Spanish omelette tortilla") to be eaten as a finger food. The first reference to the tortilla in Spanish is found in a Navarrese document, as an anonymous "Mousehole's memorial" addressed to the Navarra region's court in 1817. It explains the sparse conditions of Navarre's farmers in contrast with those in Pamplona (the capital) and la Ribera (in southern Navarre). After listing the sparse food eaten by highlanders, the next quote follows: "…two to three eggs in tortilla for 5 or 6 [people] as our women do know how to make it big and thick with less eggs, mixing potatoes, breadcrumbs or whatever."
Spanish omelette Other ingredients such as green or red peppers, chorizo or other sausage, tuna, shrimp or different vegetables, may also be included as well, although the result is not strictly a tortilla de patatas/papas. The Spanish government nutrition web site specifies extra virgin olive oil and includes onion, but some recipes simply state vegetable oil. The tortilla may be eaten hot or cold; it is commonly served as a "tapa" or picnic dish throughout Spain. As a tapa, it may be cut into bite-size pieces and served on cocktail sticks; a large tortilla can be cut into triangular portions ("pincho de