Salsa brava (classic version)

If you had to pick a classic Spanish bar snack/tapa, it would almost certainly be patatas bravas. The base of this tasty treat is a plateful of fried chunks of potato, but the key to that dish is the spicy salsa brava.
There are dozens of takes on salsa brava and bars often have their own "secret recipe". The key ingredients are always smoky/spicy Spanish pimentón and olive oil. Some recipes include tomato sauce or paste, others add extra heat & spices, garlic, onion, vinegar, etc. Here we'll stick to the basic/classic no-tomato version, but feel free to improvise.
Our alternative salsa brava recipe is something quite different and one I happen to like. It's based on plain yoghurt, blended with pimentón, garlic and some spices. It's quick & easy and really tasty.

Ingredients

• 1/2 Onion (finely diced)
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 Tbsp pimentón dulce (mild), 1 Tbsp pimentón picante (spicy)
• 4 Tbsp flour
• 1/2 liter chicken stock
• Salt (to taste)
• Options: black pepper, Tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, sherry vinegar
• 4 Tbsp good olive oil

Preparation

• Sautee onion on medium heat in olive oil until tender (about 10 minutes), add garlic and cook for a minute or two.
• Stir in pimentón, cook for a minute or so, stir in flour and mix well, cook for 5 minutes
• Add in the stock whisking as you pour, cook stirring constantly until the mixture thickens (at least 5 minutes). If it gets too thick, add some more stock.
• If using: add fresh ground pepper, Tabasco, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce
• Check salt, adjust as needed. If you can taste the flour, cook a bit longer.
• Let the sauce cool for a few minutes, then whiz it in a blender to a smooth consistency and you're done.

Note:
1. Some recommend stock made from ham bones instead of chicken and include other spices: bay leaf, cumin, vinegar, cayenne pepper or even sriracha.
2. Feel free to find a combination that works for you. Also, adding a drizzle of olive oil while blending emulsifies the sauce for better consistency.
3. This also makes a terrific all-purpose spicy sauce. Works a treat on burgers, and can add a nice little extra to your spaghetti sauce. The possibilities are many...
4. The test recipe used all the options. Excellent result.

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