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Llapingachos: Ecuadorian stuffed potato patties

Llapingachos are a traditional Ecuadorian dish of potato patties or thick potato pancakes stuffed with cheese and cooked on a hot griddle until crispy.

Ecuadorian llapingachos or potato patties with garnishes

En español

Llapingachos, also called yapingachos, are typically served as a side dish for many Ecuadorian main courses. Llapingachos also make a great breakfast or brunch dish, and can be served on their own as an appetizer or even as a full meal accompanied by a tasty peanut sauce or salsa de mani, fried egg, chorizo style sausages, pickled onion and tomato salad, some lettuce, avocado slices and aji criollo hot sauce.

Ecuadorian mashed potato patties filled with cheese
Jump to Recipe

These potato patties can be a little bit “tricky” to make (to quote my 5 year old), but I have a few tips from having failed to get them right several times that can help make the preparation relatively easy. And of course the more you make them, the better you become at getting them just right.

First of all, the type of potatoes that are used are very important, I tried making them with Yukon gold potatoes and it wasn’t working out, the flavors were great, but the consistency was just too soft. So, I recommend using Russet potatoes or a potato that is very starchy. Once you’ve practiced with the Russet potatoes you can try with the Yukon golds. They taste even better, but just need a little extra care.

Llapingacho potato patties with cheese

Next, let the potato mixture rest for at least an hour before making the patties. When preparing the patties and filling them with cheese, make sure the cheese is stuffed well enough to keep it from seeping through to the surface; if not it will burning during the cooking process. Once the patties are formed, let them also rest for at least 30 minutes.

Finally, when cooking the llapingachos, try to avoid using any oil or grease, this will help prevent them from breaking up. It helps to use a griddle, but regardless of whether you use a griddle or a frying pan make sure it is well heated. Kind of like making that first pancake you can assess how hot and how long the llapingachos needs to cook on each side to have that nice crispy golden brown finish.

I used to turn them several times back and forth, but if you let them cook long enough on each side and just turn them once the results are much better, and since the patties are pretty delicate you have to be very careful when turning them.

The ingredients below should make about 12 medium sized llapingachos; you can make the patties smaller if you are serving them as appetizers.

Ecuadorian mashed potato patties filled with cheese

Llapingachos or Ecuadorian stuffed potato patties

Llapingachos are potato patties or pancakes stuffed with cheese, cooked on a hot griddle until crispy brown and served with peanut sauce, fried egg, tomato and onion curtido, avocado slices and hot sauce.
4.68 from 269 votes
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Course: Appetizer, Breakfast, Brunch, Side Dish
Cuisine: Andean, Ecuadorian, Latin, South American
Keyword: Ecuadorian cheesy potato patties, Llapingachos, Potato patties, Yapingachos
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Resting time: 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours
Servings: 12 medium sized llapingachos

Ingredients

  • 5 large Russet potatoes about 3 lbs, peeled and cut in chunks
  • 2 tbs sunflower or avocado oil
  • ½ cup finely chopped white onion
  • 2 tsp ground achiote
  • 1 cup grated quesillo or mozzarella cheese
  • Salt to taste

To serve:

Instructions

  • Boil the potatoes until soft.
  • Heat the oil over medium high heat to make a refrito, add the onions and achiote, cook until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Mash the potatoes, mix in the onion refrito and salt to taste.
  • Cover the potato dough and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour.
  • Make small golf size balls with the potato dough.
  • Make a hole in the middle of each ball and fill with the grated or crumbled cheese.
  • Shape the dough into thick patties and let rest in the refrigerator for about ½ to 1 hour.
  • Cook the patties on a hot griddle until browned on each side, be careful when turning them as they will be very delicate.
  • Serve with a fried egg, peanut sauce, tomato and onion curtido, avocado slices and hot sauce.
Ecuadorian potato patties recipe

Step by step preparation photos for Ecuadorian llapingacho potato patties with cheese

Llapingacho preparation
Llapingacho preparation
Llapingacho preparation
Llapingacho preparation
Llapingachos preparation
Llapingacho preparation
Ecuadorian llapingachos recipe
Llapingachos
Llapingachos
Llapingachos or yapingachos potato patties
Yapingacho or llapingacho recipe

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61 Comments

  1. I made this for my hubby’s bday tis afternoon and it was amazing!! I made mote and to make a proper meal….my husband asked for more ;-) thanks for the recipes. I have made several of your recipes and i love them alll

  2. Tus recetas son riquisimas!! Hice tus guaguas de pan y colada morada y me quedo muy bien! Hoy voy a tratar los llapingachos! Muchas gracias por ponerlas en el internet

  3. Laylita,
    I’ve been living in Central Europe for almost 11 years now, and these tasted just like home! A friend suggested to add a slightly whisked egg to the potato mix, and I had no trouble with the tortillas breaking while fliping them from side to side! I will have to get more achiote powder (this one I had for 5 years – I didn’t know how to use it :))
    Next step – empanadas de viento! Thanks a lot!

  4. These look wonderful! I spent six weeks in Ecuador in the late 1980s, and was able to eat the most wonderful food, including llapingachos. (And almost every morning the family I stayed with served a new delicious fruit juice that I’d never had before.) I’ve been too scared to attempt llapingachos, but your tips should help — thank you!

  5. Hi Laylita, Can I make the Llapingachos the night before and cook them the next da?. I want to make this for a party and would like to make them ahead.

  6. Hola Laylita!!

    Estude en Ecuador por 6 meses y ahora tengo una amiga quien va a ir a ensenar ingles. Voy a hacer una cena de despedida para ella con comidas ecuadorianas y encontre las recetas de esto sitio!! Que sorpresa!! Esto sitio es tan lindisimo y me siento feliz viendo a todos las recetas Ecuadorianas- muchas gracias por haber tomado tiempo para escribir las cuentitios sobre tu vida, las recetas, y las fotos! Voy a hacer las Llapingachos y me gustaria saber si puedo usar Yuca en vez de Russet potatoes?

    Hola Megan – Por supuesto que puedes reemplazar las papas con yuca, queda delicioso.

  7. Gracias Laylita, soy de Machala pero vivo en San Francisco, I adore your website, what a wonderful thing that you are doing for us in this country. Thank you thank you

    By the way! I tried the Guatita for the first time here in US, it came out really good ;)

    Thanks a lot

  8. Hola Laylita. el arroz con pollo me quedo fabuloso hummmmmm que delicia.

    Yo te pedia la receta de las famosas Humitas de Choclos, te agtradeceria y de ser posible en español. Gracias.
    Norma Castro

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