Easy Patatas Bravas - Spanish Potatoes Recipe

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Patatas Bravas is a traditional Spanish dish consisting of crispy, golden-brown potato cubes served with a zesty tomato sauce. While typically enjoyed as an appetiser or tapas, this delectable dish can also be adapted to suit the taste buds of your baby. Start by gently boiling a potato until it is soft. For the sauce, prepare a mild version by simmering tomatoes with a hint of paprika. This way, your little one can enjoy the vibrant flavours without overwhelming their delicate palate. Finally, drizzle the sauce over the potatoes and serve it to your baby, encouraging them to explore the variety of tastes and textures. With its wholesome ingredients and irresistible taste, patatas bravas promises to be a delightful addition to your baby's culinary journey.

Potatoes are an excellent food choice when it comes to introducing solids through baby-led weaning. Not only are they a versatile and widely available staple, but they also offer a host of nutritional benefits for little ones. Potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates, providing energy that growing babies need. They are also rich in essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, potassium, and fibre. Whether baked, steamed, or mashed, the soft texture of cooked potatoes makes them easy for babies to grasp and chew, promoting their fine motor skills development. Additionally, potatoes can be paired with other vegetables, meats, or vegetables to create balanced and flavourful meals as babies explore different tastes and textures. Introducing potatoes during baby-led weaning introduces little ones to a nutritious and filling food option that can be enjoyed as part of a well-rounded diet.

When it comes to introducing spices into your baby's diet during the exciting journey of baby-led weaning, paprika can be a delightful addition. Paprika, derived from dried and ground bell peppers or chili peppers, offers a mild and aromatic flavour profile that can tantalise tiny taste buds. As babies explore new flavours and textures, introducing them to paprika can help expand their palates and expose them to the wonderful world of spices. It is important to note that while paprika is generally safe to introduce to babies around 6 months of age, it should be used in moderation and in accordance with your Health visitor’s recommendations. Adding a pinch of paprika to mashed vegetables or sprinkling it over roasted sweet potato wedges can offer a gentle introduction to this versatile spice, providing an opportunity for babies to develop a love for diverse flavours early on.

Tomatoes are a versatile and nutritious ingredient that can be incorporated into baby led weaning recipes. Rich in vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants, tomatoes offer a delicious and healthy addition to your little one's meals. Whether used in purees, sauces, or as a finger food, tomatoes provide a burst of flavour and vibrant colour. Soft and easy to mash, cooked tomatoes make a great base for introducing new tastes to your baby's palate. From homemade tomato soup to roasted tomato slices, these recipes help develop your baby's taste buds and encourage self-feeding skills. Just be sure to remove the skin and seeds to prevent any potential choking hazards and ensure a smooth and safe experience for your little one, if you decide to use fresh tomatoes.

Zero salt stock cubes are an essential component for parents who follow the baby-led weaning (BLW) approach. As babies transition to solid foods, introducing flavours without compromising their health is crucial. These stock cubes offer a convenient solution, allowing parents to enhance the taste of homemade meals while maintaining strict control over the level of salt. By utilising zero salt stock cubes in their cooking, parents can introduce a variety of flavours, textures, and nutrients to their baby's diet, nurturing their palate while ensuring a healthy and balanced eating experience.

Ingredient information

Potato - I have used a medium baking potato, but you can use a large white potato or 2 smaller potatoes.

Tomato puree - A great staple to store in the fridge, a great base for the tomato sauce.

Paprika - The paprika makes this sauce special, you could use a sweet paprika or a smoked paprika if you prefer.

Zero salt stock cube - These stock cubes are great to use for baby led weaning. Packed with flavour without the salt.

Olive oil - You could use vegetable oil if you wanted to instead of the olive oil.

Serving suggestion

The Patatas Bravas is great served with fish cakes, egg cups, spinach and egg fingers, aubergine dip or they can be served on their own if you prefer. Feel free to mash the potatoes with a from 6 months old, or bake in strips.

Storage instructions

The Patatas Bravas can be stored easily. The Patatas Bravas can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days, if you are going to store in the fridge, i would recommend that you do not pour the sauce over the potatoes, if you do this and store the potatoes may become soggy.

If you were looking to freeze the Patatas Bravas, it is best to store the potatoes and sauce separately. To do this, portion the potatoes and the sauce in small airtight containers to portion easily. Make sure you wait until the Patatas Bravas is cooled down before transferring to the containers before freezing. You will be able to store in the freezer for up to 3 months this way.

To defrost and re heat, leave to defrost in the fridge overnight, once fully defrosted, pre heat the oven to 180 C or 350 F and place the potatoes on a lined baking sheet and heat for 20 minutes, after 10 minutes place the tomato sauce in an oven dish and heat along side the potatoes for the remaining time. Make sure the Patatas Bravas have cooled down before serving.

Please note you will not be able to re freeze or reheat after this process.

Equipment used to help with this recipe

Baking sheet - I have chosen to use a non-stick and BPA free baking sheet - they are easy to clean and, if you buy more than one, easily stackable and easily stored.

Saucepans - So many pan sets out there but I particularly like to use pans with a non-stick surface for ease of cleaning and ones that are suitable for different types of hob surface.

Airtight containers - I much prefer the click-shut lids on these containers compared to others. They are also dishwasher and freezer safe and BPA free, so very suitable for food use. 

Oven dish - For oven baked dishes, I love to use a ceramic dish - they are durable and can withstand high oven temperatures. A baking dish and serving dish in one!

Recipe | Patatas Bravas

Ingredients

Makes 2-4 portions

• 1 medium baking potato, peeled

• 1 tablespoon tomato puree

• 1 tablespoon paprika

• 1 zero salt vegetable stock cube

• 300ml hot water

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

• Start by pre heating your oven to 180 C or 350 F.

• Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and set aside.

• Pour boiling hot water into a large saucepan and pop the whole peeled potato into the saucepan. Bring to the boil and cook the potato for about 20 minutes.

• Meanwhile, grab another medium sized saucepan and pop the tomato puree, paprika, stock cube and hot water into the saucepan, stir, and cook on a low heat for 20 minutes until the sauce has reduced and is a thick. equally runny consistency. (if the sauce is too thick, add in a little hot water).

• Once the potato is cooked, leave to cool slightly, and then either cut into strips, or cut into cubes.

• Place the potato on the baking sheet, drizzle with the olive oil and coat the potatoes using your hands.

• Pop in the oven for 30 minutes and serve with the tomato sauce, either on top of as a dipping sauce on the side.

Hope you and your family enjoy!

Recipe notes

This recipe is deliciously vegan, dairy free, if you wanted to add a sprinkling of cheese on top you absolutely could, or you could mix an extra veggie into the potato like cooked broccoli or cooked cauliflower.

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