Crispy Caribbean Yucca Cakes with Garlic-Lime Mojo Recipe
These Crispy Caribbean Yucca Cakes with Garlic-Lime Mojo are a delicious and flavorful dish featuring mashed yuca mixed with aromatic herbs and spices, then pan-fried to golden perfection. Served with a zesty garlic-lime mojo sauce, these cakes offer a perfect balance of crispy texture and tangy, fragrant flavor—a wonderful appetizer or side inspired by Caribbean cuisine.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 yucca cakes 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Ingredients
Scale
Yucca Cakes
- 2 pounds fresh yuca cassava – peeled, chopped into chunks, and core removed
- 2 cloves garlic – minced
- 1 small red onion – finely chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 egg – beaten
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour – plus more if needed for binding
- Vegetable oil – for shallow frying
Garlic-Lime Mojo
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves – finely minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Boil the Yuca: Add yuca chunks to a large pot of salted water and boil for about 20 minutes or until fork-tender. Drain and remove any remaining tough fibrous core from the yuca chunks.
- Mash It: Transfer the boiled yuca to a mixing bowl while still warm and mash it until smooth but retaining a bit of texture.
- Mix the Cake Base: Add the minced garlic, finely chopped red onion, chopped cilantro, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, beaten egg, and 1/4 cup flour to the mashed yuca. Mix well until evenly combined. If the mixture feels too wet, gradually add more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it is firm enough to shape.
- Form the Cakes: Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and form each into a thick, round cake shape.
- Fry: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry the yucca cakes for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until they turn golden brown and crisp.
- Make the Mojo: In a small saucepan, heat olive oil and add minced garlic. Sauté gently until fragrant but do not let it brown. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice, white vinegar, cumin, and salt to taste.
- Serve: Drizzle the garlic-lime mojo over the fried yucca cakes just before serving or serve the mojo on the side as a dipping sauce.
Notes
- If the yucca mixture is too soft to form cakes, add more flour gradually until it holds shape well.
- Be careful not to overcook the garlic in the mojo to prevent bitterness.
- For added flavor, you can mix some finely chopped fresh chili into the cake base or mojo sauce.
- These cakes pair well with avocado salad, spicy mango salsa, or grilled meats for a complete Caribbean-inspired meal.
- Use a non-stick skillet or well-seasoned pan to prevent sticking during frying.
Keywords: yucca cakes, cassava recipe, Caribbean appetizer, garlic-lime mojo, fried yucca, crispy yucca cakes, tropical recipes
