20 Yuca (Cassava) Recipes To Make The Most Of This Versatile Root (2024)

This delicious and diverse collection of yuca recipes shows how incredibly versatile it can be! Enjoy inspiration from different techniques and international flavors all in one place.

20 Yuca (Cassava) Recipes To Make The Most Of This Versatile Root (1)

There are an amazing amount of delicious recipes you can make with simple yuca root. Both traditional preparations from across the world and creative, new flavor combos can transform a simple root veggie into a tasty meal.

It’s an ingredient we love in our house. From mashes and fries to sweet desserts, I’m always excited to discover new ways to enjoy it. This amazing collection of yuca recipes is the perfect inspiration when you want to give something new a try. Check them out to find yummy dishes that use it to its full potential.

Yuca Root Tips

If you’re not practiced at cooking yuca, then these tips will help you pick and prepare them more easily and enjoy the flavors that much sooner.

  • Firm, unblemished roots – It’s important to only pick yuca that’s hard. There should be no cracks, blemishes, or signs of mold. It’s equally important that the flesh is a creamy white. No black spots or veins.
  • Always cook it – Yuca, much like potatoes, can be toxic when consumed raw. It must be cooked or processed into a flour (tapioca flour) in order to use it.
  • Peel it and remove the core – There are two outer layers that need to be removed, both the woody exterior and the pink layer underneath. The middle also has a fibrous core that should be cut away. Remove it raw or after cooking.

With these tips you’ll be prepared to tackle any of these yuca recipes with excitement. With such a fantastic, versatile ingredient as yuca, I’m sure you’ll find many to love!

1. Cuban Yuca con Mojo (Yuca with Garlic Sauce)

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This classic Cuban preparation of Yuca Con Mojo is something you’ll be thrilled to try at home. Simply boiled yuca root tossed in a flavorful citrus garlic sauce is a no-fuss side dish with huge flavor.

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

2. Yuca Mash with Garlic and Thyme (Mashed Cassava)

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A creamy, buttery yuca mash is a delicious variation of traditional mashed potatoes. You’ll love this thyme infused mashed cassava as an anytime side dish all year long.

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

3. Pulled Pork Yuca Tots with Cilantro Garlic Sauce

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Yuca, aka cassava, turned into tots topped with juicy BBQ pulled pork and cilantro garlic sauce!

Recipe by: A Sassy Spoon

4. Cheese-Stuffed Baked Yuca Balls

A great option to dazzle your guests are this Cheese-Stuffed Baked Yuca Balls, a combination of soft, buttery cassava root and melted cheese.

Recipe by: Dominican Cooking

5. Crispy Baked Yuca Fries (Gluten-Free, Vegan)

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These crispy baked yuca fries are the perfect side dish, appetizer or snack. Cooked in the oven till crispy perfection, these yuca fries taste delicious with our favorite easy garlic aioli, our 5-minute Sriracha chili sauce, or cilantro lime crema.

Recipe by: Dish by Dish

6. Cassava Bibingka

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This version of cassava bibingka features a combination of grated cassava and fresh coconut baked in banana leaf. The snack cake is finished with a sweet coconut cream topping.

Recipe by: The Little Epicurean

7. Yuca Fritters – Carimanolas

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You will love this crunchy and creamy Latin treat! Carimanolas are a yuca dough filled with a tasty spiced meat mixture that is fried into a fitter. These are very popular in Panama and Colombia.

Recipe by: Ethnic Spoon

8. Colombian Chicken Sancocho (Sancocho de Pollo)

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Sancocho de Pollo, a hearty soup almost like a stew, is a traditional dish in the Antioquia region of Colombia that combines potatoes, yuca, corn, plantains, and chicken.

Recipe by: Skinnytaste

9. Traditional Filipino Cassava Cake

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Cassava cake is a traditional Filipino snack cake made with grated cassava, coconut milk, and a layer of molten custard on top. The cake has a soft, slightly chewy texture similar to Hawaiian mochi butter cake and is gluten-free.

Recipe by: Hummingbird High

10. Cheesy Baked Yuca Pie (Pastelon de Yuca)

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Give your weeknight dinner a Latin twist and make this delicious Baked Yuca Pie filled with shredded chicken and topped with lots of cheese.

Recipe by: Living Sweet Moments

11. Yuca en Escabeche (Cassava in Olive Oil & Vinegar)

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Boiled yuca marinades in an olive oil and vinegar sauce with onions, red peppers, and olives. The result is a light refreshing flavor that is still filling and comforting.

Recipe by: The Noshery

12. Accra Banana – African Banana Fritters

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Accra Banana is basically African Banana Fritters – Bananas combined with grated cassava (yucca root) then fried. The result is crunchy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside balls of perfection that are to die for.

Recipe by: Precious Core

13. Nicaraguan Vigoron

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Nicaraguan Vigoron is boiled yuca (cassava root), topped with crispy pork rinds and a cabbage and tomato slaw. It’s great as an appetizer or light dinner!

Recipe by: The Candid Appetite

14. Bammy

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Bammy -A great tasting vegan, and paleo Jamaican flat bread made with grated cassava, dipped in coconut milk and fried until golden brown.

Recipe by: African Bites

15. Cassava Cake with Custard Topping

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Cassava Cake with Custard Topping made with grated cassava and coconut milk. Soft and moist with a creamy flan topping, this classic Filipino treat is the ultimate snack or dessert. And it’s naturally gluten-free, too!

Recipe by: Kawaling Pinoy

16. Hearty Plantain & Yuca Stew

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A warm and filling meal, this hearty allergy-friendly Plantain & Yuca Stew is inspired by Sancocho, a traditional stew found in multiple Latin American cuisines.

Recipe by: The Open Cookbook

17. Cassava Cake with Shredded Coconut

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This cassava cake is coated with shredded coconut. It’s a Malaysian kuih recipe. It’s sweet, dainty and delicious!

Recipe by: Rasa Malaysia

18. Easy Air fryer Cassava Chips

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This is a tasty and easy recipe of Airfryer cassava or yuca chips. It is very simple and you can have it as a tasty evening snack.

Recipe by: Rachna Cooks

19. Brazilian Chicken Soup with Yucca & Yam

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A delicious Brazilian Chicken Soup recipe with yam, yucca root, and shredded chicken. It’s hearty, gluten free, delicious and easy to make.

Recipe by: A Side of Sweet

20. Cassava Puffs with Cinnamon Sugar and Caramel (Gluten Free)

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These incredible 5 ingredient cassava (yuca) puffs with cinnamon sugar and caramel are next level good… and gluten free!

Recipe by: Chew Town

20 Yuca (Cassava) Recipes To Make The Most Of This Versatile Root (2024)

FAQs

What can you do with cassava root? ›

Foods that people can make using cassava include:
  1. bread, which can contain cassava flour only or both cassava and wheat flour.
  2. french fries.
  3. mashed cassava.
  4. cassava chips.
  5. cassava bread soaked in coconut milk.
  6. cassava cake.
  7. cassava in coconut sauce.

What food is made from cassava? ›

Traditional methods of preparation include steaming, mashing, grating, boiling, and frying. It is made into bibingka, suman, pudding, chips (kabkab), cassava cake, cassava balls, pitsi-pitsi, pancakes, or coated with caramelized sugar. The leaves are also cooked and eaten.

What can you do with yucca? ›

Yuca can be fried, boiled, and made into casseroles.

Is cassava root good or bad for you? ›

Cassava is generally considered safe when prepared properly and enjoyed in moderation. While cases of cyanide poisoning associated with this root are rare, it's still important to cook it properly to prevent adverse side effects ( 22 ). Here are some ways you can make cassava safe to eat ( 22 , 23 ):

Who should not take cassava? ›

Allergies to latex: Cassava might cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to latex. Iodine deficiency: Cassava might lower the amount of iodine absorbed by the body. For people who already have low levels of iodine, eating cassava might make this condition worse.

Does cassava taste like potato? ›

Cassava is a root vegetable that can be used in many of the same ways as potatoes. On the surface, this starchy tuber looks like a sweet potato or yam but with thicker skin. When cooked, cassava has a neutral flavor and soft, light texture. Cassava grows in tropical and subtropical climates.

What are five products gotten from cassava? ›

What products can I make by processing cassava roots?
  • 1.Garri. Garri is a popular West African food made from cassava tubers. ...
  • 2.Cassava flour. ...
  • 3.Cassava fufu flour. ...
  • 4.Cassava starch. ...
  • 5.Cassava chips.

How do you know if yuca is bad? ›

The flesh of ripe yucca should be a cream color with no visible discoloration. If you notice any dark streaks, black specks, or discolored lines in the flesh of your yucca, this is a sign that your produce has started to deteriorate.

What's the best way to eat yucca? ›

Another popular way to cook yuca is to fry it. Boil the yuca, pat dry and fry at 350F until golden. This makes a crispy snack best enjoyed with a quick dipping sauce made with minced garlic and extra virgin olive oil or a creamy aioli.

Can yucca root be eaten raw? ›

Yucca, although one of the most consumed carbohydrates worldwide, is dangerously toxic when consumed raw because it contains cyanogenic glucosides that trigger the release of hydrogen cyanide.

Is yuca healthier than potato? ›

But What are the Health Benefits of this Precious Root? Low Glycemic Index – Yuca has a low glycemic index of 46/100, compared to a normal potato which has an index of 78/100. This means that for those looking to control their blood sugar, yuca is the better option in comparison.

What is the difference between yucca and yuca? ›

Although frequently confused for one another, yucca and yuca have little in common, with yucca being a flowering plant and yuca being a root vegetable. Although people frequently mix up yucca and yuca, they have almost no properties in common. Yuca is a root vegetable, whereas yucca is a flowering plant.

Can you eat raw cassava root? ›

Though cassava is a safe ingredient to eat when cooked, it contains the harmful chemical cyanide when raw or cooked improperly. 3 Never consume cassava raw.

How do you remove cyanide from cassava root? ›

Drying is the most ubiquitous processing operation in many tropical countries. Sun drying eliminates more cyanide than oven drying because of the prolonged contact time between linamarase and the glucosides in sun drying. Soaking followed by boiling is better than soaking or boiling alone in removing cyanide.

Is cassava root inflammatory? ›

Cassava contains anti-inflammatory properties due to its high vitamin C content. When eaten regularly, cassava's vitamin C content can help lower inflammation by reducing the risk of oxidative stress. It does this by providing antioxidants that can balance out free radicals.

What does cassava root taste like? ›

The sweet variety is what you'll find at your local supermarket and in cassava-based products; its flavor profile is mild, somewhat nutty, and subtly sweet. When boiled, both its taste and texture are very reminiscent of a cooked potato ready for a mash or wedge of butter. Where does cassava grow?

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