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Papa a la Huancaína | Traditional Appetizer From Huancayo, Peru | TasteAtlas
Papa a la Huancaína | Traditional Appetizer From Huancayo, Peru | TasteAtlas
Papa a la Huancaína | Traditional Appetizer From Huancayo, Peru | TasteAtlas
Papa a la Huancaína | Traditional Appetizer From Huancayo, Peru | TasteAtlas

Papa a la huancaína

(Potatoes Huancayo-style)

Originating from the Huancayo area of Peru, papa a la huancaína is an authentic and unique potato dish consisting of a spicy, creamy, and rich cheese sauce that is drizzled over boiled yellow or white potatoes.


The sauce consists of aji amarillo chilis, oil, milk, cheese, salt, and crackers that act as a thickener. It can be served either cold or at room temperature, as a flavorful side dish or an appetizer. Traditionally, the dish is garnished with parsley, black olives, and sliced hard-boiled eggs.


According to locals, the dish was invented in the late 1800s when a woman from Huancayo offered her dish to the workers that were constructing a railroad connecting Huancayo to Lima. The dish became a crowd favorite, and the rest is history.