Llapingachos Recipes

ECUADORIAN CHEESY POTATO PATTIES

Steps:

• Bring 2 quarts water to boil in large saucepan. Add potatoes; cook 20 min. or until potatoes are tender; drain. Place in large bowl; mash until smooth.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. of the oil in medium skillet on medium heat. Add onions and 1 tsp. of the paprika; cook and stir until onions are tender. Stir into the mashed potatoes; cool. Stir in cheese. Shape evenly into 6 (1-inch-thick) patties.
• Mix remaining 2 Tbsp. oil and 1 tsp. paprika until well blended. Heat large nonstick skillet, griddle or cast iron skillet on medium heat. Brush a little of the oil mixture onto bottom of pan. Add patties; cook 3 minutes or until bottom is crisp and golden brown. Brush tops of patties with remaining oil mixture; turn over. Cook an additional 3 minutes or until crisp and golden brown on both sides. Serve each patty topped with 2 Tbsp. of the Peanut Sauce.

ECUADOREAN POTATO CAKES WITH PEANUT SAUCE (LLAPINGACHOS)

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch pieces. Cover with cold water add salt and simmer til very tender.
• While potatoes boil, cook garlic and 1/3 cup scallions in 2 tbs of annatto oil in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until softened about 2 minutes.
• Stir in cumin and 1/4 tsp pepper and cook 1 minute. Add tomato and cook stirring 2 minutes.
• Add milk and bring to a bare simmer, then remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until well combined. Keep covered and warm off heat.
• Drain and mash potatoes. Cook remaining 1/2 cup of scallions with 1/4 tsp salt and pepper in 2 tbs of annatto oil until softened.
• Stir into potatoes along with the cheese. Form into 8 balls, flatten into a 3 inch patty.
• Heat 1 tbs annato oil in a non stick pan over medium high, then fry cakes in two batches turning over once until crusty both sides (about 6 mins a side).
• Gently reheat peanut sauce thinning with a little water to creamy consistency if needed. Serve with the potato cakes.

LLAPINGACHOS (POTATO CAKES STUFFED WITH CHEESE)

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes and mash (You may also use leftover mashed potatoes made without milk and butter).
• Sautee onion in oil until soft, remove from pan and add to mashed potatoes.
• When the potaotoes have cooled down beat the egg yolk and mix in to the potatoes.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Form into equal sized balls and poke a hole in the middle of each ball stuffing each hole with cheese. Seal.
• Flatten each ball in to patties and chill for 30 minutes (This makes them less likely to spread when frying).
• Add oil to a medium hot frying pan and sautee until golden and crispy outside and heated thoughout.
• note: You can also just mix the shredded cheese in to the potato mixture but I like the gooey 'surprise' in the middle.
• Queso Blanco is the traditional cheese used but Monteray Jack or mozzarella may be substituted.
• Prep time does not include chilling time.
• Cooking time will depend on the size of your pan and number of batches being made. 5 minutes per side seems to do the job.