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    My Colombian Recipes » Recipes » Appetizers and Snacks » Colombian Potato Cakes (lapingachos)

    Colombian Potato Cakes (Lapingachos)

    Mar 27, 2023 · Modified: Apr 17, 2023 by Erica Dinho · 15 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These Colombian Potato Cakes (Lapingachos) are a wonderful side dish or appetizer. They are easy to make and full of flavor.

    Lapingacho 1024x768Pin

    What are Lapingachos?

    Lapingachos are a traditional Colombian dish from the El Nariño region of Colombia. They are basically mashed potato cakes cooked until crispy and golden brown.

    These delicious potato cakes are typically served with ají de maní (Colombian peanut sauce) as a side dish with fried food and a light salad on the side.

    Ingredients

    Potatoes, hogao (Colombian creole sauce), achiote, cumin, egg yolks, salt and pepper.

    The exact ingredients amounts, directions and cooking tips are in the printable recipe card below.

    Potato Cakes Recipe 742x1024Pin

    How to Make Potato Cakes

    Cook the potatoes in salted water until fork tender. Drain and mash them. Add the hogao, achiote, cumin, egg yolks, salt and pepper. Mix well.

    Cover the potato mixture and let it sit at room temperature for about one hour.

    Lapingachos mixturePin

    Make small thick patties and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place them in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.

    Heat a nonstick fry pan or griddle over medium-high heat and brush lightly with oil.

    Lapingachos (Colombian-Style Potato Cakes)Pin

    Cook the potato cakes for about 2 minutes, carefully flip them and cook on the other side until golden, about 1 minute more. Serve warm.

    Lapingachos (Colombian-Style Potato Cakes)Pin

    Are Potato Cakes and Potato Pancakes the Same?

    Depending on the cook or country. They can be known by different names and made with different ingredients, but they are very similar.

    This potato cakes recipe is very easy to put together and you can even use leftover mashed potatoes to make it easier. Perfect for a dinner party or a weeknight meal. You can serve them with steak, chicken, fish, or any other meat. You could even serve them with roasted vegetables or a green salad for a vegetarian meal.

    How Do You Keep Potato Cakes from Falling Apart?

    Let the potato cakes rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cooking.

    Be sure to turn them just one time while cooking to prevent them from falling apart. Like making pancakes.

    Lapingachos (Colombian-Style Potato Cakes)Pin

    More Potato Recipes to Try:

    Potato Salad

    Colombian Salted Potato (Papa Salada)

    Roasted Potatoes with Avocado Sauce

    Steamed Potatoes with Parsley

    Lapingachos (Colombian-Style Potato Cakes)Pin
    Lapingachos (Colombian-Style Potato Cakes)Pin

    Potato Cakes Recipe

    Erica Dinho
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    30 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine Colombian
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 290 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 6 Russet potatoes peeled and cut into chunks
    • 1 cup of hogao
    • 1 teaspoon of ground achiote saffron or color
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 2 egg yolks lightly beaten
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • Ají de mani for serving

    Instructions
     

    • Cook the potatoes in salted water over medium high heat until fork tender. Drain and mash them.
    • Add the hogao, achiote, cumin, egg yolks, salt and pepper. Mix well.
    • Cover the potato mixture and let it sit at room temperature for about one hour.
    • Make small thick patties and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place them in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
    • Heat a nonstick fry pan or griddle over medium-high heat and brush lightly with oil.
    • Cook the potato cakes for about 2 minutes, carefully flip them and cook on the other side until golden, about 1 minute more. Serve warm.

    Notes

    *You can use leftover mashed potatoes to make this recipe.
    *Be sure to let the mashed potatoes sit for a while before making the  cakes.
    * These potato cakes can be keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 290kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 9gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 23mgPotassium: 1439mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 450IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 62mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword Potato Cakes, Traditional Colombian
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mycolombianrecipes and tag #mycolombianrecipes!

    More Appetizers and Snacks Recipes

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    About Erica Dinho

    My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

    Author Page →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jenn and Seth

      September 04, 2012 at 10:09 am

      5 stars
      those are gorgeous! i'd love to eat these for dinner - they look so delicious!

      Reply
      • Aida rankin

        October 11, 2015 at 9:44 am

        5 stars
        It's look yummy I must try it.

        Reply
    2. Belinda @zomppa

      September 04, 2012 at 11:49 pm

      5 stars
      The pancakes look awesome, though admittedly, I'm enamoured by the sauce!

      Reply
    3. Norma-Platanos, Mangoes and Me!

      September 05, 2012 at 9:27 am

      5 stars
      This will definitely be part of my reserved recipes....

      Reply
    4. Lyndsey@TheTinySkillet

      September 05, 2012 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      I just love your snack foods...looks so delicious!

      Reply
    5. Chris

      September 08, 2012 at 3:07 pm

      5 stars
      I thought these were sweet potatoes due to the color but then I saw you used russet and achiote to get that golden color. Nice work, Erica!

      Reply
    6. Silvia

      September 09, 2012 at 11:51 pm

      5 stars
      I swear: the best sweepstakes prize would be to dine at your house for a week. The food you make is amazing. I hope you publish a book some day because you deserve tons of attention! I can only come to this blog right after I've eaten-otherwise a visit here constitutes masochism!

      Reply
      • Erica

        September 10, 2012 at 7:50 am

        5 stars
        Thank you,Silvia! I appreciate your wonderful comment 🙂

        Reply
    7. April

      September 12, 2012 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      These potato cakes are absolutely fantastic. I served mine with grilled salmon and we loved them. I made another batch and placed them in the fridge for this weekend.

      Reply
    8. Erica

      September 13, 2012 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      Thank you!

      Reply
    9. felix

      November 16, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      5 stars
      this failed for me

      Reply
      • Erica

        November 17, 2012 at 7:57 am

        5 stars
        Why, Felix?

        Reply
    10. Alan Bowman

      October 10, 2015 at 1:56 pm

      5 stars
      We used to have fried mashed potato as an accompaniment to cold-cuts. Sometimes we would add left over boiled cabbage - "bubble and squeak". The mashed potato can also have grated cheese added and shaped into a patty with a cup-shape on one side into which you crack an egg then put into a hot oven until the egg has set. "eggs in a nest."

      Reply
    11. Maria

      January 17, 2017 at 11:55 am

      5 stars
      A W E S O M E ! Easy, quick and super yummy. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    12. Caroll

      October 15, 2018 at 8:48 am

      5 stars
      Fantástico! No sabía que se llamaban así. Pública un libro de comida colombiana que hace falta.

      Reply

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    Erica Dinho Author | My Colombian Recipes

    Hola and welcome to My Colombian Recipes. My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

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