These Mexican Mashed Potato Cakes with Avocado Sauce & Cotija Cheese are perfect party food or a light dinner! A great way to use up leftover potatoes, too.
Mashed potato cakes are one of my favorite things to make. Anytime I can use my leftovers to make something just as tasty as the original dish, I get excited. Mashed potato cakes are a favorite because you can flavor them with almost anything and they'll taste great. Last week I made Farmer's Market Salad with Goat Cheese Mashed Potato Cakes for an elegant appetizer salad, side or light lunch. These mashed potato cakes are more of an appetizer but could also be an upscale side dish for an Mexican-themed meal. Both mashed potato cake recipes combine fresh ingredients from the Farmer's Market with leftover mashed potatoes (or pick up a package of Simply Potatoes) to create a quick, healthy & yummy dish!
To make these mashed potato cakes as an appetizer, you'll want to make smaller patties that are about an inch across, then dollop with about a teaspoon of avocado sauce and some crumbled cotija cheese. Be sure your mashed potato cakes are nicely browned, as they hold together best that way.
Mexican Mashed Potato Cakes with Avocado Sauce & Cotija Cheese
You'll never find a better way to use up leftover mashed potatoes!
Ingredients
- 4 cups leftover mashed potatoes
- 3 eggs, lightly beaten
- ½ t salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ear fresh corn, kernels removed
- ½ poblano pepper, small dice
- 1 jalapeno, minced
- 8 ounces cotija cheese, crumbled (plus ? cup more for topping)
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- 1 avocado
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 2 T mayonnaise
- juice of ½ lime
- 2 T adobo sauce, from a can of chipotle
- ½ t salt
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly combine mashed potatoes, eggs, salt and pepper. Mix in corn, poblano and jalapeno peppers, cheese and cilantro. Place back in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to chill.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add a T olive oil to hot pan and, using a spoon, drop one large spoonful (about half a cup) into pan and spread out into a thin circle using the back of the spoon. Continue this step until you have 3-4 large patties in your skillet (depends on size of your pan). Allow to brown well, then flip (see tips, above). Continue to allow patties to brown on both sides, then slide out of pan and onto individual salad plates (the patties can be served hot or at room temperature). Repeat with remaining potato mixture until it’s gone (you should have approximately 10 patties), adding additional olive oil to the pan as needed. (To make as appetizers, make 1-inch patties, be sure to brown well so they hold together when picked up).
- For sauce: In a food processor (I use a hand blender, it works great) pulse together all remaining ingredients until smooth. Set aside.
- Place patties on serving dish or individual plates. Top with avocado sauce and crumbled cotija cheese. (Halved cherry tomatoes or salsa are also delicious!)
Notes
Tips for preparing the patties: Well-browned patties hold together the best. If they’re not browned enough they won’t hold together as well, so be sure they’re a golden-to-dark brown.
Smaller patties are much easier to flip than the larger versions. If you have trouble flipping the larger ones, don’t panic. They may fall apart when you flip them but just reform them with the spatula. You may have to flip them several times before they’re nicely browned, then slide them out of the pan onto the plate.
Be sure your pan is fully preheated to ensure they brown easily.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 278Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 81mgSodium: 843mgCarbohydrates: 23gFiber: 3gSugar: 5gProtein: 9g
This data was provided and calculated by Nutritionix.
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Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats says
These look amazing! Love all the flavors stuffed into this!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks so much, Julie!! These are my favorite mashed potato cakes ever 🙂
Michelle @ Healthy Recipe Ecstasy says
Love me some mashed potato cakes! But I never thought to make them Mexi with such yummy ingredients! 🙂
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Michelle! I love mashed potato cakes of any kind, too...especially cheesy ones 🙂 If you like Mexican flavors then you'll love this version.
Sasha says
Whoa I never knew potato pancakes came in a Mexican variety. Is this something you thought of yourself, or have I been kept in the dark this whole time?
Looks great! 🙂
the wicked noodle says
They do and I did think of it myself. Thanks so much, Sasha!
Attic Management Group says
That looks so good, I want to eat it now. This will be a must try!!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks so much!
Cristina says
You had me at "potato cakes", "avocado sauce" and "cotija cheese" tasty and beautiful! Making this... thanks
Cristina says
You had me at "potato cakes", "avocado sauce" and "cotija cheese" tasty and beautiful! Making this... thanks for sharing! 🙂
the wicked noodle says
Thanks so much, Cristina!
Laura says
What a great way to spice up a potato cake! Looks great!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks so much, Laura!
Andrea Meyers says
Lovely! I think I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks, Andrea! xo
TITLE Boxing Club Fort Collins says
This has my mouth watering right now, thats how good it looks. Thanks for sharing
the wicked noodle says
Thanks!
Richard says
Yummy! Thanks for the great recipe. Love the idea of using cilantro. Brings back memory's from Mom making Irish potato pancakes 🙂
the wicked noodle says
I love cilantro, too! Love that it bring back memories for you 🙂
Blair's Foster Socks says
The avocado sauce sounds delicious for almost any dish! Thanks for sharing
the wicked noodle says
Thank you!
TITLE Boxing Club Blue Springs says
Yum, those cakes look delicious. Might have to give them a shot!
the wicked noodle says
Sounds like a good plan 🙂
BusyWorkingMama says
This looks delicious! Great mix of flavors.
the wicked noodle says
Thank you!!
john@kitchenriffs says
Yummy! Love the combo of flavors in this. Nice and easy, too - my kind of dish! Thanks.
the wicked noodle says
Thanks John!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
These cakes look so tasty, Kristy! Hope you have a great 4th of July!
the wicked noodle says
Thanks Laura, hope you did, too!
Daniela says
That´s the perfect summer party treat!
Tasty, cute looking and easy to prepare, thank you Kristy 🙂
the wicked noodle says
Thanks Daniela!
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
I love it!! We are huge fans of Mexican dishes and this looks fabulous, my friend! Pinning!!
the wicked noodle says
Thank you so much, Anna!!