Salchipapas – Peruvian Fast Food

salchipapas-412-800Every time I think about salchipapas, what comes to my mind is a feeling of satisfying simplicity. This staple Peruvian “fast food” dish, is exactly what its name indicates: salchichas (sausages) + papas (potatoes). Salchi-papas. With such a short list of ingredients, I´m wondering if you will even need a recipe for this. The preparation goes like this: stir fry sausages, and combine with French fries. It couldn´t be easier. The only “work” needed is to cut the sausages in rounds or sticks.

salchipapas-1-800Salchipapas are very popular in the markets and in the streets of Peru. This dish is sold in some fast food restaurants too, and even in the stadium during football matches. Some variations include different kinds of sausages as well as sweet potatoes or yucca instead of regular potatoes. You may accompany the dish with several sauces, like ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, or aji (chili).

salchipapas-21-800Children are very fond of salchipapas, clearly because they love sausages –in Peru, we call them hot dogs-, and of course, they adore French fries too. A colorful and substantial meal (although not a very healthy one!), salchipapas take only a few minutes to make, especially if you have ready-made fries in your freezer, that only need to be reheated in the oven until golden. Of course, you can fry them in hot oil too –right from the freezer-, but why would you want to add even more oil to this?

What we recommend instead, even though this is not the typical way of eating it, is to serve salchipapas next to some fresh salad, so you get some veggies in there! Now THAT would be a meal both kids and mothers would be happy about.

Salchipapas
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 2
 
Ingredients
  • 1 Russet potato, peeled and cut in sticks
  • Oil for frying
  • Salt
  • 4 beef sausages (chicken of pork, is up to you)
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Aji amarillo paste
  • Mayonnaise
  • Parsley leaves, to garnish
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a heavy saucepan over high heat.
  2. Dry the potatoes with paper towels and fry, a little at a time, until golden. If you are using the frozen ready-made variety, heat them in a 450°F oven, for 18 minutes. Sprinkle with salt.
  3. Meanwhile cut the sausages in rounds or oval slices. Heat a teaspoon oil in a skillet. Cook the sausages until golden and juicy.
  4. In the same skillet combine sausages and fried potatoes.
  5. Serve immediately with ketchup, mustard, aji, mayo.
  6. Garnish with a few parsley leaves.


Comments

  1. yummy now this i can make and so simple and tasty! This would be perfect for little fingers!

  2. This combination are my favorite. I really love fries because it’s healthy and yummy. This is very simple recipe. Thanks for sharing.

  3. Mmm! I LOVE salchipapas! I make it all the time for me and my kiddo. Such a yummy finger food!

  4. Sometimes the very best food is the most typical of the streets or the small towns. It is good because it is comforting and filling. This reminds me of my childhood, too. And it is quick and easy for a summer of running in and out with the kids.

    • Exactly Maria Amelia. These are the kind of dishes that get us out of trouble when we have nothing else around, and everyone finds it delicioso!

  5. We eat salchipapas in Colombia too, but the sauce we use is salsa rosada (Ketchup & mayo).

  6. Muy tradicional en Colombia también! Me encanta esta mezcla!

  7. Oh I like this! And my son would love it too! I may just have to make this, this week 😀

  8. My brothers would love these. I am going tohave to make it for them!!

  9. love this!!

  10. Yum! Not sure how healthy this is, but it looks delish! Mmmmm…

  11. I used to eat salchipapas in Colombia where I spent my summer as a little girl! Delicious memory and recipe. I’ll add maybe a healthy substitute suggestion: sweet potato fries?

  12. we make salchichas a lot and it them to yellow rice but never even occurred to enjoy with thick fresh cut fries!

  13. Hi! I’m from Peru and love Salchipapas. I’ve had a hard time finding that perfect sausage. What would you recommened to make these taste as close to home as possible?

    thanks!

  14. I came to this website because I was craving Papas Rellenas, but will stay forever because these recipes feed my soul.

    I lived in Lima, Peru for 2.5 years and miss it something terrible at times. THe people, the food, and the school I taught at…reading through these recipes has made me remember so many wonderful times that I may not have brought to mind otherwise. As I read a recipe I am like, “Oh, yeah! I remember this one! I had it wit so-and-so and such-a -place!”

    This recipe made me laugh out loud! I remember my first months down there and thinking, “What is the Peruvian obsession with hotdogs!!!!” Good times! The only thing I would change is that I do not think I EVER saw this dish without the other food obsession of Lima…a fried egg!!!! You gotta top t salchipapas with heuvos! 😉

    Thank you for posting these on the web for all of us! I shall be looking into purchasing the cookbook as well! You are a delight!

  15. First, I just saw a video on Afro-Peruanos whom I had no idea existed. Such a beautiful people!!! Wow, I have so much left to learn in my life!!! Second, your dish looks amazing. Thank you for sharing your recipe with Tracy Lopez. I saw it in her write up on 10 Latin dishes to try before you die. I’ve pinned this and will definitely make this part of our Friday treat night. Love it!

    • Wonderful, Teresa! Can’t wait to hear what you think of the dish once you try it!
      And yes, the Afro Peruvian culture is fascinating, especially their music and dances.

  16. I have come back to this page over and over again for recipes. My husband is from Lima and his mama makes the best food ever. So while we wait our turn to have them in our house, I have to cook.

    I love this dish and have made it with different variations. My latest version is with southern hash browns and thick cut onions. It is really good. I can’t imagine any more boiling a hotdog like my mother did.

  17. Dave Vera Ruiz says:

    they eat it in ecuador to, I eat it all the time, they are good

  18. I will like to know if the hot dogs or sausages cook better in the flat grill or in a fryer. Also if is better to boil the hot dog first or just fry it or grilled first. Please let me know.

  19. This was delicious! Such a great way to make hot dogs. Definitely making again.

  20. In Finland we call this dish makkaraperunat, like exactly the same as you do. Makkara = sausage and PERUna is potato. 🙂

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