🇵🇪 Peruvian Causa
Ingredients
🔸 Potato Base
2 lbs yellow potatoes (Peruvian papa amarilla or Yukon Gold)
2–3 tablespoons ají amarillo paste
3 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado or sunflower)
Juice of 2–3 limes
Salt, to taste
Optional: pinch of white pepper
🔸 Avocado Layer
1–2 ripe avocados, sliced or lightly mashed
Squeeze of lime juice
Salt, to taste
🔸 Tuna Filling (Option A)
1 can tuna, drained
2–3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon ají amarillo paste or lime juice
1 tablespoon minced red onion
Salt and pepper, to taste
Optional: chopped cilantro or parsley
🔸 Crab Filling (Option B)
½ lb lump crab meat, picked over
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lime juice
Optional: ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, chopped chives, or a pinch of Old Bay
🔸 Chicken Filling (Option C)
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
2–3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lime juice
Optional: 1 tablespoon minced red onion or celery
Optional: pinch of ground cumin
🔸 Rocoto Mayo (Optional Spicy Sauce)
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon rocoto paste
1 teaspoon lime juice
Optional: pinch of garlic powder
🔸 Olive Sauce (Salsa de Aceituna Botija)
½ cup Peruvian Botija olives, pitted
¼ cup mayonnaise
1–2 tablespoons evaporated milk or heavy cream
1–2 teaspoons olive oil
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
🔸 Garnishes
Hard-boiled eggs, sliced
Botija olives, halved or whole
Cherry tomatoes, halved
Microgreens or fresh herbs
Directions
🥔 Prepare the Potato Base
Boil unpeeled potatoes in salted water until fork tender (20–25 min).
While still warm, peel and mash until very smooth. Use a ricer or fine mesh sieve for best texture.
Mix mashed potatoes with ají amarillo paste, lime juice, oil, salt, and optional white pepper.
Let cool to room temperature or chill slightly.
🥑 Prepare the Avocado
Slice or lightly mash the avocados.
Season with lime juice and salt to prevent browning and enhance flavor.
🍽️ Prepare Your Filling(s)
Tuna:
Mix tuna with mayo, ají amarillo or lime juice, red onion, and seasonings until creamy.
Crab:
Gently fold crab meat with mayo, lime juice, and any optional seasonings.
Chicken:
Combine shredded chicken with mayo, lime juice, and desired mix-ins.
🔥 Optional: Rocoto Mayo
Blend all rocoto mayo ingredients until smooth.
Chill until ready to drizzle or pipe over the finished causa.
🟣 Prepare Olive Sauce
Blend olives, mayonnaise, milk or cream, olive oil, and black pepper until smooth.
Chill before using. Adjust consistency with more mayo or milk if needed.
🧱 Assemble the Causa
Using a tuna can with both ends removed (or a ring mold):
Lightly oil the inside of your mold.
Press a ~½ inch layer of potato base into the mold and smooth the surface.
Add a thin layer of avocado.
Add your chosen filling (tuna, crab, or chicken).
Optional: add a second thin potato layer on top.
Gently lift the mold off.
Garnish with hard-boiled eggs, olives, and optional microgreens or cherry tomatoes.
Drizzle with olive sauce or rocoto mayo for a finishing touch.