Rioja-Style Potatoes Recipe

The recipe for Rioja-style potatoes or potatoes with chorizo is characteristic of La Rioja, although it has already spread throughout Spain. Chorizo has always been a very demanded ingredient in winter dishes, since it provides a lot of energy and a distinctive flavor without needing much else. In this case, in order to achieve the best result, you have to “chascar” (a technique where a potato is cut in a way that helps it to release its starch) the potatoes during the cooking process to make the sauce better. Shall we get started?

Ingredients for the Rioja-Style Potatoes :

  • 6 medium potatoes
  • 1 chorizo
  • 1 green pepper
  • 2 choricero peppers (dehydrated red peppers)
  • 1 onion
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • A bay leaf
  • Olive oil

How to Make the Rioja-Style Potatoes:

  1. In a pan, add the oil with the onion (very well chopped) and sauté it for 15 minutes over medium heat.
  2. When a couple of minutes have passed, add the chorizo (sliced), as well as the bay leaf and the green pepper. Sauté for a few minutes to give it flavor.
  3. Before the onion and other ingredients begin to cook, add the paprika and then add the peeled and “chascared” potatoes (cut at about 4 centimeters). This means that the cut with the knife will not be complete, but just before making each piece we break it with a slight pull.
  4. Next, we will add the clean, chopped chorizo pepper. Stir and cover with water (leaving a finger more or less on top).
  5. We increase the temperature to bring it to boiling and then we return to a lower temperature so that the potatoes are done slowly. Cover, then let it breathe, and occasionally make smooth turns with the pan to mix all the ingredients.
  6. Let it cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding water if necessary.
  7. When the potatoes are ready, remove from the heat and let them cool down for about 10 minutes so that the potatoes finish releasing the starch and the sauce is better flavored.

Are you thinking about some wines to accompany these delicious Rioja-Style Potatoes ? Tell us in the comments!


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