Gorditas de Papa con Jamón

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes (peeled and cubed)
• 2 bay leaves (for boiling water)
• salt (for boiling water and to taste)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 0.5 tsp dried oregano (to taste)
• 1 tsp chicken bouillon (powdered)
• 0.5 tsp garlic salt (to taste)
• 2 tbsp cornstarch (maicena; helps the texture hold)
• 0.5 cup ham (diced)
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded; divided for mixing and stuffing)
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil (for frying plus extra for hands)

Steps

1. 1

   Place peeled and cubed potatoes in a large pot of water. Add two bay leaves and a generous pinch of salt.

2. 2

   Boil the potatoes for approximately 10 minutes. Do not overcook them; they need to be tender but firm enough to maintain a specific texture for forming patties.

3. 3

   Drain the potatoes and place them in a mixing bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of butter, dried oregano, chicken bouillon, and garlic salt.

4. 4

   Add the cornstarch (maicena) to the bowl to help bind the mixture.

5. 5

   Add a portion of the shredded mozzarella cheese and the diced ham to the potato mixture.

6. 6

   Mash and mix all the ingredients together until well combined.

7. 7

   Rub a little bit of oil onto your hands to prevent the potato mixture from sticking.

8. 8

   Take a portion of the potato mixture and form it into a small patty (gordita).

9. 9

   Create a small indentation in the center of the patty, add a pinch of the remaining mozzarella cheese, and seal the potato around it to enclose the cheese.

10. 10

    Heat oil in a pan (preferably non-stick) over medium heat. Fry the gorditas for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy.

Notes

Be careful not to over-boil the potatoes, or the dough will become too soft to handle. If the mixture is too sticky, ensure you use oil on your hands as suggested. A non-stick pan is highly recommended to prevent the patties from falling apart. You can substitute the mozzarella with Oaxaca cheese or add shredded chicken for variation.

Nutrition per serving

• Mexican
• gorditas
• potato
• ham
• cheese
• pan-fried
• main dish
• kid-friendly