Salt cod tortilla

Why this dinner works

Most weeknight one-pot dinners ask you to choose between two evils: a five-ingredient bowl that tastes like the inside of a saucepan, or a recipe so layered it eats your entire evening. Salt cod tortilla sits comfortably in the middle. It draws on Spanish traditions where building flavor in stages — aromatics, then spice, then the slow swell of liquid into starch — is just how dinner gets made on a regular Tuesday.

The whole thing comes together in about 34 minutes in a single soup pot, which means dinner from idea to table is shorter than most podcast episodes. We've leaned on the everyday 7 ingredients listed below, but in the notes after the recipe you'll find the small swaps and shortcuts that make this dish forgiving when your fridge is half-empty.

Method

1. Step 1. Heat half the oil in a frying pan, and sauté the onion over a medium heat until soft and pale gold – this will take about 8 mins. Remove from the pan, set aside, and add the potatoes to the pan. Cook until they are tender but not falling apart, carefully turning every so often. Cover the pan some of the time to help the slices cook through. Add the onions back to the pan along with the garlic and cook for another 4 mins. Tip into a bowl with the eggs, parsley and some seasoning and mix together. Leave to sit for half an hour.
2. Step 2. Meanwhile, put the cod in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring up to a simmer. Remove from the heat, cover and leave for 10 mins. Drain, leave to cool and remove the skin and any bones. Break into large flakes and add to the potato and egg mixture.
3. Step 3. Heat the rest of the oil in a non-stick frying pan. Pour in the tortilla mix and cook over a medium-low heat until it is just set and coming away from the sides of the pan. You might need to cover it to help the centre set. Be careful not to overcook it. Put a spatula underneath the tortilla every so often to make sure it isn’t sticking. Slide the tortilla onto a plate, then put the pan on top and flip the tortilla into it, uncooked side-down. Cook over a low heat until golden, or grill until just set. Leave to cool a little before serving.

Cook's notes

One pan, fewer dishes. Use the widest, heaviest soup pot you own with a tight-fitting lid. The wider base means faster browning at the start; the lid traps the gentle steam that finishes the dish without scorching the bottom.

Salt as you go. Season the aromatics, season the protein, season the liquid before it reduces. By the time you taste at the end, the only adjustment is usually acid — a squeeze of lemon, a splash of vinegar, a final crack of pepper.

Make it ahead. Like most one-pot dinners with spanish roots, the leftovers are arguably better the next day. Cool quickly, refrigerate within two hours, and reheat gently with a splash of water or stock to loosen things back up.

Pairings & serving

This one feels best in a 4-bowl spread with a sharp green salad and something cold to drink. If you want to stretch it for unexpected company, double the liquid and a single starchy ingredient — rice, pasta, potatoes, depending on the recipe — and the whole pan grows without much extra work.

Watch it cooked

If you're a visual learner, there's a free walkthrough of this dish on YouTube.

Original recipe inspiration: source.