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European · J. Kenji López-Alt

Tortilla española

From the video “Quick Tortilla Española” by J. Kenji López-Alt. RecipesMD is not affiliated with J. Kenji López-Alt. Steps are in our own words.

Machine-read from the video · not yet checked by a personMediumFine for a weeknight
Not spicy
Total time
~55 min
est.
Serves
~4
est.
Cost
~$1.94*
per serving, Ontario (~3 portions assumed)save ~$20.06* vs ordering out
Difficulty
Medium
Ingredients
11

Ingredients

  • Vegetarian

May contain egg

Read from the ingredient list. Check packaging if you have an allergy.

The video doesn’t say how many this serves, so amounts are shown as made in the video.

Ontario grocery estimate*

~$5.81*for the batch in the video
~$1.94*per serving

You save about ~$20.06* per serving (91% less*) than ordering it out — ~$60.19* for ~3 portions.

Order out = a typical Ontario bistro plate, before delivery fees, tax and tip.

4 ingredients priced from Ontario averages

* Estimate, not a quote: every counted line priced from Ontario averages; the video doesn't state how many it serves, so 3 portions were assumed; restaurant comparison is a typical Ontario bistro plate at ~$22, before delivery fees, tax and tip. Prices: Ontario averages (StatCan 2026-07) + RecipesMD estimates, pro-rated, staples excluded.

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stated said or written in the video · shown seen in the video · estimated our guess (1 here)

Nutrition & health

Nutrition per serving916 kcal · 46% of 2,000
Fat77 g99%
Saturated fat13 g63%
Sodium157 mg7%
Carbohydrate41 g15%
Fiber4.8 g17%
Total sugars2.2 gno daily value
Added sugars0 g0%
Protein17 g35%

Estimate from the ingredient list — not dietary advice. % Daily Value uses FDA reference amounts; 5% or less is low, 20% or more is high. Added sugars are counted from sweeteners and sweet sauces in the list.

Health indexMiddle of the road
  • Starting point60
  • Protein+10 of 20
  • Fiber+8 of 20
  • Saturated fat−14 of 20
  • Sodium−1 of 20
  • Added sugars (estimate)0 of 20

RecipesMD health index — an estimate from the ingredient list, not medical or dietary advice

From 5 of 7 ingredient lines (100% of the measured weight), divided into 4 servings (estimated: average of rules (2: 400 g protein foods at ~170 g per serving) and model check (6)). Not counted because the video gives no amount: onion, salt, black pepper, mayonnaise, extra virgin olive oil. Source: USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy (2018-04, public domain) + 4 Branded Foods records.

Equipment

  • pan
  • bowl
  • chopsticks
  • spatula
  • wooden lid
  • microplane
  • knife

What the video didn’t say

  • Exact onion quantity
  • Exact salt and pepper quantities
  • Exact cooking durations and exact heat settings
Cook it this week →Watch on YouTube ↗Markdown

Read from the public video by gemini-3.5-flash-lite on 2026-10-05. Thumbnail and video are J. Kenji López-Alt’s, shown through YouTube’s official embed.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know about Tortilla española

What makes J. Kenji López-Alt's Tortilla española recipe and technique special?

J. Kenji López-Alt's take on Tortilla española focuses on home kitchen precision, balancing European flavors with an estimated under 30 minutes total preparation time. Crucial step: Flipping with a plate requires confidence and a quick motion to avoid breaking. Every step is timestamped to the exact second in the video so you can follow along hands-free.

How much does it cost to make Tortilla española at Ontario grocery prices?

Based on Statistics Canada benchmark consumer food pricing, this Tortilla española recipe costs approximately economical home-cooked pricing per serving (yielding 2 to 4 portions). Home cooking saves an estimated 60% to 75% compared to ordering takeout at a restaurant.

Can I make Tortilla española ahead of time or store leftovers?

Yes. Leftover Tortilla española can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. If the recipe contains delicate leafy greens or dressed ingredients, keep the dressing separate until ready to serve to maintain crisp texture.

What substitutions can I make in J. Kenji López-Alt's Tortilla española?

This recipe utilizes approximately 11 ingredients across 16 steps. For gluten-free adaptations, swap regular soy sauce or flour with tamari or cornstarch. For vegetarian adaptations, replace meat proteins with extra-firm tofu, mushrooms, or legumes while preserving the aromatics.

Where can I watch the video tutorial for Tortilla española?

The official cooking video by J. Kenji López-Alt is embedded directly on RecipesMD, featuring video timeline scrubbing that jumps directly to each step, adjustable playback speeds, and Kitchen Mode.