Cuban Stuffed Potatoes Recipes

(CUBAN) STUFFED POTATOES

Steps:

• Peel and boil potatoes.
• using a mixer mash the potatoes well and set aside to cool, I usually come back 2 or 3 times to mix, to help the cool faster and make sure all the lumps are out.
• Brown ground beef with garlic with garlic onion olives, drain well.
• return beef to your pan and add the taco seasoning and spinach, simmer 5-10 minutes or till the spinach is softened.
• Add 1 egg to mashed potatoes and give a final mix.
• scoop out a handful of potatoes and flatten between your hands (like potato cakes) put some of your ground beef in the center on the "cake" and fold up the sides and mold into a ball, rolling it between your hands.
• you will need two bowls, break your remaining two eggs and beat in one bowl and flour/bread crumbs in the other.
• roll your potato balls in the egg first and then the flour mix.
• over medium high heat brown all sides of the potatoes and serve with black beans and rice.

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.

PAPAS RELLENAS (CUBAN STUFFED POTATO BALLS)

Steps:

• In a large pot of salted boiling water, boil the potatoes until fork tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain and return to the pot away from the heat. Mash the potatoes or push through a potato ricer. It should be easy to shape into a ball (but don't shape them yet). Allow to set until cool enough to touch.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef and onion until the meat is browned. Stir in the garlic and onion until just fragrant, about 30 seconds. Drain excess grease. Add the tomato sauce and wine, then lower the heat to medium. Simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the olives and season with the spices and salt and pepper, to taste. Cook for another 3 minutes then remove from the heat. If the meat mixture is not at the consistency you desire, you can transfer it to a food processor and pulse a few times to hash it up. This is completely optional.
• Scoop 1/4 cup portions of the potatoes and divide each in half. Press a dimple into the middle of each half to form small bowl like shapes. Stuff a tablespoon or two of the meat mixture into half of the bowls, then cover with the other halves and form a ball around the meat. None of the meat should be exposed.
• In a small bowl, mix together the bread crumbs and flour. Dip each ball first into the beat eggs, then into the bread crumbs. Repeat for a crunchier texture. Layer on a lined baking sheet or large platter and refrigerate for 2 to 4 hours before frying.
• Pour enough oil into a frying pan that is enough to cover half of the height of the balls. Heat the oil to 375 °F. Carefully drop the stuffed potatoes in the hot oil and fry on each side for about 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels and serve immediately.

STUFFED POTATOES CUBANO

Steps:

• 1. Peel, cube and boil potatoes until easily pierced with fork. Drain and mash them. Add salt, garlic and milk.
• 2. When mixture is cool, take handfuls and form into half of a ball with an indentation in the center. Fill indentation with picadillo. Top with another potato ball and seal edges together with your fingers.
• 3. In a small bowl, beat the eggs with water. Spread breadcrumbs on a plate or shallow dish. Dip balls into egg mixture, then roll in bread crumbs.
• 4. Cover potato balls and chill for a few hours or even overnight.
• 5. When ready to cook, bring to room temperature while heating oil in large skillet. Oil should be deep enough to come half-way up the potato balls.
• 6. When oil is hot, add potato balls. Cook each side about 2 minutes, or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
• 7. Serve hot or at room temperature.

PAPAS RELLENAS (FRIED STUFFED POTATOES)

Steps:

• POTATOES::.
• Boil potatoes until fully cooked.
• Drain potatoes and mash with salt.
• DO NOT ADD BUTTER, OIL, OR LIQUID.
• Let cool.
• PICADILLO (meat mixture)::.
• Saute onions and green pepper until onions are limp.
• Add the garlic, beef, salt, cumin, black pepper, tomato paste and vinegar.
• Continue to cook until meat is completely cooked.
• Drain off excess fat and allow to cool.
• Now, grab a handful of mashed potatoes, split handful in 1/2 and make each one into a bowl pressing with fingers.
• Stuff the indentation in each 1/2 with ground beef or picadillo.
• Bring the two 1/2's together and smooth to make a round ball, the size of an overstuffed golf bowl. (This is the size used for a snack/lunch).
• If your going to use these for appetizers make them a lot smaller, the size of sauerkraut or rum balls.
• Dip ball into beaten egg and the flour until lightly covered.
• Dip the ball again into the eggs, and roll in breadcrumbs to coat thoroughly.
• Refrigerate for 2-4 hours or you may freeze these for later use.
• Use frying pan with enough oil to cover half the ball at a time.
• Heat oil to frying time (375°F) and drop each potato ball into oil.
• BE CAREFUL!
• Cook 2 minutes or until golden brown on one side and then turn over & cook the same.
• If you have deep-fryer heat oil to 375°F.
• Place the potatoes in a single layer in the basket and drop into oil for 3 minutes or until golden brown.
• DON'T OVERCOOK.
• Deep frying is best when they are frozen.