Brava sauce

Brava sauce is the spiced tomato sauce served with Spanish patatas bravas: tomato, garlic, smoked paprika and a hint of chilli, ready in 15 minutes. Ours uses just one spoonful of olive oil, and it is just as good on roast potatoes as on roasted vegetables.

Preparation: 5 min  |  Cooking: 15 min  |  Servings: 4  |  Difficulty: Easy

Approximate nutritional values per serving: 65 kcal · 1 g protein · 5 g carbohydrate · 4 g fat

Ingredients

• 400 g tinned chopped tomatoes
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 pinch of cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp sherry vinegar
• salt and pepper

Method

1. Fry the sliced onion and garlic in the olive oil for 3 to 4 minutes over a medium heat, without letting them colour.
2. Add the smoked paprika and cayenne, and stir for 30 seconds to release the aromas.
3. Pour in the chopped tomatoes and the vinegar, and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
4. Blend until smooth, then season with salt and pepper.

Nutritional highlights

The tinned tomato base is very light: about 20 kcal per 100 g according to Ciqual. All the flavour comes from the smoked paprika, garlic and vinegar, not from fat. It is the ideal sauce for roast potatoes in the style of patatas bravas, for baked aubergines or a tortilla.

Variations and substitutions

• Hotter, with a fresh chilli.
• With sweet paprika for children.
• With a roasted red pepper blended into the sauce.
• Half brava, half light yoghurt aioli, as in the bars of Madrid.

Storage and making ahead

Keeps for 4 days in the fridge and freezes very well in small portions.

💡 Good to know

Do not let the paprika burn: 30 seconds in the hot oil is enough. Any longer and it turns bitter and spoils the whole sauce.

Read more

Discover more vegan recipes · gluten-free recipes.

The ingredients in this recipe: tomatoes · onion · garlic · olive oil · paprika.

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