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.

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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

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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.

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 is the difference between cassava and yuca? ›

Cassava is a plant known for its root vegetable. It's often referred to as “yuca” (spelled with one “c”) and sometimes ground to make tapioca flour. Yucca (spelled with two c's) is a shrub known for its narrow, pointy leaves. It doesn't produce a root vegetable and is totally unrelated to cassava/yuca.

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What can you do with cassava root? ›

Foods that people can make using cassava include:

bread, which can contain cassava flour only or both cassava and wheat flour.
french fries.
mashed cassava.
cassava chips.
cassava bread soaked in coconut milk.
cassava cake.
cassava in coconut sauce.

More items...

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What is yuca cassava good for? ›

Yuca root is an excellent source of vitamin C, offering up to a third of an adult's daily requirement in a single serving. Vitamin C helps your body heal from injuries, and is an important component in your blood vessels and muscles. Getting enough vitamin C regularly can also help boost your immune system.

Is yuca healthier than potatoes? ›

Compared to potatoes, yuca root is higher in calories, protein, and carbs. This makes it ideal for athletes and active individuals. Along with rice and corn, yuca is one of the primary sources of carbohydrates in the tropics.

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Can cassava cause stomach problems? ›

Manifestations of cassava poisoning

Digestive disorders such as: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Nervous disorders such as: dizziness, headache or worse may convulsions, convulsions, dilated pupils and then coma.

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Does yuca give you gas? ›

FODMAP is an acronym for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols. These foods, of which yuca root is one, can be poorly absorbed by people with IBS, and may trigger symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, change in bowel movements, and flatulence (1, 2).

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What does cassava do to the body? ›

Cassava contains resistant starch, a type of carbohydrate that is not digested and acts similar to fiber in the body). It can therefore feed the beneficial bacteria in the gut and improve digestion. It can also be ingested to prevent conditions like constipation, gastritis or intestinal cancer.

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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.

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What are the symptoms of cassava poisoning? ›

In humans, the clinical signs of acute cyanide intoxication include rapid respiration, drop in blood pressure, rapid pulse, dizziness, headache, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, mental confusion, twitching and convulsions.

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What are the side effects of yucca? ›

Common side effects of yucca include:

Stomach upset.
Bitter taste.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Loose stools (high doses)

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How to prevent cassava poisoning? ›

Therefore, some of the methods that can be used to reduce the toxicity of these cassava tubers are: Peeling: It is the most commonly used method in preparing cassava for human consumption. Hence, it involves peeling the outer cover (peels) of the tuber, which contain a considerable amount of cyanide.

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Does yuca raise blood sugar? ›

Yucca can still boost health in people with diabetes. There is evidence that yucca helps regulate blood sugar. A 2013 study found that yucca regulated metabolic disturbances in diabetic rats. It was also found to moderately reduce glucose levels.

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Is too much yucca bad for you? ›

Yucca is LIKELY SAFE when consumed in the amounts normally found in foods. Yucca is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth short-term. It can cause side effects such as stomach upset, bitter taste, nausea, and vomiting.

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Is yuca inflammatory? ›

Yucca (Yucca schidigera) contains steroid-like saponins, which produce an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-spasmodic effects to reduce pain associated with arthritis (Cheeke et al., 2006).

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Is yuca a bad carb? ›

FOR AGES: 6+ months Yuca, pronounced YOO-ka, is the root of the Cassava plant. This nutty-flavored, starchy, gluten-free tuber is native to South America and is also found in Asia and parts of Africa. Despite its high carb content, it has a low glycemic index and makes a healthy addition to any diet.

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What is yuca called in Africa? ›

To confuse things even more, yuca is also known in South America and Africa as cassava or as manioc.

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Can you eat raw yucca? ›

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.

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Is cassava healthier than potato chips? ›

Cassava chips offer a unique flavor and texture that sets them apart from potato chips. They are a healthier alternative due to their lower fat content and are equally satisfying when it comes to crunch and taste. Are Cassava Chips Gluten-Free? Yes, cassava chips are naturally gluten-free.

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Is cassava good for diabetics? ›

One such disease is diabetes. For a long time now, cassava flour is believed to be good for diabetics. However, this is a misconception. According to a 2006 study, conducted by Akadiri Yessoufou and team, it was discovered that long-term consumption of cassava flour aggravated diabetes in rats.

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