When it comes to spanish gastronomy, few dishes embody tradition and comfort as much as the tortilla de patatas. This humble dish has graced Spanish tables for generations, bringing families and friends together.

Dishes from the Canary Islands pop up every now and then in my family, particularly at my auntie’s house.

You’ll find this dish in pretty much every tapas bar in every coastal town in Spain, as well as in all the major cities. We love our fish and shellfish so much that the capital Madrid (which is in the middle of mainland Spain) is a major fresh fish importer, second only to Japan.

I am a proud “Madrileño” and in my hometown we pride ourselves on how good our patatas bravas are. There is something so special about traditions, they are there for a reason and are unquestionable in a community.

Traditionally this would be cooked in a flameproof terracotta dish, in which you then serve the prawns – if you don’t have one you can use an ordinary frying pan and leave the heads and shells on. I love these either way.