%
- Vitamin D 0.09 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas is a Spanish appetizer recipe made with 15 ingredients. It takes about 45 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chipotle Powder, and Dried Bay Leaves. Each serving provides about 1553.31 kcal, and is a good source of fiber.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas?
- It is a Spanish recipe made with 15 ingredients, usually served for appetizer or side dish or snack.
- What is Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chipotle Powder, Dried Bay Leaves, Garlic. The full list of 15 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas?
- About 45 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 20 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 1553.31 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 15 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas healthy?
- Chef John's Spanish Patatas Bravas has an easyChef Pro health score of 37/100. Per serving, it provides 1553.31 calories and 5.5 g of protein, or 11% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, potassium and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 398.28 mg (17% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 21.38 g (107% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 20.42 g (41% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Tomatoes, Garlic and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.
The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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