LLAPINGACHOS (ECUADOREAN POTATO PANCAKES WITH CHEESE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Peel and dice potatoes.
• Boil in salted water until very tender.
• Save ½ deciliter (about 1/4 cup) of the boiling water.
• Mash potatoes evenly and add boiling water, turmeric/annatto and chopped onion.
• Salt to taste.
• Cover with a tea towel and leave in a warm place for at least three hours.
• Prepare cheese sauce while mash is resting.
• CHEESE SAUCE: Mix chopped red onion well with salt and leave for 20 minutes.
• Rinse onion in cold water, then add lemon juice and sugar.
• Chop tomato and eggs finely.
• Put cream cheese in a pot, and add milk until the sauce is like thin mayonnaise.
• Heat slowly.
• Stir in tomato, eggs and onion, plus salt and pepper to taste--I add a little extra lemon juice as well to take some of the"heaviness" out of the sauce.
• Serve at room temperature or warm, not hot.
• While sauce is cooling, add mozzarella to potato mix.
• Roll the"dough" into small balls by hand, wetting your hands a little between each.
• Flatten balls into patties approximately.
• 1 cm thick and 6 cm in diameter.
• Brush pan with oil (not too much) and fry at medium heat until crisp and golden.
• Brush upside of each pancake with oil before flipping the cakes VERY GENTLY.
• Don't undercook, or they'll fall apart.
• Serve hot and fresh with cheese sauce and a salad.