If you’re frequenting cooking or cuisine websites and social media pages, you’ve probably seen the words ‘Papas Fritas.’

This is not something we’re used to cooking in English-speaking parts of the world, so you might be wondering what they are and what you would need to cook them.

If this sounds like you, then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’re going to take a look at what Papas Fritas are and what you’ll need to make them.

We’ve included our own recipe, some tips on how to make them perfect, as well as some additional serving suggestions.

What Are Papas Fritas?

Papas Fritas, in short, is just the Spanish name for fried potatoes. ‘Papas’ translates to potato and ‘fritas’ translates to fries.

So then, from this, we can understand that Papas Fritas is simply the Spanish name for potato chips or french fries.

Although sometimes Papas Fritas is sometimes used to describe different shapes or kinds of fried potato, generally Papas Fritas are considered to be traditional french fries.

Papas Fritas are typically served hot after being fried or baked in the oven and are often served in two forms—crispy or soft.

Although Papas Fritas can be enjoyed on their own (typically served with salt) they are also a common side dish added to a huge list of different choices at restaurants.

Another common serving choice is to include a condiment, with some of the most popular being ketchup, mayonnaise, BBQ sauce, and ranch dressing.

It’s worth noting that Papas Fritas can sometimes also be made out of sweet potatoes, although this is the less common base potato.

Sweet potatoes are a little more difficult to use as a base as they cook much faster than white potatoes, however, they are often considered the healthier option of the two.

To conclude this little section, Papas Fritas is one of the most popular foods on the planet.

No matter what language you use to name them, they are a staple of fast food and many other types of cuisine around the world

What Do You Need For Papas Fritas?

The good thing to know about Papas Fritas is that they are very simple to make. You will typically only need a few choice ingredients.

The most basic of these—of course—is a few potatoes. We’d generally suggest Russets potatoes as the potato of choice, as they are high in starch and low in moisture.

This means that they will be more inclined to crisp during the cooking process, and won’t go soggy due to excess moisture.

The next thing you’ll need is oil. The kind of oil that you choose can depend massively on the way you are cooking your Papas Fritas.

For example, if you’re looking to oven-bake them, then you might want to use olive oil, as this is a light and healthy option.

However, if you’re looking to deep fry them, then the best choice for you will probably be vegetable oil, as this will give them a really crispy texture.

The final thing you’re going to need is something to season them. We’d recommend using salt as a base seasoning.

If you want to experiment a little more, then we’d suggest choosing something more adventurous like paprika, or spices.

Where Do Papas Fritas Come From?

The history of the fried potato is one that goes back far into the past.

Although we typically call them ‘french fries’ today, there has been a lot of change over the years and different names depending on the country you find yourself in.

Some of the most common names for fried potato include ‘French Fries’ (North America), ‘Finger Chips,’ ‘Chips,’ and also ‘fries.’

The exact origin of the fried potato cut into the specific shape of a french fry is unknown and hotly debated, however, there are a few leads for us to follow.

According to food historian Pierre Leclercq, French Fries are indeed of French origin.

He believes this due to a very early mention of the food in a french cookbook. Although we can trace the earliest references back to this

There is, however, an even earlier mention of the term ‘Papas Fritas,’ if we look all the way back to the 1600s.

Chilean writer Francisco Nunez de Pineda made reference to ‘Papas Fritas’ in an account of his travels in the year of 1629.

However, due to the sheer age of this source (as well as a lack of accompanying description).

We’re unsure as to what Papas Fritas were, and it’s impossible for us to know if this is the same recipe of the dish we know and love today.

Basic Papas Fritas Recipe