How to make Patatas Bravas, a Spanish classic (VIDEO)

Potluck Video enters the kitchen of Chef Sergi Arola where he prepares a traditional Spanish item called Patatas Bravas. This potato appetizer that is closely related to the American tater tot. Chef Arola, who hails from Madrid, Spain, recently debuted his culinary skills at W Verbier in Switzerland. Taking on the role of Culinary Director for the hotel's dining and lounge venues, Arola was picked for the position because he is regarded as one of the most creative minds in Spanish haute cuisine.

Arola says, "The idea is very, very easy. It's just fried potatoes with two sauces on the top, usually a spicy one and an alioli." This "alioli" is just a term for a kind of garlic mayonnaise. The use of mayonnaise is a common fried potato accompaniment in central European countries like Germany and the Netherlands. "You can use this as a side dish or as a topper."

First, you will take a large pot and fill it with olive oil to fry your potatoes in. While you wait for your oil to heat, take a single, large potato and slice it horizontally into five segments. Don't worry about peeling these potatoes unless you want a larger version of the Patatas Bravas (which would be cool, too!).

After you have your potato segmented, you will want to core these parts using a type of ringed, coring device (similar to a pineapple corer). If you don't have one of these handy, you can easily use a knife to cut out the potato segment centers.

After you have cut out your "tots," you will take a melon baller to round out a center in the tot. This center will make the potato easier to fry and will contain the previously mentioned sauces. When the oil is ready, place the tots into the pot. Pull the tots out once they reach a nice, golden color and place them onto a paper towel to remove any excess oil. Salt the potatoes immediately.

In the centers of the potatoes, you will add a spicy, chili sauce. Think Sriracha. To make this at home, mix a plain tomato sauce with dry mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder and Worcestershire sauce. If you want an exact recipe, DeepSouthDish.com has a formidable concoction or you can buy any pre-made chili sauce from your local supermarket. 

Place the spicy sauce first into the tater tot. Then you will top the tot off with the Alioli sauce. This garlic-mayonnaise will add a nice contrast to the chili sauce.  About.com has a simple, homemade recipe available if you want to make your own.  As a garnish, sprinkle chopped chives or parsley to the Patatas Bravas.

Serve as an appitizer or as an alternative to the traditional tater tot that your guests may be used to.  These Patatas Bravas will have your friends saying, "Bravo!"