Sweet Potato Rellenos De Papa Stuffed Sweet Potato Fritters Food

RELLENOS DE PAPA (PICADILLO STUFFED POTATO FRITTERS)

Steps:

• Add the potatoes to a large pot and cover them with at least 4 inches of cold water. Bring the water up to a gentle boil over medium-high heat and boil the potatoes for 20 minutes, or until a knife can pass through the center of the largest potato without resistance.
• Once soft, drain the potatoes in a colander and leave them to cool completely.The rest of the ingredients will be added once the potatoes are cool.
• Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add the meat to the pan and cook the meat just until it starts to brown, about 2-3 minutes.
• Add the green pepper, onion, and garlic to the pan. Sauté the meat until it is brown and the veggies are translucent, stirring occasionally, about 3 or 4 more minutes. Once browned, drain any excess fat from the meat and return it to the stove.
• Stir the sofrito, adobo, sazón, garlic and onion powders, oregano, and pepper into the meat. Heat these until fragrant or 1-2 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, sliced green olives, and capers to the pan.
• Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes, or until the picadillo begins to dry out slightly. The picadillo is done when it is thick, but not dry- like wet taco filling.
• Transfer the picadillo to a sheetpan and smooth it into an even layer. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and allow it to cool completely in the refrigerator.
• Once the potatoes are completely cooled, grate them into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the beaten egg, then use a potato masher (or fork) to mash them into a paste.
• Add the cornstarch and bijol to mixture and use your hands or a spoon to combine the mixture completely. The mixture should be pliable without being runny or too stiff. Press the potato mix against the sides of the bowl to help it cool down faster. Place a piece of plastic film against the potatoes to keep them from drying out, then put the bowl in the fridge to chill them completely- at least 1 hour.
• Set up the bowls of potato and picadillo near one another. Sift together the 1/4 cup of cornstarch and bjiol onto a small sheetpan.
• Divide the potato mixture in the bowl into 12 equal portions using a rubber spatula, about 1/2 cup each. Lay the plastic wrap you covered the potatoes in the bowl with over your hand and place a portion of the potato mixture into the center of your palm.
• Use the opposite hand to press the potatoes into a 1/4" thick disc. Place a mound (about 3 tablespoons worth) of chilled picadillo into the middle of the potato disc. Close the fingers of the plastic-covered hand to bring the potato mix up, and around, the picadillo, then gently pinch the potato mixture together to close the seam. Try make sure you're encasing the picadillo in the potatoes, with the least amount of filling poking out. Don't get frustrated.Add a little potato to any cracks in the surface if need be. Use the plastic wrap to smooth any cracks or crevices.
• Carefully lay your formed rellenos on a sheet pan while you mold the rest. Begin heating your frying oil over moderate heat to 360°F.
• *If you plan to air fry or bake the rellenos, skip the dusting of cornstarch. Once all of the rellenos are formed, dust your hands liberally with some of the cornstarch from the dusted sheet pan. Grab a papa and toss it gently back and forth to give them a light dusting of cornstarch. Too heavy a dusting will leave untasty clumps of cornstarch on the rellenos after frying.
• See notes in post on how to deep-fry safely. Once the oil reaches temperature, use a slotted spoon, preferably wooden, to gently slide a 2-3 rellenos into the hot oil. It's okay if the relleno sticks slightly to the sheet pan when you attempt to lift it. Just scrape up what was left behind and mold it back onto the relleno.
• Fry your rellenos for 6 minutes. After 1 minute of frying, use a flat spider to nudge the papas from the bottom of the pot. This helps them brown evenly without one side burning. Swish them around in the oil, carefully, as they cook to keep them from frying too close to one another.
• If the rellenos fall apart as soon as they hit the oil it is because they either aren't cold enough, or because you added too many eggs to the potato mixture (which shouldn't be the case). If it's the former, pop the sheet tray of rellenos into the fridge for an hour and try again. If it's the latter,try the fridge trick and if that doesn't work, brush them with oil and bake them, instead.
• Once the rellenos are done frying, use the spider to lift them from the oil and transfer them to a rack placed over a sheet pan and allow them to drain thoroughly. Continue frying the rellenos, making sure to allow the oil to come back up to temp before adding the next batch.
• Arrange the rellenos on a platter or wrap each relleno in deli paper. Serve with a bowl of mayo-ketchup (recipe below). Enjoy while hot.

PAPAS RELLENAS (FRIED STUFFED POTATOES)

Steps:

• Place the potatoes into a large pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain and allow to steam dry for a minute or two. Mash in a bowl with 1/2 teaspoon salt until no lumps remain. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
• Meanwhile, heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the onion, green pepper, and garlic in the hot skillet until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 10 minutes. Increase heat to medium-high, and stir in the ground beef. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly and no longer pink. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt, cumin, pepper, tomato paste, and vinegar until the tomato paste has dissolved. Scrape into a mixing bowl, and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap or waxed paper, and set aside. Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl, and set aside. Pour the bread crumbs and flour into separate, shallow dishes, and set aside.
• Once the potatoes and beef have cooled, form the potato balls: grab a handful of mashed potatoes, and split into two equal portions. Form each piece into a small bowl shape, and fill with the ground beef mixture. Place the two halves together, seal the edges, and smooth to make a round ball. Gently roll the ball in the flour to coat and shake off the excess flour. Dip into the beaten egg, then gently roll in bread crumbs. Gently toss between your hands so any bread crumbs that haven't stuck can fall away. Place the breaded potato balls onto the prepared baking sheet while breading the rest. Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours, or freeze for later use.
• To cook, heat the oil for frying in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Cook the potato balls in the hot oil in batches, using tongs to roll the balls around as they cook to ensure even browning, until crispy and golden brown, about 3 minutes per batch. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate before serving.

SWEET POTATO FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a shallow pan, heat oil to 350 degrees F.
• Score sweet potato with a fork and microwave on high for 6 minutes or until cooked through. Let cool. Cut sweet potato in half, scoop out the flesh, and place it into a mixing bowl with the butter. Mash well. Add egg, bread crumbs, flour, salt, and pepper and mix well. Add the chives and corn and mix gently. Using 2 spoons to shape, scoop mounds into hot oil, cooking on both sides, in batches, until golden brown. With a slotted spoon or spider, remove fritters from oil and place on paper towel to dry. Mix sour cream, reserved chives, salt and pepper, to taste, and place a small dollop on each fritter when ready to serve.

RELLENOS DE PAPA (STUFFED MASHED POTATOES)

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil and remove from heat.
• Add margarine, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and milk. Stir until the margarine is melted.
• Add the potato flakes. The mixture should be pretty thick and dry.
• Add a slightly beaten egg and mix well.
• Let the potatoes sit to cool down.
• Divide potato mixture into 6 balls.
• Sprinkle corn starch on one hand and carefully spread one of the potato balls on your hand pushing down in the middle.
• Place a tablespoon of prepared picadillo in the middle carefully folding the sides over the meat until it is completely sealed.
• Roll the stuffed balls in corn starch - this will help keep the mixture together during frying.
• Fry over medium-high heat until golden.
• Note: all purpose flour can be used instead of cornstarch.

SWEET POTATO FRITTERS

Steps:

• Peel and boil sweet potatoes until tender. Mash them well.
• Beat eggs and add them to the sweet potatoes along with the flour, butter, salt, and enough water or milk to thin the consistency into a soft dough.
• Shape mixture into flat round cakes, dip first in the beaten eggs, and then coat with the breadcrumbs.
• Fry in hot oil until golden brown.
• Drain well and serve hot.