Peruvian Papas A La Huancaína Potatoes With Cheese Recipes

PERUVIAN PAPAS A LA HUANCAíNA (POTATOES WITH CHEESE)

Steps:

• Scrub the potatoes, place them in a saucepan, cover with water, and boil until tender (about 20 minutes). Drain, allow the potatoes to cool. Peel them, cut them into quarters, and set aside.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the lemon juice, red pepper, and salt. Add onion slices and coat them with the mixture. Stir well and set aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over low heat.
• Add cheese, turmeric, and heavy cream. Stirring constantly, continue cooking over low heat until cheese melts and mixture is smooth.
• Add the cooked potatoes and gently stir to heat through, about 5 minutes. Do not allow mixture to boil, or it will curdle.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with hard-boiled eggs.
• Sprinkle onion mixture over the potatoes. Serve immediately while potatoes are hot.

PERUVIAN PAPA HUANCAINA - WILLY'S STYLE

Steps:

• Place boiled eggs, potatoes and onions on a serving dish.
• Blend together in a blender the cream cheese, aji or yellow pepper, garlic, crackers, oil, milk, salt and pepper for 5 minutes until you get a thick mixture.
• It should be just thick enough to cover the potatoes.
• If the cheese sauce is watery, add half a boiled potato to thicken the sauce a little.
• Remove from the blender and pour over the potatoes and eggs.
• Top with black olives and lettuce for decoration.

POTATOES WITH CHEESE SAUCE (PAPAS A LA HUANCAíNA)

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)

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.