I know what you’re thinking: “Aren’t tortillas those Mexican things that you make quesadillas out of?” Well, yes and no. In Spain, tortilla is an eggy dish a lot like an omelet or a frittata. When I was in Spain, my friend took me out for tapas (Spanish hors d’oeuvres) and one was tortilla. That one was gigantic—really thick, made in big round pans, and sliced for individual servings. Here is a smaller version, but it’s just as delicious. It can be served warm or at room temperature.

　　

Ingredients

serves 1

　　1 potato

　　1/2 onion

　　1 tablespoon canola oil

　　Salt and pepper

　　2 eggs

　　

Step 1

Peel and slice the potato and onion about 1/8 inch thick. Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the potato and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the onions are caramelized and the potatoes are tender. Season liberally with salt and pepper.

　　

Step 2

Beat the eggs well and pour over the potatoes and onions. Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the pan comes out clean. Serve immediately.

　　

food for thought

Step 3

Traditionally, Spanish tortillas are cooked in copious amounts of olive oil. We have drastically reduced the amount while still using enough to get a great result. But you can even take it a step further; using cooking spray instead of oil saves about 120 calories.

　　College Vegetarian Cooking