[1] It typically consists of white potatoes that have been cut into two-centimeter-wide (3⁄4-inch) cubes, then fried in oil and served warm with a spicy "brava" sauce.

The brava sauce is primarily sweet or smoked paprika (using high-quality Spanish pimentón de la Vera) and olive oil based, often thickened with cornstarch.

Some regions call for the addition of tomato paste, although there can be many variations.

[2] Visitors to Spain often confuse it with the similar dish patatas mixtas, which consists of fried potatoes served with both brava sauce and aioli sauce.

[citation needed] The dish is commonly served in restaurants and bars throughout Spain as a variety of tapas.