Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (2024)

Home » Vegetarian Condiments » Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe)

ByKristen Wood Last updated

This post may contain affiliate links, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you using these links. We appreciate your support!

Skip to Recipe Pin Recipe

Learn how to make salsa brava, the spicy Spanish tomato sauce! This bravas sauce recipe is easy and adds a delightful rich flavor to anything you use it on.

Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (1)

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Super easy to make.
  • Rich and flavorful.
  • Versatile and can be used many different ways.
  • Naturally vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and soy-free.
Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (2)

🗒️ Ingredient Notes

Olive oil: This is a great recipe to use that fancy olive oil you had stowed away for a rainy day. A good quality extra virgin olive oil does the trick here. Bonus points for Spanish olive oil!

Onion: I’ve made this sauce with white, yellow and red onion—all delicious. Use what you like or have on hand.

Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves really add a depth of flavor to this spicy sauce, but if you do not have any on hand, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder can be used in a pinch.

Smoked paprika: This is a classic, essential ingredient in a good salsa brava recipe, so I do not recommend omitting it or replacing it with any other spices. A good Spanish smoked paprika gets the job done here.

Hot smoked paprika: Hot smoked paprika, aka pimenton de la vera, has that rich smoky body not unlike regular smoked paprika, but with a delightful kick. It is another quintessential bravas sauce ingredient, but if you aren’t here for a spicy factor you can replace it with more smoked paprika.

Cayenne pepper: This optional ingredient just adds additional depth of flavor and heat for the true spice lovers.

Tomatoes: I find a can of fire roasted tomatoes to add the most flavor this sauce, but any kind of diced tomatoes, fresh or canned will work well.

Roasted red pepper: I find adding just one roasted red pepper to really round out the flavors in this recipe and also add a subtle sweetness. If you do not have it on hand however, it can be omitted for a still-tasty sauce.

Sherry vinegar: I really love the subtle flavor and acidity sherry vinegar adds to this sauce, but any vinegar will get the job done. White wine, red wine and even apple cider vinegar are great choices as well. Do not have vinegar? Use lemon juice!

Salt: What’s nearly any recipe without a bit of salt? I leave it up to you to adjust the salt in this recipe to suit your own tastes. I like to add around 1 teaspoon, for a mild-moderate salty factor, but it really is a personal preference in this case. I recommend starting with 1/2 teaspoon and going from there.

Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (3)

🔪 How to Make Salsa Bravas

  • Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (4)
  • Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (5)
  • Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (6)
  • Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (7)
  • Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (8)
  • Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (9)
  • Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (10)

🍽️ How to Use

The most common use for bravas sauce is in a Spanish dish called patatas bravas, which means “spicy potatoes” and they are just that: fried potatoes tossed about with salsa brava. Salsa bravas is also great served alongside a favorite tapa (aka an appetizer or snack as known in Spain).

Salsa bravas has many uses including, but not limited to, the below:

  • Pasta sauce.
  • Dipping sauce for fries, fried appetizers, chips and more.
  • Marinade for roasted vegetables or tofu.
  • Pizza sauce with a kick.
  • Drizzled over grain bowls, roasted veggies and more.
  • Sandwich spread.
  • Mixed into mayonnaise (or vegan mayo) for a fun twist.
Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (11)

💭 Top Tip

You can easily adjust the spiciness level of this recipe to suit your own tastes. To make a mild salsa brava, omit the cayenne and replace the hot paprika with more smoked paprika. For the true spicy food lovers, you can make a spicy salsa brava by using the optional cayenne pepper and if you really want a kick, saute a chopped fresh cayenne or Thai chili when sautéing the garlic and onion.

Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (12)

🥡 Storing

This delicious sauce keeps stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Any longer, and I would advise freezing the sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 6 months.

Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (13)

❓ FAQ

Where did bravas sauce originate?

Bravas sauce, also known as salsa brava, originated in Madrid, Spain. It is most commonly served over fried potatoes in a dish called “patatas bravas”, which can be found in tapas bars throughout the country. This dish is also sometimes served alongside a garlic aioli, which helps balance this spicy tomato sauce! You will find some regional variances throughout Spain in the ingredients used to make salsa brava, but all delicious.

Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (14)

🌶️ More Delicious Hot Sauce Recipes

Best Fresh Salsa Recipe

Mango Salsa

Louisiana Hot Sauce

Peri Peri Sauce

Do you LOVE hot sauce? Check out my books Hot Sauce Cookbook for Beginners and Fermented Hot Sauce Cookbook for more!

Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (15)

Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe)

Learn how to make salsa brava, the spicy Spanish tomato sauce! This bravas sauce recipe is easy and adds a delightful rich flavor to anything you use it on.

4.91 from 54 votes

Print Pin Rate Save

Course: Condiments

Cuisine: Spanish

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Author: Kristen Wood

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons hot smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon hot paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, omit if not a fan of super spicy
  • 1 14.5-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes or fresh diced tomatoes
  • 1 roasted red pepper
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar or any vinegar of choice
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  • In a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat, add the olive oil, garlic and onion. Saute for 5 minutes, or until the onions appear translucent.

  • Add the paprika, cayenne, tomatoes, red pepper and vinegar. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes.

  • Turn off the heat and then carefully add the cooked ingredients to a blender or food processor. Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender. Blend until smooth.

  • Salt to taste, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Please see the full post above this recipe card for lots of valuable information including ingredient substitutions, storage information and more.

You might like: Boom Boom Sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 41kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 44mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 691IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg

Have you tried this recipe?Please Rate + Comment Below!

Watch Our Latest VideosFollow us on YouTube!

Mention on Instagram!@moon.and.spoon.and.yum

Salsa Brava (Bravas Sauce Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

What is brava sauce made of? ›

Ingredients: Tomato, water, sunflower oil, sugar, vinegar, almond, garlic, spices, salt, and stabilizer: xanthan gum.

What is the meaning of salsa brava? ›

Bravas Sauce, also referred to as salsa brava, originates from Madrid, Spain. This piquant sauce boasts a deep, mildly spicy, and smoky profile, largely attributed to the smoked paprika it contains. Typically poured over deep-fried potatoes, it becomes the centerpiece of the renowned Spanish dish, patatas bravas.

What is brava food? ›

Patatas bravas (Spanish: [paˈtatas ˈβɾaβas], also called patatas a la brava or papas bravas, all meaning "spicy potatoes") is a dish native to Spain. It typically consists of white potatoes that have been cut into 2-centimeter (0.79 in)-wide cubes, then fried in oil and served warm with a spicy "brava" sauce.

Why are patatas bravas important to Spain? ›

Madrid, Spain, claims a signature on Patatas Bravas, which is never missing on the menu at any known tapas. The dish dates back to 1542 after Spain concurred with the Inca Empire to bring back their agricultural produce, such as tomatoes.

What is the national sauce of Spain? ›

Romesco Sauce – 45 million Spaniards can't be wrong. There is a reason this capsicum sauce is the national sauce of Spain. Because it's magic! Use it as a dip, marinade, spread, pesto, sauce, with vegetables, proteins, seafood, even eggs….

What is bravas mix? ›

Combination of spices to give a Cajun touch to your dishes. INGREDIENTS: Thyme Onion Oregano Garlic Sweet paprika Black pepper Mustard Hot paprika Cumin CHARACTERISTICS: Mustard yellow. Intense aroma. Spicy and warm flavor.

What does "bravas" mean in Spanish? ›

Bravo/brava is an adjective with various meanings in Spanish. We use it when we want to say someone is brave or courageous. In some Spanish-speaking countries, however, bravo/brava is also used as a synonym for angry, mad or upset. This adjective can also help us describe the world around us by meaning rough or fierce.

What is the difference between Bravissima and Brava? ›

Other variations of brava, bravo and bravi are bravissima, bravissimo and bravissimi. Like the former, they use grammatical gender at the end of the words. These are considered superlatives that mean “great” or “greatest.” So, it is essentially the same thing as brava, bravo and bravi but stronger.

What does Brava stand for? ›

Definition of 'brava'

1. well done; very good; excellent. used to praise a female performer. nounWord forms: plural ˈbravas. 2.

What is the difference between Brava and Bravo? ›

The only meaningful difference between brava vs. bravo is gender. Both words convey the same thing, and both share a literal translation in Italian to the word brave. Native Italian speakers would use bravo when addressing a man and brava when addressing a woman.

What is the history of salsa brava? ›

In 1917, La Victoria Foods started Salsa Brava in Los Angeles, California. In 1947, David and Margaret Pace founded Pace Foods and their Pace Picante Sauce in Texas. In 1952, La Victoria Foods introduced the first commercial taco sauce in Los Angeles, California.

What is a bravas tapas? ›

Patatas bravas is the most popular Spanish tapa, made of crispy fried potatoes that are tossed with salsa brava or bravas sauce. It's really the sauce that gives these potatoes the delicious slightly spicy and smoky flavor and distinguishes them from any other fried potatoes you'll try.

What food is Spain most famous for? ›

Paella is probably Spain's most well-known food. This delectable, saffron-flavored rice dish originated in Valencia hundreds of years ago when hungry servants would combine rice with leftovers from Moorish kings' lavish banquets.

What time of day do people eat Patatas Bravas? ›

Traditionally tapas are eaten during the hunger-witching hour between a pre-siesta lunch and an 11 PM Spanish dinner, but this meal is sure to satisfy any time of day.

Where is Patatas Bravas most popular? ›

It's extremely popular bar food in many parts of Spain. But there is no standard way to do it. Almost all the bars in Barcelona or Madrid have patatas bravas on the menu.

Is marinara sauce made of? ›

What is Marinara Sauce? Mariana is the same thing as a pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce. It is a tomato-based sauce made with tomatoes, onions, garlic, and herbs. It originated in Italy and is used in many Italian-American dishes like Chicken Parmesan or Spaghetti and Meatballs.

What is Brava cooking? ›

Brava uses coordinated pulses of light to cook hotter, faster, and with more precision than anything you've seen before.

What is the national sauce of Italy? ›

Commonly known around the world as spaghetti bolognese, in its authentic form 'Ragu alla Bolognese' is recognised as the national dish of Italy. Its origin can be traced back to Imola, a town near the city of Bologna, where a recipe was first recorded in the 18th century.

What is aji sauce made from in Ecuador? ›

Ají is a spicy sauce that contains ají peppers, oil, tomatoes, cilantro (coriander), garlic, onions, and water. It is served as a condiment to complement main dishes, most oftentimes in Latin American cuisines, and prepared by blending its ingredients using a food processor or blender.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rubie Ullrich

Last Updated:

Views: 6040

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (52 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rubie Ullrich

Birthday: 1998-02-02

Address: 743 Stoltenberg Center, Genovevaville, NJ 59925-3119

Phone: +2202978377583

Job: Administration Engineer

Hobby: Surfing, Sailing, Listening to music, Web surfing, Kitesurfing, Geocaching, Backpacking

Introduction: My name is Rubie Ullrich, I am a enthusiastic, perfect, tender, vivacious, talented, famous, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.