Papa Rellena is a traditional Latin dish and every country has its own variation. I am sharing my Colombian version of Papas Rellenas.
What are Papas Rellenas?
They are made with potatoes, formed into balls, stuffed with a mixture of meat, vegetables and spices, dipped in a batter and fried. This dish is popular in Colombia and Latin America. In Colombia we eat them for breakfast or as a snack. You can serve them hot or cold and they are delicious with ají sauce.
Colombians have different versions of Papas Rellenas. I called my aunt in Florida to get my grandmother’s recipe for this one. Some people add cooked egg and rice to the meat filling. I have included a vegetarian version too.
Colombian Style Stuffed Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 5 medium potatoes
Filling:
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped tomato
- ⅓ cup chopped onion
- ⅓ cup chopped scallions
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon sazon Goya with azafran
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper
- ½ pound ground beef
Batter:
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Pinch salt
- ½ tablespoon sazon Goya with azafran
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
- Peel the potatoes and cut them into chunks, put them in a medium pot and cover with water and ¼ teaspoon of salt.
- Bring the potatoes to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and cook until fork tender about 20 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes and mash with a fork or masher and set aside.
Filling:
- In a large sauce pan, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat and add the onion, tomato, scallions, garlic, cumin, azafran, pepper and salt. Cook for 5 minutes or until the onions are translucent, add the beef and cook stirring occasionally about 10 – 15 minutes. Set aside to cool.
To make the batter:
- In a medium bowl place all the batter ingredients and whisk until smooth and set aside.
To Form the Stuffed Potatoes
- Divide the potato mash into 10 equal sized portions, about ⅓ cup each, and form each portion into a ball by rolling between the palms of your hands. Flatten into patties and place 1 ½ tablespoons of the filling in the center of each one. Shape the potato mixture with the filling into balls to enclose the filling completely.
- Fill a large heavy pot with vegetable oil and heat over medium-high heat to 360° F.
- Dip the stuffed potato into the batter and carefully place them in the hot oil and fry for about 4 minutes or until golden, turning over halfway through. Remove the potatoes from the oil using a slotted spoon and drain in a plate with paper towels. Transfer to a serving plate and serve with Ají.
Notes
For a vegetarian version:
Use the same ingredients in the meat filling except the beef and add 1 cup frozen carrots and peas.
Use the same ingredients in the meat filling except the beef and add 1 cup frozen carrots and peas.
Nutrition
Calories: 182kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 7gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 33mgSodium: 182mgPotassium: 596mgFiber: 3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 99IUVitamin C: 24mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg
Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mycolombianrecipes and tag #mycolombianrecipes!
More Colombian appetizers recipes you want to make:
Karen
These look delicious. I'm not big on frying, but I suppose these could be done successfully in the oven, too. New to your blog and am loving all of the dishes!
Anonymous
No they have to be fryed.
Anonymous
Oven? I dont think so, they MUST to be fried
Anonymous
Get over yourselves. Fried is fine
Anonymous
Get over yourselves. Baked is fine.
Anonymous
You can use the air fryer or put the potatoes on broiler More instead of bake.
Anonymous
Lol right?
Antoinette Giancuomo
The batter is very liquidy and I don't think they can be baked. All the batter would run off. Perhaps if you dipped them in egg and then rolled them in bread crumbs that would work in the oven, but you lose the great taste of the Papa Rellena.
Nancy
Your recipes are great and the photos of them are fabulous!
Joy
This is wonderful, but what is sazon goya? Is it just saffron?
Erica
Hi Joy,
Is a dry seasoning containing garlic powder, cumin, Mexican saffron.
Karen
Can't wait to try this recipe. But what is sazon goya?
Erica Dinho
It's a powdered seasoning with color. Here is a recipe to make it at home:https://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/homemade-powdered-seasoning/
Lilly
Joyce you find it in the Latin section of the supermarket under seasoning.
Sweet Kitchen
These are mouth-watering! They are very similar to the Italian crochette di patate, which I adore.
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie
Wow, my daughter would devour those adorable stuffed potatoes in seconds, and we also would really love them too. Bookmarking for sure!
Soma
Wow Stuffed.. i am in.. & i really do not mind deep frying once in a while. the things supposed to be deep fried somehow do not taste as good to be baked. one great recipe.
Erica
Thank you all for the comments!
Soma,
I agree with you, I don't mind fried food once in a while.If you are on a diet, this is one of the best reasons to break it.
nora@ffr
the vegetarian version of filling sound great.. m gonna try this out soon as having fried food once in a while not a prob eh?? hehe
cheers!!
Anna
Hi Erica, this potatoes looks delicious, do you think I could bake then in the oven? Maybe coat then with "panko" bread crumbs?
Erica
Anna,
This is the traditional way to cook papa rellena in Colombia, but will be great to try baking them coated with panko bread crumbs!
Kim
What could be better than this? They look so good and addictive : )
You have so many great recipes!!
Danielle
I just wanted to stop by, take a look at your blog...(very nice 🙂 ) and say thank you for following me.
I've had something very similiar to this at a cuban deli / bakery near my house...YUM!! I just might have to try this out.
Melly.
Erica, Gracias por la receta. Le hice estas papitas a mi esposo el domingo y quedo encantado. No cocino mucha comida colombiana porque afortunadamente tengo a mi mama cerca y ella cocina delicioso. Pero con tus recetas y tus explicaciones, suele ser un poco mas facil!!! Gracias =)
Erica
Melly- Gracias por tu comentario! Me alegra que les gusto la receta 🙂
Carolina Benoit
I am new to cooking but this is so clear and good!!! absolutely love your blog!
Anonymous
My Colombian husband made these and the whole family loved them. Thank you so much for the papas rellenas recipe.
christina
I am so grateful that you posted this. I remember when I was younger, everyday after school I would save my one dollar and head to the cuban bakery by my house and purchase one of these. Can't wait to make them at home and have my family taste them!
Marc @ NoRecipes
I just found your blog off a comment you left somewhere else and I have to say I have a food crush on your blog.
Erica
Marc- Thank you so much for your wonderful comment! I love your blog 🙂
Heather
Hi! Ive been following your blog but just decided to official follow. I am American and my husband is Colombian (from Bogota) and I am frequently trying to bring some home flavors to him.
Ive never had papas rellenas and had nothing to compare it to, but I dont think I made the batter part right. It was so thin thin thin that I had to thicken it more so it would stick to the potatoes at all! Should it have been thin? Was I just heating the oil too low?
Erica
Heather- The batter is not too thick and the oil has to be very hot!
luisa fernanda
Porque al freir las papas se desbarataron? Gracias por tu respuesta
Erica
Luisa Fernanda- No se. A lo mejor el aceite no estaba en la temperatura ideal.
Christine
If we did want to bake them with the panko,
what would we set out oven to? (time and temp)
RECIPE sounds GREAT! cant wait to try
Claudia
I am glad to find something possitive on Colombia. As a Colombian raised in the USA, its hard to find good culinary from Colombia. I enjoy each and every recipes. Thank you....
Claudia
Ulric
Hi Erica, this looks great. I am also colombian but my family doesn't come from the mainland so the food is a little different. This is an awesome recipe to show off so thanks haha.
Cristina
Yum! Made them for my kids and husband and they loved them, thanks for such a great recipe.
DIANA
HOLA ERICA,SOLO QUERIA DEJARTE SABER QUE ME HICISTE EL CONICAR MAS FACIL ,SOY COLOMBIANA DE PALMIRA,,,Y QUE DICHOSA ME SIENTO AL HABER ENCONTRADO ESTA PAGINA GRACIAS..
LENA
respondiendo a la pregunta de luisa fernanda que decia que se desbarataron las papas fritandolas, es por que seguramente el tipo de papa que uso contenia mucha agua. es mejor usar papas especiales para hacerlas fritas hay un tipo de papa que es de cascara roja que es mas seca. si no encuentra otro tipo, mejor cocinarlas con la cascara para que no absorban mas agua 🙂
marisel
Para que no se desbaraten las papas, se debe utilizar la papa adecuada o mesclar papa roja y cafe y cuanto se esten armando las papas colocarlas en un plastico y amarrarlas bien, quedan bien rendondas.
Jaqueline
I made those papas for a brunch last sunday and my dad was crazy about them. We didn't stop eating them all day. I made a double batch. Delicious.
christopher gomez
how can a colombian recipe be made with (sazon goya) a product that does not exist in colombia?
Erica
Christopher- sazon Goya with azafran is similar to "Triguisar" .
Astrid
Comida tipica colombiana...Tu tienes recetas trdicionales de colombia y con las que creci en colombia. Yo ya hice las papas rellenas y me quedaron deliciosas.
Jeanette Merl
My fiance is a Colombian native, I am hispanic myself and decided to make these Stuffed potatoes, white rice, friend plantains & black beans for a dinner surprise. He was so PLEASED, and loved every bite. Thank you, these were a hit w/the whole family, and I enjoyed my oldest son helping me out as well.
Anita
I've made this recipe several times, a huge hit with the family, and was looking to add new ingredients to the piccadillo mixture I use just to give it a bit of a twist from the norm. I came across this recipe, and though its very similar to my own I had never tried a vegetarian version, so I cant wait to experience that. Also,
Christine,
Instead of frying the papas rellenas, you may place them on baking sheets and bake at 450° for 20 minutes or until heated through or golden brown. Since everything is already cooked when its placed together, the baking is just to crisp up the outside of the potatoes (or breading).
Heather,
I usually use SBP (Standard Breading Procedure) once I've rounded the meat filled potatoes into actual balls, instead of the above batter which I'm excited about trying for my vegetarian experience.
SBP requires three bowls, one with flower, one with an egg wash (egg and milk or water mixed together like you would for scrambled eggs) and bread crumbs (any type). Dredge the formed potato balls in flower, egg wash, bread crumb order and then fry. If your going to bake them, I recommend this process highly (instead of the batter above) because you don't have to worry about thinness and it makes less of a mess on the baking sheet.
Hope that helps!!
Have fun cooking everyone!!
Love seeing the recipe 🙂
Thanks so much,
Anita G
Leilani Mansingh
Mi esposo y yo fuimos a un lugar en Queens, Nueva York en el proceso de buscar a donde sentarnos a comer escoger fue facil, restaurante colombiano,
pedimos papas rellenas, pero fue las mejores que hemos comido.
Estas estaban rellenas con arroz y pernil, el sabor era unico.
Sabera como me puede conseguir esa receta porfavor, y tampoco era pequena era al menos dos punos juntos, ummm, riqisimo!
Heather
I’m a relative newcomer to your blog, but have become a huge fan. Made this recipe today because my homesick Colombian husband demanded it … absolutely delicious. Thank you 🙂
Ariana
Hey I was just wondering if the Saxon Goya with azafran is necessary I live in New Zealand and we don't have much imported food from Latin America?
Erica Dinho
Ariana,
Mix garlic powder, ground cumin and achiote or saffron.
Sarah Juanita
So Yummy! thanks for sharing!
sonia
Hi Erica Im from Australia and my husband who is also from Colombia and he loved them and so did our girls thanks
Jeanette
The pineapple sauce on the hot dog, is this something you make or can you buy it somewhere?
Deborah G.
When I lived in Florida these were sold at almost every gas station in my area. I have always wondered how they were made, and tonight we are going to have a rare treat! Thank you so much Erica! tonight my Colombian husband will think I'm a goddess!!
Angela
I love following your website. I am 1/2 Columbian but never learned to cook Columbian food. I tried this because it's one of my favorites. But they fell apart during frying. What did I do wrong?
Jasmine
Your oil needs to be hot when you drop them in otherwise they fall apart
Also avoid touching them while frying.
One simple roll of the pan will be good
Toni
I did the same thing, Angela. My oil was hot; I think it was the potatoes I used? And I put butter in the potatoes maybe shouldn't have??
Ariana Kopa
Hey Erica, these Papa rellenas are compeletly delisious .
I have an understanding understanding that the batter could be made to make the putter shell more harder or crunchy do you know how that could be done? Thank you
Erica Dinho
Add more flour to the batter.
Anukampa
Looks delicious...we have the same recipe in Indian food just that it's coated in gram flour batter instead of all purpose flour. Great Post indeed
Anonymous
You mention batter but no directions on fixing it.
Christina
Cant wait to try these 😀 I'm a vegetarian so will be doing the veggie one, however, I'm big on substituting meat for lentils, similar consistency and who doesn't love lentils 🙂
Shirley Vick
My beautiful Sister in law Ana is from Columbia.... love it when she makes these... they are delicious, and she serves them with a very spicy ranch and tomato style sauce... OH YUM ,
I enjoy spicy foods so will make some of the Cumin, Garlic and Saffron powder, and then some peppery ranch and tomato dipping sauce. I have bookmarked this site and will look for more fun and delicious recipes.
Charlette
can they air fried ?
Erica Dinho
I don't have an air fryer. I don't know, but you can try it!
Kim
I had some of these at a restaurant in Louisville, KY tonight and loved them! So glad to find your recipe. I do have one question. Could I make the balls ahead and freeze them then dip in batter just before frying?
Thank you!
Liz
Hi! I just made these all in the air fryer. 20 min at 360 degrees. They came out delicious. Thanks Erica!
Carmen
I love youri recipes. Aqui yo encontre el safron con el nombre de bijol y le agregue sal de ajo con parsley pimienta cominos. Muchos supermercados no tienen bijol pero el amazon lo tiene en diferentes tamanos los tarritos
Anonymous
So happy you posted this again! I ate these every day for breakfast for weeks when I live in Santander, and ive missed them like crazy. It's one of the foods I never learned to make when I lived there,and ive been looking for a good recipe!!! Ahora tengo muchas ganas de hacerlos!!!
Anonymous
What are the ingredients for the batter? Anyway to seperate the ingredients to correspond with the steps in the recipe?