Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran yuca and alguashte cakes stuffed with red beans and warm roasted tomato sauce
An original recipe inspired by traditional Salvadoran flavors: golden cakes made with cooked yuca and alguashte, stuffed with seasoned red beans and served with a warm roasted tomato sauce, fresh cheese, and a touch of cilantro. Crisp outside and tender inside, ideal for a vegetarian lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 700 g peeled yuca, cut into chunks (for the dough)
- 30 g ground roasted pumpkin seed (for the dough)
- 6 g salt (divided)
- 240 g cooked red beans, drained (for the relleno)
- 100 g white onion, finely chopped (divided)
- 6 g garlic, minced (divided)
- 45 ml vegetable oil (divided)
- 1 g ground cumin (for the relleno)
- 1 g dried oregano (for the relleno)
- 450 g ripe tomatoes (for the sauce)
- 30 g green chile (without semillas, for the sauce)
- 8 g fresh cilantro, chopped (for terminar)
- 80 g crumbled fresh cheese (for servir)
- 60 ml water (for ajustar the sauce)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
1. Place the yuca in a pot with enough water to cover and add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat for 20 to 25 minutes, until very tender. Drain, remove any tough inner fibers, and mash until smooth.
- 2
2. Mix the hot mashed yuca with the alguashte and 1 tablespoon of the chopped onion. Knead until you have a compact, even dough. Cover and reserve so it does not dry out.
- 3
3. For the filling, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté half of the remaining onion and half of the garlic for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the red beans, cumin, oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook for 5 minutes, lightly mashing the beans until the filling is thick. Let cool.
- 4
4. Preheat the oven to 425 °F / 220 °C. Place the tomatoes and green chile on a tray. Roast for 15 to 18 minutes, turning once, until softened and lightly charred in spots.
- 5
5. Blend the roasted tomatoes, roasted green chile, the rest of the onion, the rest of the garlic, the water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until slightly rustic but pourable.
- 6
6. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Pour in the blended sauce and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Keep warm.
- 7
7. Divide the yuca dough into 8 portions. Lightly moisten your hands, flatten each portion, place a spoonful of the bean filling in the center, and close to form round or oval cakes.
- 8
8. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the yuca cakes for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until crisp and deeply golden.
- 9
9. Serve the hot cakes over the warm roasted tomato sauce. Finish with crumbled fresh cheese and chopped cilantro on top.
- 10
10. If desired, let the cakes rest for 2 minutes before serving so the filling can settle slightly.
Chef tips
If the yuca dough feels too moist, let it rest for a few minutes before shaping. Moistening your hands makes forming the cakes easier and prevents sticking.
Substitutions
You can substitute cooked black beans for the red beans. If you do not have fresh cheese, use crumbled Salvadoran curd-style cheese. For a dairy-free version, omit the cheese when serving.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageT-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized 12" Non-Stick Pan
Eggs, omelets and stir-fries
- Eggs and omelets that don’t stick
- Comfortable, sturdy handle
- Use wooden or silicone utensils
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