Simon Hunter
IF there is one topic that Spaniards love to talk – and argue – about above all others, it is food, and in particular just how to make some of the country’s most beloved dishes.
But there is no recipe that sparks such fiery discussion than the famed tortilla de patatas, an omelette whose main ingredients are eggs, plenty of olive oil, potatoes, salt – and onion?
The inclusion or not of the root vegetable in a genuine Spanish tortilla is a highly contentious subject, with some insisting it is essential and others turning their noses up at the possibility.
But for the second year running, Spain’s public Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) institute has included questions about the tortilla in a study about tourism and gastronomy, in a bid to gauge support for the two different options.
Read more: Did this Olive Press reporter just pull of the best tortilla prank ever?
And the results are resounding: a full 72% of those surveyed said they prefer a Spanish tortilla with onion, while just 21% responded ‘without’.
The response was very similar to that seen in 2023, according to the data, as reported by 20minutos, but the ranks of the sincebollistas, as those who don’t like onion are known, are gradually swelling at the cost of the concebollistas.
The CIS went much further than just asking who liked onion, however, also cross-referencing the results with variables such as gender and even political affiliations.
According to the survey, women are more keen on a tortilla with onion than men are, as are younger people.
In the 18-25 age range, 74% of Spaniards prefer onion in their omelette, while the lowest support for the ingredient is found among 55- to 64-year-olds.
As for political leanings, it turns out the most concebollistas are to be found among the voters of the far-right Vox party, with 77% support, followed by voters for the conservative Partido Popular (74%), and then the Socialist Party (73%).
The survey also touched on another key element of a Spanish tortilla: whether the egg should be cooked through, or still runny in the middle.
Just under 53% or respondents said they prefer the omelette runny, while 30% chose cooked, a two-point increase on the year before.
