10 Best Yuca Recipes That Go Beyond Fries

The first thing to know about yuca recipes is that yuca is not the same as yucca.

People sometimes use the words interchangeably, but they’re two very different things.

Yucca is a flowering plant, often used for ornamental purposes. On the other hand, yuca is a root vegetable similar to a yam or potato.

Some people call it cassava root instead. 

You can actually eat the fruit and flowers of the yucca plant. However, people rarely do so anymore.

Yuca, however, is widely consumed, especially in Central and South America.

This list will focus on ten yuca recipes. It will showcase how versatile this root veggie is.

Basically, any way you can use a potato, you can also use a yuca. Let’s get to it!

10 Savory Yuca Dishes Anyone Can Master

1. Yuca with Garlic Sauce

To prepare the yuca for this dish, you’ll need yuca, water, and salt.

You’ll peel, chop, and boil it just like you would potatoes. It couldn’t be simpler.

The most work you’ll do for this recipe is making the garlic sauce (mojo). Luckily, that’s a smooth and straightforward process, too. 

The whole dish shouldn’t take more than 40 minutes to make. It’s a delicious side dish that combines boiled yuca and red onions. 

You’ll smother the whole thing in a citrus, herb garlic sauce as a final touch. Best of all, it’s healthy, vegan-friendly, and gluten-free. 

2. Fried Yuca With Mojo 

This recipe is almost the same as the one above. The primary difference is that instead of boiling the yuca, you’ll fry it. 

The bright, lemon garlic sauce doesn’t change. However, the crunchy texture of the yuca makes all the difference. The taste is essentially the same. 

However, the texture of these is wonderful. Biting into a crisp exterior to get to the tenderness inside is a delightful experience.

3. Yuca Fritters

Yuca fritters are similar to empanadas, but with a very different texture.

These are fluffy with just a hint of a crunch. (Think of them as the dough on a corndog, only with a milder flavor.)

You can add whatever fillings you like to your fritters. This recipe calls for a flavorful, well-seasoned ground beef filling.

Every bite is a meaty, tomato-flavored taste of heaven. You can also use pork, chicken, or veggies. 

There are sweet yuca fritters, as well. 

4. Yuca Empanadas

These yuca empanadas are equally delicious! They have a soft, pillowy crust and an unbelievably hearty, scrumptious filling. 

As with the fritters, you can fill these with whatever you prefer. If you aren’t sure, though, just use this recipe. It’s phenomenal.

It features juicy ground pork, salty olives, and a ton of robust spices and seasonings. These take about an hour to make, but they’re worth every second.

5. Yuca Waffles

Yuca waffles aren’t like the Eggos you pop in your toaster in the mornings. These are crunchy, cheesy, and savory to the max.

You’ll make them with cheese, yuca flour, salt, butter, eggs, and milk.

Whipping them up is similar to making homemade waffle batter. Of course, these are much cheesier.

They’re also crunchy, light, and airy. You can adjust the toppings to suit your specific tastes.

You can go with traditional breakfast foods like eggs, sausage, and bacon.

However, you could also take a more ethnic approach. Cover them in guacamole, hot sauce, smoked salmon, and more.

6. Yuca Chips

These five-ingredient yuca chips are thin, crispy, and spicy. They’re a lot like potato chips, and you make them in your air fryer.

Making them yourself means you can season them however you like best. Use the recipe provided for hot, Central American-style chips. 

You could also use parmesan and garlic for a more savory option. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, use cinnamon and sugar instead.

7. Yuca Bread

Unless you’ve had it, it’s hard to believe how delicious Colombian yuca bread is. It has a mild flavor but a phenomenal texture.

And there’s nothing mild about the queso blanco filling!

There’s no required rise time, and the tops bake into a gorgeous golden brown. On the other hand, the cheese is ooey, gooey, cheesy, and divine. 

You know how good cheese dip is at your favorite Mexican place, right?

Now, imagine that same delicious dip inside a warm, soft roll. Is your mouth watering yet? It should be! 

8. Yuca Fries

Yuca fries are like French fries, only made with yuca instead of potatoes. You can fry or bake them. I prefer good, old-fashioned frying. 

It’s not as healthy as baking them, of course. But they’re fries! Fries need to be fried! (Actually, these taste pretty great baked or fried.)

They get crispier, though, if you deep-fry them. Serve them with avocado or garlic sauces for the best results. 

*Pro Tip: You can also turn them into seasoned fries. Simply add garlic salt, parmesan, or any other seasonings you like. The cooking process is the same.

9. Yuca Hash Browns

Yuca hash browns are another excellent way to use the yuca root. This recipe is more like a breakfast scramble than plain hash browns. 

It contains yuca, of course, but there’s also bacon, onions, and lime-cilantro mayo. It’s a hearty, flavorful dish that will help anyone start their day off right.

It takes about 45 minutes to pull together, so it’s not the quickest breakfast option. Even so, it’s super simple, and any beginner chef could make it. 

(Also, forgive the misprint in this link. You will use yuca, not yucca. Like I said, some people get them confused.)

10. Garlic Mashed Yuca Root

Garlic mashed potatoes are one of the most comforting side dishes there are. This yuca version is just as soothing and delicious. 

This mashed yuca side dish is fluffy, pillowy soft, and supremely buttery. (Although, you use ghee instead of butter.)

The robust garlic taste infuses every bite for an unbelievably fantastic side dish. You can even cover it in gravy if you like.