Patatas en Adobillo Recipe: Easy Andalusian Potato Tapa 2026

Patatas en adobillo are a beloved tapa from Jaén and across Andalusia, where golden fried potato slices soak up a tangy, garlicky sauce made with paprika, cumin, oregano and vinegar. It is the kind of dish that disappears from the table in minutes, and it comes together with just a handful of pantry staples.

The potatoes are fried until they are tender inside and lightly golden outside, never crunchy, so they can drink up every drop of the adobillo. That sauce is built on a majado of fried garlic pounded with sweet paprika, cumin and oregano, then loosened with vinegar and water.

Serve them warm as a shared starter, a side for grilled meats, or even as a light main dish with a fried egg on top. They are completely addictive either way.

Ingredients for Patatas en Adobillo

This recipe makes 2 servings as a tapa or side dish.

• 2 potatoes (about 400 g)
• Olive oil for frying
• 2 garlic cloves
• Salt
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• ¼ teaspoon cumin (ground or whole)
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 4 tablespoons water

How to Make Patatas en Adobillo Step by Step

1. Peel and Slice the Potatoes

Peel and cut 2 potatoes into slices about 1 cm thick. Keeping them on the thicker side means they stay creamy inside once fried and hold up beautifully when tossed with the sauce.

2. Fry the Potatoes

Heat olive oil in a skillet, using enough to cover roughly a finger's depth of the pan, and fry the potatoes over medium heat for about 10 minutes. They should not turn crispy; you want them golden on the outside and tender on the inside. Transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to drain off the excess oil.

3. Brown the Garlic

In the same skillet, pour off some of the oil so only about 2 tablespoons remain, then brown 2 peeled garlic cloves cut into thin slices. Watch them closely so they turn golden without burning, which would make the sauce bitter.

4. Make the Adobillo

Move the fried garlic to a mortar and add a little salt, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon sweet paprika and ¼ teaspoon cumin, ground or whole. Once you have a paste, stir in 1 tablespoon vinegar and 4 tablespoons water.

5. Cook the Potatoes in the Sauce

Return the potatoes to the skillet, pour the adobillo over them and stir gently so the potatoes are coated. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the liquid has reduced and you are left with a glossy sauce that clings to the potatoes.

6. Serve Right Away

Serve the patatas en adobillo immediately so you can enjoy them freshly made, while the sauce is still warm and fragrant.

Tips for the Best Patatas en Adobillo

Keep the Potatoes Thick

Slices around 1 cm thick are ideal because they stay soft and creamy after frying. Thinner slices will crisp up and lose the tender bite that makes this dish so satisfying.

Fry at Medium Heat

Medium heat lets the potatoes cook through without browning too fast. You are looking for a light golden color outside and a fully tender center, so adjust the flame if they start to darken too quickly.

Turn It Into a Main Dish

For a heartier meal, fry an egg in the skillet during the final step and serve it on top of the potatoes. The runny yolk mixed with the adobillo sauce makes a delicious, complete plate.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Maybe you're a lot like me and like having a stash of cozy comfort dishes, tried-and-true international favorites, and desserts that please a crowd.

On nights when I'm after something indulgent and rich, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever a fruity, comforting dessert is calling my name, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

For mornings that need to be easy and meals on the lighter side, these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular at my house, along with a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe or these vibrant Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And when my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I'm happy to whip up.

If tapas and Mediterranean cooking are what I'm craving, I'll cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, a crunchy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a smooth Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a bright Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more dressed up.

Come lunchtime or a cozy evening meal, these are the dishes I point people toward: a warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm in the mood for street food or party fare, and that's when I'll throw together this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, a crispy Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make a great little appetizer or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, I'll often serve dinner alongside this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, this zippy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works beautifully on the side, or I'll finish the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of testing and tweaking recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on simplicity, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether I'm putting together a fast meal just for me or making something memorable for friends and family.

When dessert is on my mind, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to for those times I want something elegant without much fuss. The caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake, is another sweet favorite. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

On days when I want something light and fresh, I'll usually make the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For comfort cooking with more heft, the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe are ones I recommend often.

I'm also a big fan of passing along dishes from kitchens around the world, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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