Tortang patatas is a Filipino omelette with eggs, potato and onion cooked in oil. It is a simple dish to prepare for breakfast to serve with rice.
It is a dish that every household will have a version of. There is no one right way to do it.
The way I like it would be as my mother used to prepare it: potatoes stir-fried until silky and softened, the egg set but moist, thin as a pancake and the edges are browned. My version has onions to add sweetness and savouries but it can do without and it will still be superb.
Ideally served with warm rice. But these days, rice costs an arm and a leg so I go for a piece of toast and tomatoes or radish to have a refreshing side.
What is tortang patatas?
Torta in Filipino is omelette and patatas refers to potato. So, tortang patatas is potato omelette. It is an omelette as thin as a pancake and served with rice as part of a meal. Made with a handful of ordinary household ingredients, eggs and potatoes and sometimes onion, transformed into a delectable dish hot or cold.
Ingredients to make tortang patatas
Potato – waxy potato
Onion – I use white onion, if I were in the Philippines I would use shallots, feel free to use and experiment with other onions
Eggs – use fresh eggs
Neutral flavoured cooking oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Add-ins – There are plenty of flavours you can add to your omelette. Try cheese, ham, mushrooms, asparagus, spinach, or proteins such as ground pork or beef.
How to make Filipino potato and egg omelette
If you’d like to see the full ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of the post for the printable recipe card.
Potatoes and onion – in a pan on medium heat, saute potatoes and onion until soft.
Eggs – In a bowl, crack the eggs, add salt and pepper and beat lightly.
Put them together – When the potatoes are soft, pour the eggs, place a lid to cover the pan and cook until set. This will help the omelette cook quickly. When the eggs set, take the lid off. Place a plate over the pan and flip the omelette to the plate. Slide the omelette back into the pan and cook for about 2 minutes.
Turn the heat off. Place the omelette on a serving plate then serve with rice and enjoy.
How to serve tortang patatas
As with most Filipino egg dishes like tortang talong tortang patatas is mainly eaten as a main for breakfast, usually paired with rice, a side of soy sauce vinegar dipping sauce, prik nam pla or spiced vinegar dip and a plate of vegetables. It can also be eaten as a side along with other sharing dishes any time of the day.
While it is considered a main dish, it is great as a side or an appetizer.
If you love quick and easy egg recipes, try these next:
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Let’s get cooking.
Tortang Patatas
Ingredients
- 1 medium potato julienned
- 1 small onion sliced
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 2-3 tbsp neutral flavoured cooking oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a pan, heat the oil and saute the potatoes and onion. Cook until the potatoes are soft.
- In a bowl, beat the eggs – season with salt and pepper.
- When the potatoes are soft, pour the eggs over the top.
- Cook until the eggs are set. Place a lid to cover the pan to cook.
- Take the lid off. Place a plate over the pan and flip the omelette to the plate.
- Slide the omelette back into the pan and cook for about 2 minutes.
- Turn the heat off. Place on a serving plate and serve with rice.
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