Description
Bravas Sauce (Salsa Brava) is a vibrant and spicy Spanish tomato sauce that perfectly complements patatas bravas, roasted vegetables, grilled meats, or serves as a flavorful dip for fries. This sauce has a rich smoky and slightly tangy flavor profile achieved by using a blend of smoked, hot, and sweet paprikas, combined with tomato paste and crushed tomatoes, then simmered and blended to a smooth consistency. It’s easy to make on the stovetop and adds an incredible depth to any dish you pair it with.
Ingredients
Scale
Bravas Sauce Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika (or cayenne for more heat)
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- Salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup water (as needed to thin the sauce)
Instructions
- Sauté Onion: Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Add Garlic: Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning and to release its aroma.
- Toast Spices: Add the smoked paprika, hot paprika, and sweet paprika. Stir and toast the spices for about 30 seconds to bring out their full flavor.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for an additional minute to deepen its flavor and integrate with the spices.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Pour in the crushed tomatoes along with red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer Sauce: Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens slightly. Add a splash of water if the sauce becomes too thick for blending.
- Blend the Sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat. Using an immersion blender or a standard blender, blend the sauce until it reaches a smooth, velvety consistency.
- Adjust Seasoning: Taste the sauce and adjust salt, pepper, or vinegar if needed for a balanced flavor.
- Cool and Serve: Let the sauce cool slightly before serving it as a dip or accompaniment to your favorite dishes.
Notes
- For a milder version, use only sweet paprika to reduce heat.
- This sauce pairs excellently with patatas bravas, roasted vegetables, grilled meats, or as a dip for fries.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- The sauce freezes well and can be stored frozen for up to 2 months for future use.
