Yucca Root

[layjo]

Have any of you used yucca in any preparations before? I'm trying to explore the uses of different ethnic vegetables. Right now I'm interested in Latin American, Mexican, and Cuban style vegetables and starches. Thanks in advance!

Here's a delicious starter!

Recipe from Argentina

Yucca Parmesan Croutons

Ingredients

1 kg yucca
½ kg granulated sugar
½ cup shredded coconut
½ cup coarsely grated parmesan cheese
1 tbsp anise seed
butter
1 small bay leaf
salt

Method

Peel and grate the yucca into a medium-size bowl. Add the granulated sugar, the grated coconut, the cheese, and the anise seed. Mix until you obtain a chunky paste.

In a medium-size saucepan, melt a knob of butter over medium-low heat. Place a bay leaf on the bottom of the pot. Pour the mixture onto the leaf and cook until the mixture turns a golden brown.

Transfer the paste onto a greased baking sheet. Bake in a 400 degree oven until golden brown, around 10 minutes. Allow it to cool, then cut it into small squares.

More to follow!

This one sounds good... found it in an old cookbook.

CARIMAÑOLAS (Stuffed Yucca Fritters)

3 lbs. yucca
salt to taste
Stuffing: 1 lb. ground meat
1/2 onion
1 clove garlic
scallion and parsley
1 tsp. tomato paste
1 tsp. worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. vinegar
capers

Boil the yucca with salt but do not allow to get too soft. Grind it and knead same with salt. Form balls and fill each with the stuffing, shaping same into oval shape. Then fry in very hot oil.

TO MAKE FILLING:
Season ground meat with salt, worcestershire sauce, vinegar, capers, onion, sugar, scallion and parsley. Fry in hot oil and when brown add other ingredients and tomato paste. Allow to cook on low fire until soft.

Enjoy!

[layjo]

Thanks Chef Julie! I will try these ideas out pretty soon. This is a good starting point. If you or anybody has more ideas i'm all ears.

Victor Cantu

[UniChef]

Check out this page- http://www.unichef.com/glossary.htm

There is also a recipe herehttp://www.unichef.com/viandas.htm
that you may find interesting.

[Katherine]

Make yucca fries by steaming the peeled root until tender. Cut into fry shapes, discarding the tough part, and deep-fry until crispy in olive oil. Oh-so-buttery!

[layjo]

Thanks for the ideas guys and gals. I tried in a simple way for the first time to get the feel of working with it(yucca). I will try these others as soon as I'm able to.