Veganuary Day 15 - Yuca Fries
Hi there! Happy Wednesday 🌞
Today is Veganuary Day 15! I can’t believe half of January is already gone, and I’m still setting my intentions for this year 😅. Anyway, one of them is being more creative in the kitchen, incorporating ingredients that I don’t normally use or have in my shopping list. I thought of this Yuca fries recipe that I made last year for the first time, and it really helped me to introduce Yuca to our menus.
Yuca, also known as cassava, is a root vegetable popular in Latin American, African, and Asian cuisine. It’s starchy like a potato but has a slightly sweeter flavor. When cooked properly, it can make a delicious and unique alternative to traditional French fries.
So, if you’re looking for a different side dish than your regular french fries, these Yuca fries cooked in the air fryer are a game changer!
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Ingredients
Yuca. This starchy root vegetable is the star of our dish. When buying fresh Yuca, make sure you choose one that is firm and has no soft brown spots. You can find Yuca in most supermarkets or Latin markets.
Smoked Paprika. Smoked paprika gives your fries a nice smoky flavor. If you don’t have smoked paprika, regular paprika will work, too.
Garlic Powder. Garlic powder adds a savory depth to the Yuca fries. Alternatively, we add some whole garlic to the air fryer while cooking the Yuca and then enjoy the air-fried garlic with the fries.
Olive oil. We use olive oil for this recipe. You can use another type of vegetable oil, such as avocado oil, canola oil, or coconut oil. Another great option is using a cooking spray.
Rice Flour. This is our secret ingredient for extra crispy fries. The rice flour will create a light coating on the fries that crisps up beautifully in the air fryer or oven. Alternatively, you can use corn flour or tapioca flour.
Salt and pepper. For seasoning, we use sea salt and crushed black pepper.
Cooking Method
Start by peeling the yuca with a sharp knife. To easily peel the Yuca, carefully insert the knife beneath the bark, allowing it to elevate and be peeled off in larger chunks. We don't recommend using a vegetable peeler as the skin is quite hard.
Once peeled, cut the yuca into fry-like shapes. Make sure to remove the starchy center of the yuca, as it can be tough and isn’t pleasant to eat.
Add the cut yuca to a pot of salted boiling water. Boil until they are fork-tender but not falling apart, about 12-15 minutes. Drain the pot of water and let the Yuca pieces cool for 3-5 minutes.
In a large bowl, toss the boiled yuca fries with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and rice flour.
Place the seasoned yuca fries in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for about 17-20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Once the Yuca starts to firm, you can shake the basket to move the fries around and make sure they are cooking evenly.
Serve your crispy yuca fries while hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Variations
Cook the Cassava in the oven. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can easily bake these yuca fries in the oven. Simply preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C), arrange the seasoned pre-boiled yuca fries on a baking sheet in a single layer, and bake for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
Fry the Yuca. Not the healthiest option, but of course, the most indulgent. You can deep-fry your Yuca fries. Once the yuca is boiled and tossed with the spices, fill a deep fryer or large saucepan with enough oil to fully submerge the fries. Heat the oil and carefully add the yuca fries to the hot oil. Fry until they are golden brown, and using a slotted spoon, take them out of the oil and place them on a paper towel to remove the excess oil.
Change the seasoning. For our Yuca Fries, we use smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. We like to keep it simple, using ingredients that we always have at home. You can use other spices such as onion powder, curry powder, cumin, coriander, chili powder, spicy paprika, etc.
Download the whole recipe for quantities and instructions. Also, you can find more information about this recipe on the blog.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and start incorporating Yuca into your meals!
Love,
Laura.
Wow. Have heard of cassava but didn't realise it was yuka - the same as the plants you can buy from garden centres? Your pics of the peeled root remind me of parsnip. Next time I come across I shall give this a try.