Cultures/Cuban/Papa Rellena
Cuban Cuisine
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Papa Rellena

Papa Rellena is a beloved Cuban dish consisting of seasoned ground beef stuffed inside mashed potato balls, which are then fried until golden and crispy. This savory treat is popular as both a main dish and a snack, showcasing the Cuban flair for melding simple ingredients into flavorful, comforting food.

14 ingredients
savoryspicedcreamycrispyslightly sweet
Spanish60%
Indigenous40%

Ingredients

  • potatoes
    4 cups mashed
  • ground beef
    1 cup
  • onion
    1 medium, chopped
  • garlic
    2 cloves, minced
  • green bell pepper
    1/2 cup, chopped
  • tomato sauce
    1/4 cup
  • olives
    1/4 cup chopped
  • raisins
    2 tablespoons
  • cumin
    1 teaspoon
  • salt
    to taste
  • black pepper
    to taste
  • vegetable oil
    for frying
  • eggs
    2, beaten
  • bread crumbs
    1 cup

Method

Steps not available

Papa Rellena traces its roots to Spanish colonial influences combined with African and indigenous Caribbean culinary traditions, evolving in Cuba as a way to stretch affordable ingredients into satisfying meals.

Ingredient ancestry breakdown

ingredients+techniques
Indigenous40%
ingredients
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