Description
Papas Rellenas are delicious Caribbean stuffed potato balls filled with seasoned ground beef, coated in a crispy exterior from deep frying. This classic comfort food combines creamy mashed potatoes and a savory meat filling, making it a perfect appetizer or snack that’s both hearty and flavorful.
Ingredients
Scale
Potato Dough
- 2 pounds mashed potatoes
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 2 teaspoons corn starch, plus more for dusting
Meat Filling
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 4 tablespoons sofrito
- 4 tablespoons tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
For Frying
- Vegetable oil, for deep frying
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Collect all the ingredients listed to ensure smooth preparation.
- Prepare Potato Dough: In a large bowl, mix the hot mashed potatoes with lightly beaten eggs, butter, and 2 teaspoons of corn starch until fully combined. Set this mixture aside and allow it to cool, which helps it firm up for shaping.
- Cook Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring frequently to break it up, until it is no longer pink, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add Flavorings: To the cooked beef, add sofrito, tomato sauce, dried oregano, and salt. Stir well and reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes to blend the flavors. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Shape Potato Balls: Lightly dust your hands with cornstarch to prevent sticking. Take a spoonful of the cooled potato dough and flatten it in your palm. Create a small indentation in the middle and place a spoonful of the cooled meat filling inside.
- Seal the Filling: Cover the meat with more potato dough, enclosing the filling fully, and shape it into a smooth ball. Lightly dust the formed ball with cornstarch. Repeat this process until all the potato and meat mixture is used.
- Deep Fry: Fill a pot with about 2 inches of vegetable oil and heat it to 370°F (188°C). Carefully add the stuffed potato balls in batches and deep fry them until they turn golden brown and crispy, about 6 to 8 minutes per batch.
- Drain and Serve: Remove the papas rellenas from the oil using a slotted spoon and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil. Serve warm as an appetizer or snack.
Notes
- Try this easy recipe for fried potato balls stuffed with seasoned ground beef—it’s a beloved Caribbean street food favorite.
- You can customize the filling by adding diced olives or hard-boiled eggs for extra flavor.
- Ensure the mashed potatoes are hot when mixing as it helps in binding the dough better.
- Maintain the oil temperature while frying to get properly crisp and evenly cooked papas rellenas.
- These can be made ahead and refrigerated before frying for ease of preparation.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 stuffed potato ball
- Calories: 234 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 428 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
