Spanish tortilla
A thick omelette with potato and onion; the centre is often left soft (jugosa).
With care: in a safer version

Ingredients
- potatoes
- eggs
- onion
- olive oil
- salt
How it is prepared
Potatoes and onion are slowly cooked in olive oil, mixed with eggs and cooked on both sides.
Food safety with low immunity
- Eggs should be fully cooked, with firm whites and yolks.
How to prepare it during treatment
Safer version: cook until the centre is fully set (bien cuajada).
Your diet during treatment is agreed with your doctor. Sample 7-day menu for the treatment period →
Storage
Best eaten straight after cooking. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and eat within a day.
Reheating
Better made fresh; if reheating, heat until steaming.
Symptoms it may suit
- Low appetite. Gives a lot of energy and protein in a small portion — can help when appetite is low.
- Weight loss. Energy-dense and easy to enrich (oil, cheese, yoghurt) — can help with weight loss.
- Nausea. Mild and not too greasy; can be eaten in small portions, warm or at room temperature.
These are general observations: what suits you can change from day to day.
Treatment phases
- Before treatmentmay suit
- During a coursemay suit
- Low counts (neutropenia)Only in the safer version and if your team agreesmay suit
- Between coursesmay suit
- After treatmentmay suit
Phase notes are general. During low counts, follow only your care team’s food rules.
If you have other conditions
- Diabetes. Rich in carbohydrates (rice, potato, dough). With diabetes, discuss portion size and blood sugar with your team.
- Heart disease, Obesity, Liver disease, Stomach and gut. Can be fatty. With heart, liver or digestive disease, or excess weight, discuss fat content and portions with your team.
- Kidney disease. Can be a source of potassium (tomato, potato, pulses, dried fruit). With kidney disease, discuss potassium limits with your team.
Nutrition (per 100 g)
Nutrition figures from a reliable source have not been added for this dish yet.
More from this cuisine
Related topics
Food safetyNeutropenic diet (low-microbial diet)PasteurisedCore cooking temperatureLeftoversCross-contamination
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Safer Food Choices for People With Weakened Immune Systems
- FoodSafety.gov (U.S. HHS). Cook to a Safe Minimum Internal Temperature
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Leftovers and Food Safety
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
- Food Standards Agency (UK). Chilling
- World Health Organization (WHO). Five keys to safer food manual
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
- National Cancer Institute (NCI). Eating Hints: Before, during, and after Cancer Treatment
- BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care, 2019. Neutropenic diets to prevent cancer infections: updated systematic review and meta-analysis
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). FoodData Central — Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS)