Smoky Tomato Dip (Salsa Brava)

Smoky Spanish tomato dip, or salsa brava, is the perfect appetizer for your next party! Bravas sauce is full of flavour and easy to make!

Looking for a new and delicious dip to bring to your next party? Smoky Spanish Tomato Dip, also called Salsa Brava or Bravas Sauce, is a delicious appetizer perfect for your next party! This easy recipe is made with roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika, and garlic. It’s perfect with tortilla chips or crusty bread. So tasty – you’ll want to make it again and again!

This Spanish spicy tomato sauce is perfect with chips or even served over grilled chicken or fish, or go traditional and serve it with tapas like they do in Spain.

It’s an incredibly versatile and flavourful sauce that is just so good with just about anything! You can make perfect patatas bravas with this salsa brava sauce and roasted potatoes.

This easy recipe is made with pantry staples, so it’s perfect for when you need a quick and delicious appetizer or side dish. Plus, it’s easy to make so you can focus on the party instead of the kitchen!

Why You Will LOVE This Bravas Sauce Recipe!

We love this smoky tomato dip, and here is why you will too!

• Easy to make & clean up after
• Delicious smoky flavour
• Amazing served warm or cold
• Stores well
• Versatile sauce
• Addictive dip perfect for appetizers
• Fabulous as part of a Mezze platter or Tapas.

What is Bravas Sauce?

Bravas sauce is a smoky, spicy tomato dip popular in Spain. Also known as salsa brava, it is used as a dip, condiment, or topping. The sauce is typically served warm or at room temperature with Tapas like croquetas or patatas bravas. The classic version of the sauce includes garlic, paprika, and chili pepper.

The traditional way to make bravas sauce is by frying onions and garlic in a bit of oil until softened. Paprika, chili pepper, and a touch of vinegar are then added and cooked for a minute before adding tomatoes. The sauce is simmered until thickened then pureed.

What is Patatas Bravas?

Patatas bravas is a dish of fried potatoes served with a warm, smoky, spicy tomato dip. The dish is popular in Spain and can be found in tapas bars throughout the country. The potatoes are typically boiled then fried or roasted until crispy. Authentic patatas bravas is tossed with the bravas sauce and served hot.

Sounds amazing right? Next time you are roasting some potatoes, keep this recipe in mind and try this popular patatas bravas recipe for yourself!

What to Serve with Smoky Spanish Tomato Dip

Serve this dip with chips like my homemade pita chips (pictured), toasted bread, or with tortilla chips.

OR use it to make the popular Spanish tapas dish, patatas bravas. It also works as a delicious pasta sauce, croquettes, or served over vegetables.

Traditional bravas sauce is also perfect for serving as a condiment with grilled meats and fish.

This is a really versatile dip that can be used in loads of ways, and once you taste it, trust me, you will start working this Spanish recipe it into all your favourite dishes! Soon you will be enjoying classic Spanish dishes like patatas bravas, at home regularly, this Spanish brava sauce is that good.

How to Store Leftover Salsa Brava

You can make bravas sauce ahead of time and store in the fridge for a couple of days in an airtight container. It also freezes well. Just thaw out the dipping sauce in the fridge overnight and reheat in a small saucepan before serving.

To make bravas sauce, you really only need a medium skillet, and a blender or food processor. You could also use an immersion blender to puree the tomato mixture.

About the Ingredients for Smoky Spanish Tomato Dip

This iconic sauce uses pantry staples to make a popular tapas dish.

Oil – Use a neutral flavoured oil. Olive oil is best.

Onion – You can use any kind of onion you like although I would skip the sweeter varieties.

Garlic – Please use fresh garlic. You can use a little more of course too if you like.

Hot Pepper – I used red-hot chili flakes, but you can use hot paprika (pimentón picante) or substitute with cayenne pepper or if you want a very mild sauce omit completely. For spicy bravas simply add more red pepper flakes or hot paprika. As written, this is a mildly spicy salsa brava, my 8 year old thought it was hot but not overly so, and she is no fan of spice.

Paprika – The smoked paprika is the most important part of seasoning this sauce, and I would avoid using regular paprika (sweet paprika powder) if you can,

Cumin – I also added cumin as it works really well with the flavour profile of the sauce and adds a rich, earthy flavour.

Salt & pepper – Don’t forget to season to taste!

Tomato – You can substitute with 2 cups of chopped fresh tomatoes in place of the canned tomatoes, but since we are cooking down the tomatoes, I don’t think it makes much of a difference.

Lemon – Bravas Sauce is typically made with sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar, but lemon juice works too. You can substitute with vinegar if you prefer.

Looking for More Chips and Dip Recipes?

Who doesn’t love chips and dip? Check out some more of my favourite homemade chips and dip recipes!

Watermelon Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips is a refreshing summer dessert or appetizer, perfect for serving at backyard parties.

Pumpkin pie fluff dip that has all the flavours of a slice of pie. Served with cinnamon sugar pie crust chips, it’s the perfect fall dessert!

This easy buffalo chicken dip recipe is a perfect appetizer for game day! Loaded with chicken, cheese, and hot sauce, it’s always a big hit.

How to Make this Salsa Brava Recipe

Yields: 4-6 Servings | Prep time: 5 Minutes | Cook time: 15 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 1 Medium onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed hot-red chili
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 14 ounce can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions:

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the oil and onions, and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Add the garlic, and cook, stirring for about 1 minute, or until the garlic is fragrant.

Stir in the chili, salt, cumin, paprika, tomatoes, and lemon juice.

Let simmer for 10 minutes, or until thickened, and sauce has reduced by half.

Transfer the sauce to a blender or food processor, and purée until smooth.

If the sauce seems thin after it has been pureed, you can return it to the skillet to reduce further on a gentle simmer.

Serve and enjoy!