How to Make Papa a la Huancaína (Huancayo-Style Potatoes) - A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're looking for a taste of traditional Peruvian cuisine, then you'll want to try Papa a la Huancaína. This classic dish hails from the city of Huancayo in central Peru and is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The dish features creamy potatoes smothered in a rich, spicy cheese sauce and is typically served as an appetizer or side dish at family gatherings and special events.

The key to the dish's unique flavor lies in the irresistibly creamy and spicy Huancaína sauce. M...

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Ingredients

  • 12 Yukon Gold potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, or to taste
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 6 chile peppers, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 1 pound cream cheese, softened
  • 1 pound queso fresco (Mexican fresh cheese), crumbled
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ⅓ cup evaporated milk
  • 8 leaves lettuce
  • 4 large hard-boiled eggs, halved lengthwise
  • 8 black olives, pitted and halved

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 45 mins
  • Servings: 8

  • 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 set aside to cool slightly.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir onion in hot oil until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
  • Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Cook chile peppers in boiling water until soft, about 5 minutes. Run chiles under cold water until cool enough to handle; remove and discard skins.
  • Add onion, chile peppers, cream cheese, queso fresco, vegetable oil, salt, garlic, and black pepper to a blender; blend until smooth. Stream evaporated milk into blended mixture with the blender on until sauce is creamy.
  • Arrange 1 lettuce leaf onto each of 8 plates. Halve potatoes and arrange 3 halves onto each lettuce leaf. Pour sauce over potatoes. Top each serving with an egg half and 2 olive halves.
  • Nutrition

    586 cal.

    • Total Fat: 37g
    • Saturated Fat: 18g
    • Cholesterol: 190mg
    • Sodium: 927mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 46g
    • Dietary Fiber: 4g
    • Total Sugars: 5g
    • Protein: 20g
    • Vitamin C: 86mg
    • Calcium: 270mg
    • Iron: 2mg
    • Potassium: 385mg