Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (2024)

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by Mike Hultquist · · 8 Comments · Jump to Recipe

This papas arrugadas recipe (wrinkly potatoes) is a hugely popular dish in the Canary Islands, with small new potatoes boiled in water with coarse sea salt. Serve them with mojo sauce for huge flavor!

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (1)

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkly Potatoes)

We're serving up some small plate dishes here in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen tonight, my friends, so pull up a chair if you please. If you've been looking for a new dish to add some excitement to your tapas menu, this is a perfect addition.

We're talking Papas Arrugadas, and I think you're going to love them as much as I do.

Papas Arrugadas means "wrinkled potatoes" in Spanish. Essentially, small new potatoes are boiled in salt water that evaporates, leaving the potatoes with a thin layer of salt and wrinkled potato skins.

The dish hails from the Canary Islands, where the potatoes are served with a sauce called mojo, such as mojo verde, mojo rojo, or my favorite, mojo picon, which is an extra hot version.

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (2)

I love all of the sauces, though I definitely lean toward the hot version, which is entirely shocking, I know.

Make sure you order up a plateful the next time you visit the Canary Islands along with your tour of Canarian cuisine! Or, if you'd like to save yourself a plane ticket, we can make them at home instead.

This recipe works great as a small plate, an appetizer, or even a side dish, though it's so good, you may want to serve them as your main course.

Let's talk about how to make papas arrugadas, shall we?

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (3)

Papas Arrugadas Ingredients

  • Potatoes. Use 2 pounds small potatoes for this recipe, though you can easily scale it to your needs. Fingerling potatoes are good, as are any new potatoes with thinner skins.
  • Salt. Use 1/4 cup coarse sea salt for a good salt crust on the skins.
  • Water. Use just enough to cover the potatoes so they can be cooked through.
  • Mojo Sauce. Papas Arrugadas are often served with either mojo verde, mojo rojo, or mojo picon, which are flavorful pepper sauces. They're also delicious with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a touch more salt. See my recipe for Mojo Picon, or use a store bought version.

How to Make Papas Arrugadas - the Recipe Method

Boil the Potatoes. Clean the potatoes and add them to a large pot, then cover them with water. Add in the salt, set the water onto the burner and bring to a quick boil.

Boil the potatoes for 15 to 20 minutes, until they are nicely softened.

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (4)

Form the Salt Crust. Drain the water, then return the potatoes to the same pot. Heat them back to medium-low heat and let the remaining risidual water evaporate from the pot.

You should see a light salt crust form on the potatoes from the process of evaporation.

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (5)

Serve. Transfer the boiled potatoes directly to a serving platter and serve them with your sauce or sauces on the side.

Or, you can toss them in the sauce to cover them and serve them up that way.

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (6)

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • The potatoes. Use fingerling potatoes, petite Yukon gold, any smaller baby potatoes or new potatoes. You can make this recipe with larger potatoes, but make sure they are cooked all the way through. If you do, I suggest slicing them into more bite-sized pieces before serving.
  • The Salt. Use a generous amount of salt water to get a good crust. Try using sea water for a truly authentic experience.

Storage and Leftovers

Store any leftover potatoes in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to 5 days. Do the same for any leftover sauce, though in a separate container.

You can also freeze the potatoes as well as the sauce in separate containers for 3 months.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this papas arrugadas recipe. They are seriously delicious, and they will surely be requested often by your discerning friends. Let me know if you make them. I'd love to hear how the dish turned out for you.

Try Some of My Other Popular Potato Recipes

  • Patatas Bravas
  • Twice Baked Jalapeno Popper Potatoes
  • Potato Salad Recipe
  • Papas con Chile
  • Papas con Chorizo
  • Papa a la Huancaina (Peruvian Potatoes in Spicy Cheese Sauce)
  • Salchipapa
  • Baked Cajun Fries
  • Aloo Gobi (Indian Spiced Potato and Cauliflower)
  • Bombay Potatoes
Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (7)

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (8)

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Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes)

This papas arrugadas recipe (wrinkled potatoes) is a hugely popular dish in the Canary Islands, with small potatoes boiled in water with coarse sea salt. Serve them with mojo picon for huge flavor!

Save Recipe

Course: Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Spanish

Keyword: appetizer, potatoes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Calories: 44kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

5 from 3 votes

Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds small potatoes
  • 1/4 cup coarse sea salt
  • Mojo Sauce for serving

Instructions

  • Clean the potatoes and add them to a large pot.

  • Cover them with water, then add in the salt.

  • Boil the potatoes for 15 to 20 minutes, until softened.

  • Drain the water, then return the potatoes to the pot. Heat back to medium-low heat and let the remaining water evaporate from the pot. You should see a light salt crust form on the potatoes.

  • Serve with mojo sauce!

Notes

Papas Arrugadas are often served with either mojo verde, mojo rojo, or mojo picon, which are flavorful pepper sauces. They're also delicious with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a touch more salt.

Calories calculated without mojo sauce.

This serves 8 as a larger portion, 16 as an appetizer.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 44kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 1772mgPotassium: 239mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 8mgIron: 1mg

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (9)

Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. lorie roe says

    Hey! Great website - what are the last two photos on the wrinkled potatoes page?? Thanks! You embellished them with something - maybe the sauce?

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Thanks, Lorie. Those are just the wrinkly potatoes dipped in the mojo sauce. Ready for me to eat!! Enjoy!

      Reply

  2. Michael says

    Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (10)
    Thank you for publishing this simple but tasteful recipe from the Canary Islands. Adding lemon zest is indeed a local variant.
    ¡Buen provecho!

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Thanks, Michael! Yes, ¡Buen provecho!

      Reply

  3. Jeremie says

    Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (11)
    I just bought new potatoes for this recipe before I knew you were going to publish it! but of course you had published before the mojo picon recipe!
    Several recipes I've found add lemons to the cooking water, either lemon zest or quarters of lemons; so I'm gonna try all that!

    Reply

    • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

      Enjoy, Jeremie! These are delicious for sure.

      Reply

      • Jeremie says

        Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (12)
        Papas Arrugadas with mojo picon: an extraordinary recipe; salty, sour, bitter and hot. All the flavors are exacerbated! not to put between all the palates, my dear friend! but my palate loved it. Unfortunately I didn't have pimiento palmera peppers (I had never even heard of it) and I used piri-piri...

        Reply

        • Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says

          Yep, such a perfect combination, Jeremie! The palmera peppers are definitely hard to find outside of the Canary islands. My personal connection had to send me some. LOL.

          Reply

Papas Arrugadas Recipe (Wrinkled Potatoes) (2024)

FAQs

What can I do with wrinkled potatoes? ›

In such cases, it's best to avoid using these wrinkled spuds to prevent potential health risks. Changes in a potato's texture, including wrinkling, often indicate that the vegetable has started to deteriorate and should be discarded.

Are wrinkled potatoes good? ›

"The shriveled or wrinkled appearance of a potato is a sign of decay," explains Brian Bistrong, Culinary Director at The Park. "This causes the potato to feel mushy, lose its flavor. and even taste sour.” Not only will the potato not taste very good, you could risk getting sick.

How do you rehydrate wrinkled potatoes? ›

Got soft beets, carrots, potatoes, radishes, or other root vegetables? Rehydrate your roots to bring them back to life. Simply soak them in water overnight and they should be as firm as new.

How do you crinkle potatoes? ›

For crinkle-cut fries, simply slice potatoes vertically with a crinkle cutter, also called a wavy chopper or serrated slicer. For waffle fries, after making one vertical slice, rotate the potato 90°, and make another vertical slice.

When should you not use old potatoes? ›

Potatoes that are soft, mushy, squeezable, or moist are past their prime. "If you cut into a potato and it looks green or brown throughout, you should throw your potatoes away," said Silness. If it's just a few blemishes, those can be trimmed off, and the potato can be salvaged.

Can I plant old shriveled potatoes? ›

If they've started to shrivel, sprouted potatoes are fair game for my earliest planting, which is started indoors. A sprouting potato is a marvel of reproductive botany.

When not to eat potatoes? ›

As they age, or with improper storage, potatoes may develop sprouting and green spots. If there isn't any sprouting, you can use the color change as an indicator of spoilage. If the skin looks greenish or if there's sprouting present, you'll need to remove the sprouts or toss the whole potato, depending on severity.

How common is solanine poisoning? ›

Because of the bitter taste and appearance of such potatoes, solanine poisoning is rare outside conditions of food shortage.

Can I use wrinkled sweet potatoes? ›

If your sweet potato has black spots or dark spots or lightly wrinkly ends, it may be a sign of mold or decay. It's best to cut off any affected areas and discard them.

What to do with old soft potatoes? ›

However, there are still several ways you can use soft potatoes:
  1. Mashed Potatoes:
  2. Potato Soup:
  3. Potato Casserole:
  4. Potato Pancakes:
  5. Potato Salad:
  6. Gnocchi:

Do dehydrated potatoes go bad? ›

When stored properly the shelf life of dehydrated potato products is one to two years. The potato products you keep in your pantry will have an expiration date listed directly on the packaging.

Can you eat potatoes that are soft? ›

Raw potatoes should be firm to the touch with tight skin that's free of large bruises, black spots, or other blemishes. If a potato has become soft or mushy, you should throw it out. Though it's normal for potatoes to smell earthy or nutty, a musty or moldy odor is a hallmark of spoilage.

How do you fix wrinkled potatoes? ›

Consequently, wrinkled potatoes should always be discarded. While you can either toss the shriveled tubers into the compost bin or cut off the sprouts and replant them in your garden to give the old spuds a new purpose, you can also take precautions to prevent potatoes from ever spoiling in the first place.

What is the cook time for crinkle fries? ›

Preheat oven to 425° F. Spread frozen fries in a single layer on a dark, non-stick baking sheet or shallow baking pan. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, no flipping of the product required. Serve immediately.

Can you cook wrinkled sweet potatoes? ›

If your sweet potato has black spots or dark spots or lightly wrinkly ends, it may be a sign of mold or decay. It's best to cut off any affected areas and discard them. If the majority of the sweet potato is still good, you can still use the remaining parts.

What can I do with overripe potatoes? ›

However, there are still several ways you can use soft potatoes:
  1. Mashed Potatoes:
  2. Potato Soup:
  3. Potato Casserole:
  4. Potato Pancakes:
  5. Potato Salad:
  6. Gnocchi:

Can I use potatoes that are soft? ›

Raw potatoes should be firm to the touch with tight skin that's free of large bruises, black spots, or other blemishes. If a potato has become soft or mushy, you should throw it out. Though it's normal for potatoes to smell earthy or nutty, a musty or moldy odor is a hallmark of spoilage.

What can I do with damaged potatoes? ›

Sort out any potatoes damaged during harvest and use them for fresh eating as soon as possible. Damaged potatoes are likely to rot in storage. Before placing potatoes in storage, the tubers should be cured.

References

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