How to cook yucca root

March 10, 2004 3:14 PM

I was given a yucca root. My friend, who lived in the Dominican Republic, where apparently this is a staple, says I should just dice it and add it to soup as I would a potato. I think I could do better: any ideas/recipes? Sans meat, please.
posted by Utilitaritron to food & drink (12 comments total)

Try these recipes from the Google Restaurant.:)
posted by azul at 3:31 PM on March 10, 2004

fried yucca is amazingly good, as good as french fries! Usually they are served in fried cubes with this really tasty, spicy, white dipping sauce, but tapatio or whatever hotsauce or ketchup also works.
posted by chaz at 3:45 PM on March 10, 2004

Yucca frita (fried yucca) is home cookin' for me. Peel it, cut it up homefries size (couple-inch-long wedges), and fry it either in a deep skillet or a fryer. Drain on paper towels, sprinkle with salt.

I always make mojo to eat with it although technically that's not traditional (heated olive oil poured into lime juice and chopped garlic). You can dip it into ketchup if you don't want to make that, or buy premixed mojo at the supermarket (has spices in it). It's fine plain, too.

To make a meal, I add black beans and rice, a green salad/balsamic tomatoes, and platanos fritos or maduros (plantains either fried or sweet - the sweet ones we buy frozen). Mangos for dessert.

It's also traditional to boil chunks of it and you can eat it plain or with mojo that way, or add them to soup (chicken soup, but I'm vegetarian).
posted by Melinika at 5:31 PM on March 10, 2004

Yuca con mojo (or al mojo, in the case of this page). A favorite of Cuban grandmas everywhere.
posted by whatzit at 5:34 PM on March 10, 2004

makes for a far out potato salad too
posted by Fupped Duck at 7:15 PM on March 10, 2004

Thanks! I know what I'm having for dinner tomorrow!
posted by Utilitaritron at 7:39 PM on March 10, 2004

what's the "T" stand for in the recipe above (garlic quantity)? thanks! and does it (yuca) have any other name in spanish?
posted by andrew cooke at 7:58 AM on March 11, 2004

OK, now I'm confused. Are cassava, manioc, and yucca really the same thing?
posted by languagehat at 8:10 AM on March 11, 2004

T = Tbs = tablespoon
t = tsp = teaspoon
posted by Utilitaritron at 2:15 PM on March 11, 2004

Mofongo is good.
posted by jeb at 10:54 PM on March 11, 2004

thanks for the T clarification (a lot of garlic!) and the other names.
posted by andrew cooke at 9:07 AM on March 12, 2004

I believe so, Languagehat. I've always understood that they are, and the picture in your link seems to confirm that.
posted by Melinika at 3:47 PM on March 12, 2004