Yuca Frita (Fried Cassava)

  • Total time - 35-40 minutes
  • Preparation - 10 minutes
  • Cooking time - 25-30 minutes
  • Servings: 5
  • Country: Panama
A pile of golden and crispy fried cassava sticks (Yuca Frita) in a bowl, ready to be served.

Yuca Frita is simple to prepare, but the key to success is properly boiling the yuca before frying. It should be tender but not mushy so that it holds its shape. The fibrous core is important to remove as it is tough and inedible. Serve Yuca Frita immediately when it's at its crispiest.

Ingredients

Ingredients for Yuca Frita

  • 1 kg yuca (cassava), peeled and cut into sticks
  • vegetable oil for frying
  • salt

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Yuca

Peel the yuca and cut it into thick, fry-like sticks. Make sure to also remove the tough, fibrous core that runs through the center.

Krok 2: Boiling

Place the cut yuca in a large pot with salted water. Bring to a boil and cook until the yuca is tender but still holds its shape (about 15-20 minutes). Drain the water and let the yuca dry completely.

Step 3: Frying

Heat a generous amount of oil in a large pan or pot for deep frying. Fry the yuca pieces in batches over medium-high heat until they are golden brown and crispy, which takes about 5-7 minutes.

Step 4: Serving

Remove the fried yuca and place it on paper towels to drain excess oil. Immediately sprinkle generously with salt and serve hot.