The Dish That Made Me Ditch Nonstick Pans

Video Description

Today marks one year of PapaMau on YouTube… and I wanted to celebrate by making the dish that started my journey, changed my career, and eventually led me to design my very own Yahgan carbon steel pan. We’re making tortilla de patatas (Spanish omelette) — one of Spain’s most iconic, most debated, and most deceptively difficult dishes… especially when you cook it in carbon steel or cast iron, without relying on nonstick coatings. In this video, I also break down the main traditional methods Spaniards use, the big debates around the dish (onion vs no onion, confit vs crispy potatoes, runny vs firm), and how those different approaches create completely different tortillas. If you've ever wondered why every Spanish family defends their version like a religion — you’ll understand it here. This dish is the reason I walked away from Teflon forever. It stuck, it failed, it broke my ego — and it pushed me into the world of healthy, durable, long-lasting cookware. That frustration eventually led me to carbon steel, to learning, to filming, to starting this channel… and eventually creating my own pan brand, Yahgan. So today, for my 1-year anniversary, I’m going back to where everything started. ⭐ In This Video: The real story of how tortilla de patatas changed my life The traditional ways Spaniards cook this dish (and why they argue about it!) The debate: crispy potatoes vs confit potatoes, onion vs no onion Cooking Spain’s most iconic dish in carbon steel How to avoid sticking (the infamous flip!) Why I ditched nonstick pans forever A behind-the-scenes look at the origins of Yahgan Cookware A thank you to our amazing community ❤️ Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - Spain’s Sacred Dish 01:50 - Ingredients & Controversies 02:56 - Preparing the Potatoes and Onions 04:06 - Even chefs use nonstick pans for this dish.. go figure 04:50 - Cooking & The Infamous Flip 08:12 - How a Spanish Omelette changed my life 10:30 - What's the bigger picture 14:52 - Thank You & Year Two ⭐ About Me Hey, I’m Papa Mau — an everyday dad cook helping people transition away from nonstick cookware and into carbon steel and cast iron as a healthier, more sustainable way to cook for your family. Here I share real home cooking, outdoor food, Argentinian and Chilean influence, honest reviews, and everything I’ve learned on this journey. ⭐ Check Out Yahgan (My Carbon Steel Pan Brand) Born from this recipe, this frustration, and this video. Designed for real cooking and real families. 🔥 https://yahgan.com.au ⭐ Popular Keywords to Help You Find This Video Spanish omelette, tortilla de patatas, how to make tortilla española, tortilla española recipe, carbon steel pan cooking, how to flip a tortilla, cast iron cooking, Yahgan pan, PapaMau, cooking with carbon steel, traditional tortilla española, Spanish cooking debate, onion or no onion tortilla, crispy vs confit potatoes, best pan for Spanish omelette, how Spaniards cook tortilla de patatas, nonstick alternative, ditch Teflon, carbon steel vs nonstick, healthy cookware, Spanish tapas recipes. ⭐ Thank You One year ago I recorded my first video with a phone, never expecting anyone to watch. Today there are thousands of you, and I’m so grateful. Your messages, your comments, and your trust keep me going — and this dish is my way of saying thank you. Here’s to year two. Let’s keep cooking together. ❤️