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Tortitas de papa
Potato patties in tomato broth
Tortitas de papa: mashed potato and cheese patties in a light tomato broth, a Mexican Lent and weekday favourite
Meatless Fridays in Lent turn Mexican kitchens toward tortitas: in Mexico City and across the Bajío, golden patties of mashed potato and cheese are fried, then slipped into a thin, warm tomato caldillo and eaten with rice, beans and tortillas. Children love them, and they stretch a few potatoes into a proper meal. Mexican fresh cheeses are often made with animal rennet; a vegetarian mozzarella or mild cheddar works well. Chef's tip: mash the potatoes while hot and let them steam dry, so the patties hold together without flour.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the tortitas
- 1 ½ lb potatoes (a fluffy baking variety)peeled and quartered
- 5 ½ oz queso fresco or vegetarian mozzarellagrated
- 1 eggbeaten
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup vegetable oilfor frying
For the caldillo
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 ¾ cups water
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 serrano chilli (optional)left whole
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What you'll need
Fresh ingredients (5)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Boil the 1 ½ lb potatoes (a fluffy baking variety) in salted water for 15 minutes until a knife slides in easily. Drain, mash while hot and leave 10 minutes to steam dry.
25 minStep 2: Mix the mash with 5 ½ oz queso fresco or vegetarian mozzarella, 1 egg and 1 tsp salt to a firm dough. Shape 8 patties about 1.5 cm thick.
8 minStep 3: Blend the 4 ripe tomatoes, ¼ white onion, 1 clove garlic and 1 ¾ cups water until smooth. Fry in 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a wide pan over a medium heat for 8 minutes with the 1 serrano chilli until it turns from pink to brick red. Season with ½ tsp salt.
10 minStep 4: Heat the ½ cup vegetable oil in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the patties 3 minutes per side until deep golden; turn them only once. A common mistake is turning them too early, before a crust forms, so they break up.
12 minStep 5: Drain the tortitas briefly on paper, then slide them into the simmering caldillo for 2 minutes and serve with some of the broth.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 12 g
- Carbs
- 34 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tortitas de papa take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of potatoes (a fluffy baking variety)?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of queso fresco or vegetarian mozzarella?
- Provolone or a mild cheddar, same amount.
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