Potato Pie with Lomo saltado

Potato casserole is not considered a difficult dish to make, but it does require some time and patience for preparation and cooking — it can take up to an hour and a half in total.

Basically, there are two main components to prepare:

1. A mashed potato layer (or duchess potatoes).

2. A minced beef filling with onions.

Ingredients

• 12 yellow Tumbay potatoes

• 25 g (2 tbsp) butter

• ¾ cup fresh milk

• 200 g (7 oz) beef steak

• 2 peeled and diced tomatoes

• 1 chopped red onion

• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 3 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 yellow chili pepper (ají amarillo), chopped

• 2 sprigs of cilantro, chopped

• 1 teaspoon vinegar

• ½ teaspoon mustard

• 100 g (about 1 cup) grated Parmesan cheese

• Salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste

Preparation

1. Prepare the mashed potatoes: Boil the potatoes until tender. Peel and mash them, then mix with butter, milk, salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Set aside.

2. Prepare the meat filling: Cut the beef into small cubes and marinate it with oyster sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, mustard, and vinegar.Sauté over high heat until lightly browned. Add the onion, yellow chili pepper, cilantro, and tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

3. Assemble the casserole: In a greased baking dish, spread half of the mashed potatoes as the base. Add the meat mixture, then cover with the remaining mashed potatoes. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top.

4. Bake: Place in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 15–20 minutes, or until the surface is golden and slightly gratinéed.

Tips

• You can substitute Parmesan with mozzarella for a creamier texture.

• Serve the casserole with a fresh salad or white rice on the side.