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Overhead view of crisp roasted potato cubes coated in smoky paprika bravas sauce with garlic aioli on a rustic plate.

Crisp Roasted Patatas Bravas with Smoky Paprika

Roasted potato cubes tossed in a smoky paprika tomato sauce and finished with garlic aioli, ready in under an hour.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 451

Ingredients
  

Potatoes
  • 900 g potatoes (Yukon Gold) cut into 2 cm cubes
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 1.5 tsp smoked paprika (sweet)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
Bravas Sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 yellow onion small; finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika sweet or hot
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 400 g crushed tomatoes can
  • 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
Quick Aioli
  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise (75 g)
  • 1 clove garlic grated
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 pinch salt
For Serving
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 1 pinch flaky salt

Method
 

Roast the Potatoes
  1. Heat the oven to 220C / 425F and line a sheet pan (33 x 46 cm / 13 x 18 inch) with parchment.
  2. Pat the potato cubes dry with a kitchen towel, then toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Spread the potatoes in a single layer on the sheet pan, leaving space between the cubes so they roast instead of steam.
  4. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping once at the halfway point, until the edges are deep golden and crisp and the centers are fork-tender.
Make the Bravas Sauce
  1. While the potatoes roast, heat olive oil in a 20 cm / 8-inch saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes until soft.
  2. Stir in the garlic, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  3. Add the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, then stir in the crushed tomatoes, sherry vinegar, sugar, and salt.
  4. Simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Blend with an immersion blender for a smooth texture, or leave it chunky.
Finish and Serve
  1. Whisk the mayonnaise, grated garlic, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt together in a small bowl to make the aioli.
  2. Spoon the roasted potatoes onto a platter, cover with the bravas sauce, and drizzle with aioli. Scatter parsley and flaky salt on top and serve right away.

Notes

  • Dry potato cubes thoroughly before tossing with oil for maximum crisp edges.
  • Simmer bravas sauce until it coats a spoon, thin sauce won't cling to potatoes.
  • Blend sauce smooth for classic tapas-bar texture or keep chunky for a rustic version.
  • Make the aioli while the sauce simmers to keep the timeline tight.