Cuban Style Potato Balls

Poultry
Written By Francesca Calvo

Alicia Calvo, MPH, RDN, CDCES, CEDRD

 

Here is a low-fat version of Cuban stuffed potato balls, inspired by Porto’s, a very famous Cuban bakery based in Los Angeles. Adapted from: http://rookiewithacookie.com/cuban-stuffed-potato-balls/

Prep Time: 1hr | Cook Time: 30min | Total Time: 1hr 30min | Yield: 24

Ingredients

Mashed Potatoes

  • 8 russet potatoes, washed with skin on, cut quarters, steamed and mashed

  • ½ cup milk

  • 2 Tbsp. butter

Filling

  • 1 pound ground chicken breast

  • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped

  • 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

  • 1 yellow bell pepper, finely chopped

  • 1 Tbsp. ground cumin

  • 1 ½ tsp. cayenne pepper

  • 1 tsp. paprika

  • ¾ cup tomato sauce

  • Salt and pepper to taste

Rolling the Balls

  • ½ cup flour, in a small bowl

  • 1 egg, beaten, in a small bowl for dipping

  • ¾ cup bread crumbs, on a plate or flat surface for rolling the balls

Instructions:

  1. In a 6 quart pot or steamer, boil in water or steam potatoes with skin on for about 20 minutes or until cooked.

  2. While potatoes are cooking, sauté onion and peppers until softened.

  3. Add ground chicken breast to onion mixture and brown.

  4. Add cumin, cayenne pepper, and paprika and mix well. Stir in tomato sauce and let simmer for 5 minutes.

  5. Once potatoes are cooked, mash with butter and milk.

  6. Take an ice cream scooper and scoop about 2 oz. or ¼ cup of mashed potatoes, flatten in the palm of your hand, and add 1 tsp. of ground chicken filling.

  7. Pinch potato together to seal potato to form a ball. (Don’t worry if some filling spills out, simply, add more potato if necessary). Place on a cookie sheet sprayed with olive oil spray.

  8. Coat potato ball lightly in flour, then dip in egg, and then roll in bread crumbs.

  9. Chill potato balls for at least 1 hour. (This is a very important step so that the potato balls do not break or flatten).

  10. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

  11. Spray potato balls with olive oil spray.

  12. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.

  13. Enjoy as an appetizer or as a side to “Cuban Style Salmon” found on our website under fish and seafood.

Nutriton Facts:

Serving Size: 2 potato balls

Calories: 208

Total Fat: 4 g

Total Carbohydrates: 24 g

Protein: 12 g

Equivalents:

Equivalents: 1 starch, 2 vegetables, and 1 lean protein

Francesca Calvo
Previous

Chicken Picatta
Next

Kefta