Potato tortilla (Spanish omelette)

A recipe from cooking-ez.com

For 6 people, you will need:

• 1 1 onion
• 2 1 garlic clove
• 3 1 kg potatoes
• 4 6 Eggs
• 5 1 glass olive oil
• 6 2 slices smoked ham
• 7 salt
• 8 pepper
• Total weight: 1,595 grams

Times:

Preparation	Resting	Cooking	Start to finish
45 min.	3 min.	35 min.	1 hour 20 min.

Step by step recipe

1	Prepare 1 onion. Crush 1 garlic clove with knife blade.
2	Cut 2 slices smoked ham into thin strips.
3	Peel and wash 1 kg potatoes. Slice, wash again, drain and dry in a cloth.
4	Pour 1 glass olive oil into a large pan, to give ½ cm ( ¼ inch) in the bottom. This seems a lot, but don't worry it's fine. When oil is hot, add potaoes and garlic, salt and mix to distribute oil over potatoes.
5	Cook covered, stirring from time to time, until potatoes are just soft (about 25 minutes).
6	Discard garlic. Add onion and ham, mix well and leave to cook, uncovered, for 5 more minutes.
7	It doesn't matter, whatever many other recipes might say, if potatoes are browned, on the contrary it's even better.
8	Tip potaoes + onion and ham into a strainer to drain off excess olive oil.
9	Meanwhile, break 6 Eggs, salt amd pepper, then beat with a whisk.
10	Add potatoes and mix.
11	Put a frying pan on medium heat, pour in 4 tablespoons olive oil saved from cooking potatoes. When oil is hot, add potato-egg mixture, then with a wooden spatula, scrape bottom of pan to help eggs cook. Do this until only a little liquid egg remains.
12	Turn down heat, cover and leave to cook for 3 minutes.
13	Your tortilla is almost cooked now, and should be turned over.
14	Using an oven glove to protect your hand, press firmly on lid and with a smart gesture turn upside down. Tortilla is now on the lid . Tip: if the inside of your lid is not smooth, line with aluminium foil. By the way, if you can manage this, you're ready for a tart tatin.
15	Slide tortilla back into pan, and leave to stand for 2 or 3 minutes off the heat to just cook the bottom.
16	Serve cut into wedges like a tart, hot or cold, if possible with a green salad and French dressing (vinaigrette).

Remarks

For the ham, if possible use one of those great spanish hams (Jamon Iberico).
If you are worry about turning tortilla upside down, leave it on the first side, still covered, 5 minutes off the heat to finish cooking top.
There are infinite ways of filling tortillas, from this recipe let your imagination guide you. Don't hesitate, when they're in season, to use spring onions.

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