Papas Chorreadas

Papas Chorreadas (Colombian Potatoes with Tomato-Cream Cheese Sauce)

A beloved Colombian side dish of tender boiled potatoes smothered in a creamy tomato-cheese sauce. The name literally means 'drenched potatoes,' referring to the rich, pourable sauce poured generously over them.

Prep

15 min

Cook

35 min

Total

50 min

Serves

4

Difficulty

Easy

Recipe ingredients

• •900 g (2 lb) yellow potatoes (papa criolla or Yukon Gold), small to medium, unpeeled and halved
• •15 g (1 tbsp) unsalted butter
• •200 g (1 cup) ripe tomatoes, finely chopped (or 1 can of chopped tomatoes)
• •1 small white onion, finely chopped
• •2 cloves garlic, minced
• •250 ml (1 cup) Colombian-style heavy cream (or whipping cream), high-fat cream gives the authentic 'drenched' texture
• •150 g (5 oz (about 1½ cups)) queso fresco or queso costeño, crumbled; substitute with mild feta or farmer's cheese if unavailable
• •30 g (¼ cup) fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• •5 g (1 tsp) salt, to taste
• •2 g (½ tsp) freshly ground black pepper

Steps

1. 1 Place the potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold salted water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 18–22 minutes, until a knife slides easily into the center. Drain and keep warm.
2. 2 While the potatoes cook, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for 4–5 minutes until translucent and soft.
3. 3 Stir in the garlic and chopped tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down into a thick, jammy sauce.
4. 4 Lower the heat and pour in the cream. Stir gently and warm through for 2–3 minutes; do not let it boil hard or the sauce may split.
5. 5 Add about two-thirds of the crumbled cheese to the sauce and stir until melted and smooth. Taste and adjust salt.
6. 6 Arrange the warm potatoes on a serving platter. Pour the creamy tomato-cheese sauce generously over them so it pools around the edges.
7. 7 Top with the remaining crumbled cheese and a generous sprinkle of fresh cilantro. Serve immediately, while the sauce is still warm and pourable.