Salsa Bravas Recipe – Spanish Bravas Sauce For Potatoes

Want to make authentic potatoes bravas at home? Then, you will need to make a Spanish bravas sauce. This tangy salsa bravas recipe is easy to make and can be served with any roasted meats or chicken, along with potatoes.

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What Is Salsa Bravas?

Spanish salsa bravas is most commonly referred to as patatas bravas sauce or the tomato sauce that is served atop patatas bravas. This is one of the most common Spanish tapas served at restaurants in Spain and around the world. 

Brava patatas are normally cubed potatoes that are deep-fried. Although you can also see them in slices and they can also be baked.

The most authentic patatas bravas recipe is made with fried potatoes. More contemporary versions can also be made in the air fryer. 

But, what makes these tasty potatoes true patatas bravas is the salsa bravas that is served on top, or alternatively on the side.

Check out these other sauces for Spanish recipes:

Spanish Alioli Garlic Sauce – An Easy To Make Spanish Aioli Recipe

Authentic Salsa Romesco Recipe – Catalan Pepper Sauce

Ingredients For This Salsa Bravas Recipe

There are so many different salsa bravas recipes out there. Of all the authentic Spanish tapas recipes out there, this is my favorite and the one I learned to make while living in Spain.

This includes loads of traditional Spanish ingredients, including Spanish olive oil, tomatoes, garlic, and onion. 

Salsa bravas also includes pimentón de la vera, which is the Spanish version of smoked paprika. So, any smoked paprika can be used to flavor this recipe.

Spanish cooking traditionalists will say there is no substitution, but for most home cooks, don’t worry about it! 

Full List Of Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium ripe tomato
• 1 cup ripe cherry tomatoes
• 1 small red onion
• 1/2 garlic clove
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon pimentón de la vera (or smoked Paprika)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

How To Make Salsa Bravas

A salsa brava recipe is not all that difficult to make. It’s actually in some ways similar to a Spanish pisto recipe, which is the Spanish version of ratatouille. So many Spanish recipes include similar ingredients, simmered or slow-cooked in olive oil. 

First, peel and chop all of the tomatoes, onion, and garlic. The smaller the pieces the quicker it will cook, but there is no reason to cut the onion and garlic super small. In the end, the sauce will be blended until smooth. 

Add the olive oil to a saute pan that has been warmed over medium-high heat. Add in the onion, garlic, and tomato paste and stir.

Then, add all of the tomatoes. Season the tomato mixture with ground cayenne, pimentón (smoked paprika), salt, and freshly ground black pepper.

Reduce the heat to low-medium and simmer the salsa brava sauce for about 20 minutes. When the onion is soft and the tomatoes start to darken, the sauce is ready. 

Remove the pan from the heat. Either use a hand blender in the pan (carefully) or place the sauce in a food processor or blender that can blend hot foods.

Blend the sauce until smooth, but some chunks are still okay. Serve the sauce warm with potatoes or meat dishes. 

What To Serve With Salsa Bravas

The most common way to serve this Spanish sauce is on patatas bravas. Even better, serve patatas bravas salsa with garlic alioli.

This is the perfect blend of tangy tomato and creamy garlic all on crisp potatoes.

Patatas Bravas Recipe

Here’s a quick and easy recipe for patatas bravas to serve with the bravas sauce above. It includes three simple ingredients: potatoes, olive oil, and salt.

If making this with the bravas sauce, you can make the potatoes, keep them warm, and cook the salsa in the same olive oil. 

Peel and wash about 8 medium, yellow potatoes. Cut them into triangle-shaped pieces or cubes. Add the oil and potatoes to a large pan.

In this case, you can add the potatoes while the oil is still cold. This way they will cook slowly from the inside while the outside starts to fry.

Once the potatoes are tender and you can pierce them easily with a fork, remove the potatoes to a paper towel-lined plate. Season with salt immediately. Then, top it with this salsa brava as well as our Spanish aioli sauce!