Papa a la huancaína is a Peruvian appetizer of boiled potatoes in a spicy, creamy sauce made of queso fresco and sautéed or grilled ají amarillo, red onion and garlic, all traditionally ground or pounded in a batán. Although the dish's name is derived from Huancayo, a city in the central Peruvian highlands nearest Lima, it has become a staple of everyday and holiday cuisine throughout the country.
It is typically served cold as a starter over lettuce leaves and garnished with black olives, white corn kernels and hard-boiled egg quarters.
In the south of Peru (Cuzco, Puno, Arequipa), it is served with ocopa rather than huancaína sauce, made from freshly toasted peanuts, fried onions and tomatoes, ají amarillo, cream or condensed milk, crushed crackers or dried bread, salt, and huacatay (Tagetes minuta).
Because it is served cold, papa a la huancaína is a favorite food of Peruvians to take on picnics and trips.