If you live in a place that has a strong Brazilian community, you may already be familiar with cassava – also known as yuca. It’s a popular vegetable (technically a shrub) that grows mainly in South America and has a delicious root that’s starchy like a potato. And like potatoes, it can be turned into tasty chips (usually known as cassava chips) or even turned into flour to be used in bread or cakes. More importantly, yuca is tasty. Delicious, even. There’s only one drawback – cassava technically has a little bit of cyanide. But just a little and only in the peel. And so long as they’re properly cooked, you don’t have anything to worry about.
Yuca can be in a few different ways, but some are more common than others. Here are the best ways to cook yuca. Before you cook yuca, you need to peel it. Start by cutting off the edges of the root vegetable. Next, use a knife to slice down the length of it (not cutting it in half though – just to cut through the thick outer layer of skin). Use your fingers to pull the skin away from the interior of the yuca. It’ll look like a peeled banana. Now you’re ready to cook!
How to Boil Yuca
Bring water in a medium sized saucepan to a boil. Slice the yuca into long strips. Once the water is boiling, add the yuca in. Boil it for 25-30 minutes or until the yuca is softened. Drain the water and serve warm with a little olive oil drizzled on top with salt and pepper.
How to Fry Yuca
Heat up oil in a large skillet. Cut the yuca into long strips, just like cutting french fries. Once the oil is hot, add the yuca strips into the skillet and cook until the yuca is a golden brown color. Dry the fried yuca strips on paper towels to get rid of any excess oil and serve hot along with a dipping sauce as the perfect complement to a burger.
How to Grill Yuca
Take peeled yuca tube and cut into sections or strips. You’ll need to boil the yuca first (25 minutes or until the yuca is soft). Once you’ve boiled it, drain the yuca and let it cool. Coat with olive oil and season before throwing it on the grill for a few minutes on each side.
How to Mash Yuca
Mashed yuca is made almost exactly like you’d make mashed potatoes. Cut the yuca tube into small pieces and add to a saucepan of boiled water. Boil until the yuca is soft and mushy – about 30 minutes. Drain the water out, add salt and pepper, and milk, along with whatever other mashed potato seasonings you normally add in (garlic, lemon, and fresh dill anyone?) and mash until your heart’s content.
How do you cook yuca? Have any great recipes to share? Let us know in the comments!
