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Papas Rellenas {Cuban Potato Meatballs}

Papas Rellenas

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Papas Rellenas {Cuban Potato Meatballs} Papas Rellenas are a traditional Cuban snack, and once you try them you will understand why they show up at every celebration. They are fried mashed potato balls filled with seasoned ground beef and other fillings, crisp on the outside and soft and savory inside.

  • Total Time: 0 min
  • Yield: 2 dozen 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Mashed Potatoes
4 large potatoes
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1/4 cup whole milk
Salt and pepper

Breading
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
2 egg whites

Picadillo
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 pinch cayenne pepper
10 Spanish olives, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons juice from olives
kosher salt and pepper
oil, for frying

Instructions

Mashed Potatoes
1-Boil potatoes in salted water until fork: Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender, then drain. Mash potatoes into a large bowl. Add butter and milk, mix. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Potatoes should be fairly stiff so they can hold their shape
2-Stir in beaten yolks: Stir in beaten yolks. Cool or refrigerate potatoes. These should be stiffer than regular mashed potatoes. They can be made a day before.

Picadillo
3-Heat olive oil in large sauté pan: Heat olive oil in large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook a few minutes until translucent. Next, add garlic, continuing to stir until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
4-Add ground beef stirring to break up: Add ground beef stirring to break up meat.
5-Add paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper: Add paprika, cumin, cayenne, salt and pepper. Cook until beef is brown throughout. Add chopped olives and juice. Stir and adjust seasoning to taste, adding more if necessary.

Breading
6-Mix 1/4 cup all purpose flour and: Mix 1/4 cup all purpose flour and 1 cup bread crumbs in a shallow bowl.
7-Beat the 2 egg whites and 1: Beat the 2 egg whites and 1 egg and place in a bowl.

Assembling the Papas Rellenas
8-Using about 1/4 cup stiff, cold mashed: Using about 1/4 cup stiff, cold mashed potatoes, form into a ball.
9-Flatten ball and make a hollow: Flatten ball and make a hollow.
10-Put about 1 tablespoon picadillo inside indentation: Put about 1 tablespoon picadillo inside indentation.
11-Enclose meat in potatoes, forming into a: Enclose meat in potatoes, forming into a ball. Place on baking sheet.
12-Repeat with remaining potatoes and meat: Repeat with remaining potatoes and meat.
13-Roll each ball in egg mixture then: Roll each ball in egg mixture then in breading. Place on baking sheet. Chill 2 to 4 hours.
14-Heat oil in a deep-fat fryer or: Heat oil in a deep-fat fryer or deep frying pan. I used a deep frying pan and about 1 1/2 inches of oil. When oil is hot, carefully place 2 or 3 balls in pan, using a slotted spoon and turn until golden brown on all sides, 2 or 3 minutes. Transfer to clean baking sheet lined with paper towels.
15-Hold in warm oven until all papas: Hold in warm oven until all papas are fried. Makes approximately 2 dozen, depending on the size.

Last Step:

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  • Prep Time: 30 min
  • Cook Time: 20 min
  • Method: stovetop

Nutrition

  • Calories: 160
  • Sugar: 1
  • Sodium: 84
  • Fat: 8
  • Saturated Fat: 3
  • Carbohydrates: 16
  • Fiber: 2
  • Protein: 6
  • Cholesterol: 42