Pressure Cooker Spanish Tortilla originates in Spain. It is an Egg Frittata (Cheese-less Quiche) made with a Sofrito and potatoes. You will find Tortilla’s in Cuban households and restaurants under the Tapas category.
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Pressure Cooker Spanish Tortilla
This Pressure Cooker Spanish Tortilla {Cuban Potato Egg Frittata, Quiche} cooks up brilliantly in a Pressure Cooker. Tortilla’s are very, very popular in South Florida, as there is a very large Cuban population. I grew up in South Florida and have had many Tortillas over the years.
This Tortilla looks so pretty in the CorningWare French White Casserole Dish.
Latin cuisine usually starts with a Sofrito. In Cuban Cuisine, a Sofrito consists of Spanish onion, garlic and green pepper. Often times a little tomato paste is used in black beans and other dishes.
My dad was married to a Cuban lady, who taught me quite a bit about cooking Cuban food.
Tortillas are made on the stove top, where the sautéing is done. Since we are using an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker, we aren’t going to Sauté anything, but will still end up with a very tasty Pressure Cooker Spanish Tortilla.
I’m also adding some Cheese to this recipe, as an option, which makes this recipe non-traditional, if cheese is added.
When I make the Tortilla on the stove, I sauté the veggies and then add the tomato paste. For this Pressure Cooker Spanish Tortilla Potato Egg Frittata recipe, chop the veggies small to make sure they will be fully cooked.
If you want to use your stove and a skillet, feel free to sauté your veggies and potato sticks.
In a Medium Mixing Bowl or VitaMix/Blender, Whisk up the eggs with the seasonings until frothy.
Whisk in tomato paste and milk and add it to your bowl with the eggs.
Add in the minced onions and garlic and mix.
If using frozen French Fries, allow them to defrost. If using raw potatoes, peel the potatoes and slice them into thin pieces. Soak the raw potatoes in water for 20 minutes to remove the starch.
Generously grease your casserole dish. Eggs stick very much, so use a nice layer of oil. I like to use Homemade Ghee, Coconut Oil, Bacon Grease or Butter.
Lay the potatoes into the bottom of the casserole dish.
Pour the egg mixture over the potatoes. Some yummy, but non-traditional options are:
Green Pepper – Red Pepper – Shallot
Bacon – Ham – Sausage – Turkey
Spinach – Kale – Broccoli
If you are going to use meat, like ham, bacon, turkey, add that in now. If you want to add some greens, add them in now.
A Pressure Cooker Spanish Tortilla {Cuban Potato Egg Frittata, Quiche} is simple.
Today I added Cheese on top, which is definitely not traditional.
It is up to you if you want to add other add ins.
As an aside, packages of grated cheese are covered in powdery substance to keep the cheese from sticking. I always suggest buying blocks of cheese and using a good to Grater it grate it yourself.
Use a Foil Sling to Lower the Frittata into the Pressure Cooker. Fold over the edges, so that you can close the lid. Please see my article on Making & Using Foil Sling.
Here is a prior Tortilla. The bacon was cooked in advance and mixed in with the eggs.
It was then topped with more bacon and cheese, after cooking.
I think this CorningWare French White Casserole Dish really makes a nice presentation, which you can serve right at the table.
If you want to make individual servings, check out my Pressure Cooker Frosted Egg Cupcakes Frittata, where each person can add their own mix ins! It makes a great take along breakfast too!
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot DUO 6 Quart
- J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
- Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
- Simply Gourmet (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
- Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
- LamsonSharp Chef’s Slotted Turner– I totally love this spatula!
- Porcelain & Bamboo Salt Box with Spoon
- Bellemain Porcelain Ramekins
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board
- 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
- Microplane Artisan Ribbon Grater
- French White Casserole Dish
- Bisquick
- Tomato Paste
- Stainless Steel Trivet
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Pressure Cooker Spanish Tortilla {Potato Egg Frittata, Quiche}
Print Pin Save RateIngredients
- 6 large Eggs
- 4 oz French Fries (defrosted) (or Hash Browns or Raw Potatoes)
- 1 Tablespoon Butter melted*
- 1/4 cup Spanish Onions (or Yellow) Scallions or Onions, diced
- 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper or to taste
- 1 teaspoon Fox Point Seasoning or other seasoning
- 1 clove Fresh Garlic minced
- 1/4 cup Milk
- 1 teaspoon Tomato Paste
- 4 oz Cheese grated, any kind or a combination
- 1.5 cups Water
Topping
- 1 oz Cheese If desired
Add In Options
- Green Bell Pepper
- Bacon
- Spinach
- Ham
- Sausage
Instructions
- Peel and slice potatoes into thin strips and soak in water for 20 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and seasonings until very frothy.
- In a mixing cup, whisk together, tomato paste and milk and add to egg mixture. Whisk well. Add onions and garlic to egg mixture.
- Thoroughly grease casserole dish. Remove potatoes from water and dry with a paper towel. Add raw potatoes and pour in *melted butter. If using defrosted French Fries or Hash Browns, skip the melted butter.
- Pour in egg mixture and any add ins and top with cheese (if using).
- Add water to Pressure Cooker cooking pot and place a Trivet. Place uncovered casserole dish on Trivet.
- Lock on lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook on High Pressure for 15-20 minutes.
- When Beep sounds, allow a 10 minute Natural Pressure Release and then release the rest of the pressure.
- Top with grated cheese (if using) and place Lid on top of Pressure Cooker and allow cheese to melt.
patricia zabala says
My family are from the Basque country and this is something made every week on Friday’s since dad is old school Catholic and we dont eat meat on any friday, not just during lent. I just got my instant pot so I’m going to try to talk my dad in letting me make it this way. Wish me luck! Lol
Patty says
Delishious! Followed recipe but did not add cheese.
marylou says
brand new at this…can i make this w/o putting a bowl/casserole dish in the pot? i want to use my standard hashbrown/ham/eggs/milk/cheese casserole – using bag of frozen (thawed) shredded hashbrowns, chopped ham and onions, 4 eggs and 1/4-1/2 c milk and shredded cheese
Candace says
I have heard that about the pancake batter in the eggs. When out I always order over easy to avoid that. 🙂 This sounds so good. Can’t wait to try it.
Jan says
I missed something here about pancake batter. ??????? It’s not part of the ingredients or instructions but listed on the need to have list.
Irene says
I never have pancake mix in the house, make mine from scratch, what Can I use to replace the Bisquick mix?
Elise says
If you add sausage or bacon, should you cook it before adding?
Jill says
Hi Elise. Yes, please cook it before adding. Jill
Rich cu rod says
Yes, I have been eating this across Spain on my Camino de Santiago walk. Glad to see I can make them in my insta pot. A small spring form pan might work as well. Thanks for the recipe.
Karen says
Ok, here’s a beginner question, what is the easiest way to measure fresh ground pepper? Do you grind onto something, and then scoop it up? Silly question I know…
Mel says
Measure pepper? 🙂 you could grind it onto a clean piece of paper, wax, or parchement paper, fold it in half, and use the crease to direct the pepper to a measuring spoon. It can be a bit tricky to get it to flow.
Andrea says
Can this be divided into smaller ramekins with the same cooking time?
Lauren says
Hello. Thanks so much for your time creating this recipe! I made it tonight for my family and unfortunately it was not cooked all the way through. We just kind of ate around the edges 😉 Anyway, wondering if you have any advice? The only thing I did differently from this recipe is I didn’t soak the potatoes. Would tat really make much of a difference? I peeled and grated two potatoes and I did squeeze the water out. I used a 1.5 qt corningware dish.
Jill says
Lauren~
My suggestion for when something is not cooked enough, is to just cook it more.
Jill
Deb says
3 Questions: 1. Doesn’t the top of this recipe get soggy from the steam? I’m thinking I would want to cover it. 2. If cutting this recipe in half, should I adjust the cooking time? 3. Since I don’t have this type of baking dish, could I use a 7″ spring form pan?
Jill says
Hi Deb~
1. No, not at all.
2. Just cut the cook time to 7 minutes…you can always add.
3. Yes, the dish I used is about 7 inches across.
Jill
Jutta Holden says
Can’t wait to make this!
Love Cuban food!