Peruvian Potato-Chicken Salad (Causa Rellena)

This layered Peruvian potato and chicken salad is called “causa rellena” in Peru. There’s nothing very unusual about serving a chicken or potato salad at a cookout but this beautiful layered salad is sure to cause a stir! Perfect for making ahead and packing in your cooler on a hot summer day. Garnish with cherry tomatoes and cilantro if desired.

Preparation Details

Prep Time: 40 mins

Cook Time: 25 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 5 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 large cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
• ¼ cup green peas
• ¼ cup diced cooked carrot
• 1 teaspoon minced shallot
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped roasted red peppers
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon lime juice
• ¼ cup mayonnaise, or as needed

Steps

1. Combine chicken, green peas, carrot, shallot, roasted red peppers, cilantro, and lime juice in a bowl. Season with salt and cayenne. Add mayonnaise and mix until combined. Cover chicken salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to use.
2. Place potatoes into a pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until very tender but not falling apart, about 20 minutes. Drain well and transfer potatoes to a mixing bowl. Mash until smooth.
3. Add ají amarillo, olive oil, and lime juice to the potatoes. Season with cayenne and salt. Mash together with a potato masher. Switch to a spatula and mix until completely smooth.
4. Line four 6-ounce ramekins with plastic wrap. Scoop mashed potatoes evenly into ramekins; press and smooth out the tops. Cover each with a layer of avocado slices. Fill each ramekin to the top with chicken salad, pressing it down and pulling up the plastic wrap to eliminate any air pockets. Cover with a final layer of mashed potatoes, going up to 1/2 inch or more over the rim.
5. Seal top with a new layer of plastic wrap and fold the sides over to seal. Refrigerate salads until completely chilled, at least 1 hour.
6. Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, and ají amarillo together for the sauce, adding a splash of water to adjust the thickness.
7. Remove the top layer of plastic wrap from each salad. Invert each ramekin onto a serving plate; remove ramekins, then plastic wrap. Spoon some sauce around each salad.