Peruvian papa rellena
Region or stateLatin America
Main ingredientsPotatoes, beef, onions, olives, hard boiled eggs, cumin, spices

Papas rellenas (English: stuffed potatoes) are the most popular type of croquettes in Latin American regions such as Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and the Caribbean (more so in Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic).[1][2][3] The first printed Latin American recipes date to the late 19th century, during a time when French cuisine (among others, e.g. Italian) was influencing the region.[citation needed]

Peruvian preparation

The dish is a potato-based dough into which a filling made of chopped beef and onions, whole olives, hard-boiled eggs, cumin and other spices is stuffed. Once prepared, the obloid mass is deep-fried. Potato flour is often added to give greater consistency to the dough. In Peru, the dish is usually accompanied with a "salsa criolla", or an ají sauce.[4]

Caribbean variants

They consist of mashed potatoes stuffed with seasoned ground meat[5] and various spices, and then deep-fried. The dish varies in preparation and presentation between countries. Papas rellenas are a local favorite in heavily Cuban-populated American cities such as Miami and Tampa,[6] in which the Cuban version consists of potato balls stuffed with seasoned picadillo.[7]

This dish is also extensively consumed in Puerto Rico, where it is called "relleno de papa". In Puerto Rico the potatoes are boiled and then mashed with eggs, cornstarch, milk, and butter. Papas rellenas are stuffed with cheese, picadillo, or choice of meat. The papas rellenas are then coated with egg wash, and rolled into cornmeal or bread crumbs before frying.

In popular culture

Papa rellena was featured on the Bolivian episode of Netflix TV series Street Food in season 2.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ Acha, Sergio Zapata (2006). Diccionario de gastronomía peruana tradicional (in Spanish). Universidad de San Martín de Porres, Escuela Profesional de Turismo y Hotelería. ISBN 978-9972-54-155-1.
  2. ^ elcampesino (2017-01-24). "Papas rellenas de carne, una receta muy colombiana". Periódico El Campesino – La voz del campo colombiano (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-08.
  3. ^ Fetzer, Erika (2004). Sabores del Perú: la cocina peruana desde los incas hasta nuestros días (in Spanish). Viena. ISBN 978-84-8330-249-1.
  4. ^ Peruvian Stuffed Potato
  5. ^ Cuban Papas Rellenas recipe
  6. ^ On the Road with Kitchen Warfare
  7. ^ iCuban Stuffed Potatoes
  8. ^ Cortez, Mario A. (24 July 2020). "'Street Food: Latin America' Is a Mouth-Watering, Welcome Escape". Remezcla. Retrieved 3 August 2020.


Categories