El potato cake It is highly appreciated by Argentines, they love it in cold times when it creates an appetizing dish. Although they also consume it less frequently at any time of the year. It consists of several layers of mashed potatoes, which are interspersed with minced beef.
In the Argentine version cake of potato, In addition to the crushed potato, they add elements that are not common in the rest of the world's regions. Among these elements are: chopped hard-boiled eggs, olives, raisins and meat, which they prepare by adding various spices. Remaining as a result a succulent dish, tasty and ideal to enjoy with the family.
History of Potato Pie
The main ingredients of potato cake in Argentina they are mainly potatoes and beef. Each of these ingredients originated on different continents. Thus, said dish could only be prepared after the interaction between them. The best word to define the nature of a potato pie is considering it "mixed".
The interaction began when Christopher Columbus arrived in America. As a consequence of this interaction, the Spanish also introduced raisins and olives, which are also part of the ingredients of Argentine potato cake.
Given the importance of the origins of its main ingredients in the potato cakeThe story of each one is described below:
The potato and its origin
The potato originated in the Andes corresponding to the southern part of Peru and in the northeast of Bolivia. It is affirmed that already in approximately 6000 BC it was already consumed by the Incas of those areas, who planted several varieties of potato and from there it spread to all of America.
Then, with the arrival of Columbus to America, it was when the potato arrived in Spain with the trips of the Spanish and from there very little by little it began to spread throughout Europe. For those places they called it potato and in other ways. In this way, corn, sweet potatoes and other products also arrived in Europe.
Origin of cattle
With cattle, the opposite path to potatoes occurred, it was brought to America by the Spanish conquerors. In Argentina, with the climatic conditions and soil conditions, so that the grass for the cattle could be given, from which they probably brought their seeds. Once introduced, livestock in the country grew rapidly, making Argentina an exporter of meat.
In that country the potato cake it was a dish commonly prepared by workers belonging to the popular classes. The reason was the low cost of meat and potatoes.
Recipe to prepare the potato cake
Ingredients
Half a kilogram of finely chopped beef
a kilogram of potatoes
Half a medium-sized bell pepper
One onion
Two garlic
a bouillon cube
Peppers
Three large tablespoons of milk
25 grams of butter
Nutmeg
Olives
Pepper
Raisins
Sal Island
Buy
With these ingredients on the counter, we are going to prepare the potato cake:
Preparation
- Chop the garlic, bell pepper and onion in the way you like. Reserve.
- Wash the potatoes after removing the skin, cut them into small pieces and cook them with salt.
- Sauté the garlic in the oil, and other previously reserved elements; until the onions are transparent. Reserve the sauce.
- Then, add the meat and continue to fry and stir it to integrate all the elements and for even cooking.
- Add the bouillon cube, the previously reserved sauce, the pepper. Cook integrating everything for approximately 15min.
- Mash the hot potatoes, adding the butter, nutmeg, milk, raisins and olives. Season and stir until all the ingredients are integrated.
- In a container suitable for baking, place a layer of mashed potatoes in the bottom, add a layer of the prepared meat on top. Then, another layer of mashed potatoes and another of meat continue to be interspersed until ending with a layer of mashed potatoes.
- Add a sprinkled cheese on top that gratins well and take to the oven at a high temperature or grill for approximately 15-20 min or until it is observed that the cheese is gratin to the desired point.
- Done, taste it. Enjoy!
Tips for making a potato pie
- For the elaboration of potato cake Argentine, the choice of meat is very important, it must be a part of the beef that is tasty, some recommend the osso buco. Also the seasonings used to season the meat are important.
- If some butter or margarine is added to the mashed potatoes, it takes on another dimension of its flavor.
- To easily distribute each layer corresponding to the preparation with potatoes, it can be spread with a spoon dipped in cold water.
Did you know….?
The Argentinian dish of potato cake It is a complete dish, with a high nutritional level due to the nutrients provided by each ingredient of said dish.
The meat of cattle present in the plate of potato cake It provides fundamental proteins in the formation and health of the body's muscles. Rich in vitamin B12, which protects, among other things, the immune system. In addition, it contains iron, magnesium, zinc, potassium, selenium and phosphorus; each of them provides particular benefits for the proper functioning of the body.
The potatoes present in the potato cake They provide carbohydrates, which the body transforms into energy. They also provide vitamins: C, B6, B3, as well as: folic acid, potassium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, manganese, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin and even vegetable protein. They also provide fiber, which helps the proper functioning of the digestive system and satiates.
Each of the other ingredients such as onion, garlic, pepper, olives, raisins, milk, cheese provide the body with particular benefits because they provide the body with essential nutrients for its proper functioning. So the potato cake It is a bomb not only for flavor, but also for the benefits it brings to those who consume it.
