Papa rellena facts for kids
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| Region or state | Latin America |
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| Main ingredients | Potatoes, beef, onions, olives, hard boiled eggs, cumin, spices |
Papas rellenas means "stuffed potatoes" in English. They are a very popular kind of croquette in many parts of Latin America. You can find them in countries like Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Colombia. They are also a big hit in the Caribbean, especially in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
People first wrote down recipes for Papas rellenas in the late 1800s. At that time, French and Italian cooking styles were becoming very popular in Latin America. These styles helped shape many local dishes, including stuffed potatoes.
Contents
What are Papas Rellenas?
Papas rellenas are basically mashed potatoes that are shaped into a ball or oval. Inside, they have a tasty filling. This filling is usually made from seasoned ground meat. After they are shaped and filled, they are deep-fried until they are golden brown and crispy.
How Papas Rellenas are Made in Peru
In Peru, Papas rellenas start with a dough made from potatoes. Sometimes, a little potato flour is added to make the dough stronger. The filling is often made with chopped beef and onions. They also add whole olives, hard-boiled eggs, and spices like cumin.
After the filling is put inside the potato dough, it's shaped into an oval. Then, these potato ovals are deep-fried. In Peru, people often eat Papas rellenas with a special sauce. This sauce might be "salsa criolla" or a spicy ají sauce.
Papas Rellenas in the Caribbean
The way Papas rellenas are made can be a little different in each country. In the Caribbean, they are usually made from mashed potatoes. These are stuffed with seasoned ground meat and different spices. Then, they are deep fried.
In cities like Miami and Tampa, Florida, where many Cubans live, the Cuban version is very popular. These are potato balls filled with seasoned picadillo. Picadillo is a delicious ground meat mixture.
In Puerto Rico, this dish is called "relleno de papa." Here, the stuffed potatoes can have different fillings. They might be filled with cheese, picadillo, or even both! Before frying, the potato balls are often coated. They might be rolled in raw egg and then in cornmeal, corn flour, or bread crumbs. This makes them extra crispy when fried.
See also
In Spanish: Papa rellena para niños
