Papas a la Huancaína

Another great tasty dish from my Peruvian friend Jorge. Papas a la Huancaína is a famous traditional dish made by women from the town in Huancoyo, Peru. Boiled potatoes are topped with a rich, creamy and slightly spicy cheese sauce and usually, it is served either cold or at room temperature as a starter or side dish. This sauce is versatile, it can be used as a dipping sauce for shrimps.

Serves 6

Preparation Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time : 20 mins

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

10 Russet Potatoes, peeled, boiled and quartered (New, Red or Yukon can be used as well)
2 whole cloves of garlic

2 Peruvian yellow chili peppers, seeded or 2 tbsp yellow chili paste (aji amarillo), or any chili peppers

400g Ricotta cheese or any fresh cheese

1/2 cup vegetable oil + 1 tbsp for cooking

3 hardboiled eggs

Milk, if needed

Garnish

3 lettuce leaves for each serving

Black olives

Procedure

1. In a small skillet, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium-high heat, add garlic and chili peppers, until garlic turns lightly brown.

2. In a blender, add cooked garlic and chili peppers, cheese, oil until smooth.

3. If mixture is not soft after blending, add milk until smooth.

4. As a tradition, assemble lettuce leaves on a small plate. Lay half hardboiled eggs, two olives and potato slices on top. Pour sauce over potatoes and lettuce.