Cuban Fritas With Matchstick Potatoes Recipes

MATCHSTICK POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pour at least 1-inch of oil into a deep pot and heat it to 350 degrees F.
• Slice the potatoes into thin matchsticks (1/8-inch thick) with a vegetable slicer or mandoline, dropping them into a bowl of cold water as you cut. Drain the potatoes and dry them thoroughly with paper towels. Drop the potatoes in batches into the hot oil and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the pot with a wire basket skimmer or slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Place on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt, and keep warm in the oven while you cook the rest of the potatoes.
• Sprinkle the potatoes with parsley, if desired, and serve hot.

MATCHSTICK POTATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pour at least 1 inch of oil into a deep pot and heat it to 350 degrees F.
• Slice the potatoes into thin matchsticks (1/8-inch thick) with a vegetable slicer or mandoline, dropping them into a bowl of cold water as you cut. Drain the potatoes and dry them thoroughly with paper towels. Drop the potatoes in batches into the hot oil and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the pot with a wire basket skimmer or slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Place on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt, and keep warm in the oven while you cook the rest of the potatoes.
• Sprinkle the potatoes with parsley, if desired, and serve hot.

MATCHSTICK POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut sides and ends flat so that potato is a solid rectangle four inches long. Adjusting your mandolin accordingly, cut potatoes into matchstick shapes or, using a sharp knife, cut them by hand, rinsing blade frequently to remove starch. Place matchsticks in a bowl of ice cold water. After five minutes pour off starchy water and refill. Put bowl in the refrigerator and let potatoes soak for an hour, then drain in a colander and pat them dry with a paper towel. You might hasten the drying by spinning them in a salad spinner.
• In a deep, heavy kettle with a frying basket, heat oil, which should be about two inches deep, to 350 degrees. Add potatoes a handful at a time. (Do not add too many potatoes at once or you will reduce temperature. Potatoes will be soggy and won't brown.) As they begin to cook, shake basket to separate them. If they clump, poke them with a wooden spoon or tongs. When they are crisp and golden, remove them from oil with tongs. Drain on paper towels. Add salt. Repeat in batches. Keep them warm and crisp in a low oven.

PAN-FRIED STUFFED POTATOES (CUBAN PAPAS RELLENAS)

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir ground beef with onions and garlic in the hot skillet until beef is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease. Turn heat down to medium-low. Add tomato sauce and wine and let simmer. Stir in olives. Season with salt and pepper; adjust the seasonings per taste.
• 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 mash potatoes, then set aside to cool.
• Separate the egg yolks from the whites into two bowls. Mix the egg yolks into the cooled mashed potato mixture. Whisk the egg whites for 1 minute.
• Take 1/4 cup of the mashed potatoes and form into a ball. Make a dent in the ball, to give it more of a bowl shape. Fill the indentation with 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture, and then reseal it.
• Reshape the potato as a ball again. Dip the ball in the egg whites, then roll the ball around in bread crumbs until coated. Repeat with remaining potato and meat mixture. For a better coating, or for a crunchier texture, you may dip the ball into the egg whites again and coat it with another layer of bread crumbs. Refrigerate the potato balls for at least 4 hours before frying.
• Pour enough oil into a skillet or frying pan to cover half of the potato balls. Heat oil to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Working in batches, place several balls into the frying pan and cook on each side until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, taking care not to overcook. Drain the stuffed potatoes in a single layer on paper towels.