Panamanian Carimañolas

  • Total time - 55 minutes
  • Preparation - 30 minutes
  • Cooking time - 25 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Country: Panama
A pile of crispy and golden Panamanian Carimañolas on a plate, ready to be served.

The key to perfect Carimañolas is ensuring the yuca dough is smooth and pliable after cooking. Be careful not to make the filling too wet, otherwise, the Carimañolas might fall apart when frying. Removing the tough, fibrous core from the cooked yuca is an essential step. Serve them hot and freshly fried.

Ingredients

Ingredients for the Yuca Dough

  • 1 kg yuca (cassava), peeled and cut into chunks
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • salt

Ingredients for the Filling

  • 250 g ground beef
  • 0.5 piece yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 0.5 piece red bell pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • 0.5 teaspoon cumin, ground
  • salt and black pepper

Other

  • vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

Step 1: Cooking the Yuca

Place the peeled yuca in a large pot with salted water and boil until very tender, about 20-30 minutes. Drain the water and remove the tough, fibrous core from each piece. While still hot, mash the yuca with a potato masher. Add the melted butter and salt and mix thoroughly until you get a smooth dough. Let it cool slightly to be easy to handle.

Step 2: Preparing the Filling

In a pan over medium heat, sauté the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Add the ground meat and cook until browned. Drain any excess fat. Add the tomato paste, cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer until the liquid has evaporated and the filling is dry.

Step 3: Shaping

Take a small portion of the yuca dough and flatten it in your palm. Place a spoonful of the meat filling in the center. Carefully fold the dough around the filling and shape it into a log or oval shape, about 5-7 cm long. Make sure the edges are well-sealed and there are no cracks in the dough.

Step 4: Frying

Heat a generous amount of oil in a deep pot or pan. Fry the Carimañolas in batches until they are golden brown and crispy on all sides, which takes about 4-6 minutes. Remove them and place them on paper towels to drain excess fat.

Step 5: Serving

Serve hot, either on their own or with your favorite dipping sauce. They are great as part of a breakfast with avocado or cheese.