o Origin of Papa Rellena: Papa Rellena is believed to have originated during the War of the

Pacific in 1879. Peruvian soldiers needed durable, pre-made food for their long journeys.
They would season meat and wrap it in boiled potatoes. The combination was then fried
and wrapped in fabric for transportation.

o Valve in the world : The “papa rellena” is a very popular dish in various regions of Latin
America, including Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and the Caribbean
(especially in Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic).

In Peru, the “papa rellena” is a potato dough into which a filling made of minced beef and
onions, whole olives, hard-boiled eggs, cumin and other spices is introduced. In Puerto
Rico, it is called “relleno de papa” and is filled with cheese, minced meat or meat of your
choice.

This dish varies in preparation and presentation between countries. For example, in Cuba,
the Cuban version consists of potato balls stuffed with seasoned minced meat.

The “papa rellena” has also gained recognition in popular culture, being featured in the
Bolivian episode of the Netflix television series Street Food.

Therefore, the “papa rellena” has great relevance in world gastronomy, especially in the
regions of Latin America, and continues to gain popularity worldwide.

o Variations of Papa Rellena: The preparation and presentation of Papa Rellena vary
between countries. In Cuba, the dish consists of potato balls stuffed with seasoned
picadillo. In Puerto Rico, the dish is called “relleno de papa”, and the potatoes are boiled
and then mashed with eggs, cornstarch, milk, and butter. The potatoes can be replaced
with sweet plantains (relleno de maduros) or breadfruit (relleno de panapén).

o Cost :The cost of Stuffed Potatoes in restaurants can vary depending on the location and
the restaurant itself. In the famous caretillas or in the "tía veneno" its price is between 3 to
5 soles.

o Interesting Facts about Papa Rellena:

 Papa Rellena means “stuffed potato” in English.
 It is the most popular type of croquettes in many Latin American regions.
 The dish was featured on the Bolivian episode of the Netflix TV series Street Food in
season.
 The dish is often served with “salsa criolla”, or an ají sauce in Peru.
 The potatoes used in the dish can be either Peruvian yellow potatoes or regular white
potatoes.
 Some people add yucca to achieve a perfectly creamy-but-structured texture.
 The basic recipe is very flexible, as any kind of stuffing will work well with the potatoes.
 It consists of a fried dough of cooked potatoes, filled with beef, chicken, cheese,
onions, olives, hard-boiled eggs, among other chopped ingredients.