In the heart of Peruvian cuisine, Papa a la Huancaina, meaning "Potatoes with Huancayo Sauce," reigns supreme. This iconic dish is a beautiful symphony of flavors and textures, where tender potatoes are enveloped in a velvety, vibrant yellow sauce made from aji amarillo peppers, fresh cheese, and evaporated milk. The Huancayo sauce, with its origins in the city of Huancayo, is the star of the show, adding a creamy, slightly spicy, and nutty flavor profile that perfectly complements the soft, fluffy potatoes. Served with a garnish of black olives, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh parsley, Papa a la Huancaina is a feast for the eyes and the palate. This article presents two variations of this beloved Peruvian dish: the Classic Papa a la Huancaina, a traditional rendition that stays true to its roots, and the Ají Amarillo Papa a la Huancaina, a modern twist that incorporates the fiery heat of fresh aji amarillo peppers directly into the sauce. Both recipes offer step-by-step instructions, ingredient lists, and cooking tips to ensure a flavorful and authentic Peruvian experience.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
POTATOES WITH CHEESE SAUCE (PAPAS A LA HUANCAíNA)
Potatoes are a cornerstone of the Peruvian diet, and for good reason: They have been cultivated in the Andes for more than 8,000 years, and the country boasts a whopping 3,000 varieties of the tuber, which comes in a myriad of shapes, colors, and sizes. In the regional capital of Huancayo, creamy, gently spiced cheese sauce is usually poured over the potatoes or served as a dip. To really highlight the potatoes (purple-fleshed ones look especially dramatic), we serve them over the sauce, with accompaniments of lime and meaty olives.
Provided by Lillian Chou
Categories Milk/Cream Potato Side Vegetarian Quick & Easy Dinner Gourmet Sugar Conscious Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added Kosher
Yield 8 (first course or side dish) servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Cover potatoes with water in a medium pot and season well with salt, then briskly simmer, covered, until just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Drain and cool, then peel.
- Meanwhile, mince and mash garlic to a paste with a pinch of salt, then blend with remaining ingredients in a blender until very smooth and thicker than heavy cream (if necessary, thin with milk). Season with salt.
- Cut potatoes crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
- Spoon some sauce onto 8 small plates, then top with sliced potatoes. Serve remaining sauce on the side.
- What to drink:
- Concha y Toro Terrunyo Casablanca Valley Sauvignon Blanc '07
PAPA A LA HUANCAINA (POTATOES WITH CHILE-CHEESE SAUCE)
Papa a la Huancaína, or potatoes Huancayo-style, is one of the most famous dishes of Peruvian cuisine. Boiled potatoes are topped with a slightly spicy, rich and creamy cheese sauce and are served cold or at room temperature as an appetizer or side dish. Enjoy!
Provided by Nif_H
Categories Potato
Time 30m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Cover the whole potatoes with cold, salted water, boil until cooked through. Remove from heat, drain and cool. Peel the potatoes and cut in half length-wise or into rounds.
- Place the cheese, evaporated milk, peppers and turmeric in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. With the motor running, add the crackers one at a time to thicken the sauce. With the motor still running, drizzle in the oil. Add more crackers if the sauce is too thin, or some milk or water if it is too thick. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Line a serving platter with the lettuce leaves. Place the potatoes on top of the lettuce leaves. Spoon the chile-cheese sauce over the potatoes. Garnish serving plate with egg quarters and tomato wedges. Sprinkle olives over potatoes and serve cold or at room temperature.
- VARIATIONS:.
- Papa a la Huancaina is also popular in Bolivia. However, the cheese is sometimes substituted with 1 cup of natural peanut butter.
- Ají amarillois the fiery yellow pepper common in Peruvian cuisine. These peppers can be found canned or in jars at many Latino markets.
- Try using a variety of potatoes for a colorful effect: blue, Yukon gold, russets, etc.
- A little garlic can be added to the sauce. A little lime or lemon juice squeezed in the sauce can round out its taste nicely as well.
- A local herb, palillo, is often added to the sauce, imparting a further bright yellow color. It can sometimes be found in powdered form at Latino markets. Turmeric is a fine substitute.
PERUVIAN POTATOES WITH SPICY CREAM SAUCE (PAPAS A LA HUANCAINA)
Steps:
- Place the potatoes in a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook for 30 minutes or until a paring knife slides into the potatoes without any resistance. Drain the potatoes and let them cool slightly. Slice the potatoes into 1/2-inch rounds and set aside.
- Combine the cheese, evaporated milk, oil, chile, garlic, and the lime juice in a blender and puree until smooth. The sauce should be creamy and pourable. If the sauce is too thick, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the sauce is thinned out.
- Arrange the lettuce leaves on a platter and top with the sliced potatoes. Pour the sauce over the potatoes. Garnish with slices of hard boiled egg and olives. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
POTATOES IN SPICY CHEESE SAUCE - PAPA A LA HUANCAINA
This famous Peruvian dish Papa a la Huancaína was posted by Marian Blazes. I have posted it here for use in the ZWT-7 world tour of South/Central America. This is a dish of sliced potatoes covered in a spicy cheese sauce that is typically served cold, as a first course or as a lunch dish. It is delicious made with yellow or white potatoes. The sauce for the dish is called Salsa a la Huancaina and is made with aji amarillo peppers. The spiciness can be adjusted by using less or more yellow chile peppers. (your preference) If you would rather not have it spicy, you may use some tumeric powder instead for flavor.
Provided by Baby Kato
Categories Peruvian
Time 1h
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- For the sauce - Remove seeds from yellow chile peppers and chop into 1 inch pieces.
- Sauté the onion, garlic, and chile peppers (or paste) in the oil until onion is softened, about 3-5 minutes. If using the tumeric option, add it now.
- Once onion is softened remove from heat and let cool.
- Place the onion-chile mixture in a food processor or blender, add the evaporated milk and blend.
- Next add the cheese and crackers and blend until smooth.
- The sauce should be fairly thick. If necessary thicken you can thicken the sauce with more saltines or thin the sauce with more .
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve at room temperature or chilled.
- For the potatoe dish - Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling and add the potatoes.
- Boil the potatoes until tender, drain and let cool.
- Slice the potatoes and place on top of the lettuce leaves.
- Then pour the huancaína sauce over the potatoes and garnish with slices of hard-boiled egg and black olive halves.
PAPA A LA HUANCAINA (POTATOES HUANCAYO-STYLE)
Papa a la Huancaína is a Peruvian potato and egg dish - I love this recipe.
Provided by Rob
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Place potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and cool. Peel potatoes and cut in half lengthwise.
- Combine queso fresco, evaporated milk, jalapeno pepper, and turmeric in a food processor and puree until smooth. Keep the processor running and add crackers, 1 at a time, to thicken the sauce. Drizzle in oil while processing. Adjust consistency of sauce by either adding more crackers (if the sauce is too thin) or thinning it out with milk, if sauce is too thick. Season with salt and pepper.
- Line a serving platter with lettuce leaves and distribute potatoes on top. Spoon cheese sauce over the potatoes and garnish with quartered eggs and tomato wedges. Sprinkle olives over potatoes and serve cold or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 673.8 calories, Carbohydrate 90.5 g, Cholesterol 250.2 mg, Fat 23.4 g, Fiber 10.8 g, Protein 27.8 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 314.1 mg, Sugar 12.1 g
Tips:
- For the best results, use fresh, high-quality ingredients.
- If you can't find aji amarillo paste, you can substitute another type of chili paste, such as aji panca or guajillo.
- Be careful not to overcook the potatoes. They should be tender but still hold their shape.
- For a creamier sauce, use full-fat milk or cream.
- If you like things spicy, add a few drops of hot sauce to the sauce.
- Garnish the dish with chopped parsley, cilantro, or aji amarillo peppers for extra flavor and color.
Conclusion:
Papa a la Huancaina is a delicious and versatile Peruvian dish that can be enjoyed as an appetizer, main course, or side dish. The creamy, spicy sauce is the perfect complement to the tender potatoes, and the dish is sure to be a hit with everyone at your table. So next time you're looking for a new and exciting dish to try, give Papa a la Huancaina a try. You won't be disappointed!
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