Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran yucca and white bean hand pies with loroco, roasted tomato sauce, and cilantro cream
An original recipe inspired by traditional Salvadoran flavors: a soft yucca dough with a touch of rice flour, filled with mashed white beans, loroco, and fresh cheese, fried until golden and served with roasted tomato sauce and a fresh cilantro cream.
Ingredients
- 700 g peeled yucca, cut into chunks (for the dough)
- 60 g rice flour (for dar estructura a the dough)
- 8 g salt (divided entre dough, relleno and sauce)
- 240 g cooked white beans, drained (for the relleno)
- 40 g chopped loroco buds (fresh or descongelado)
- 100 g crumbled fresh cheese (for the relleno)
- 120 g white onion, finely chopped (divided entre relleno, sauce and cream)
- 9 g chopped garlic (divided entre relleno and sauce)
- 45 ml vegetable oil (more suficiente for frying)
- 500 g ripe tomatoes (for the sauce)
- 60 g sweet green pepper, chopped (for the sauce)
- 1 g dried oregano (for the sauce)
- 120 ml Salvadoran cream or sour cream (for the cream of cilantro)
- 20 g fresh cilantro, chopped (for the cream)
- 15 ml lime juice (for the cream of cilantro)
- 120 ml water (for ajustar the sauce si hace falta)
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 yucca in a pot with enough water to cover and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Cook until very tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, remove any tough core fibers, and mash while hot until smooth.
- 2
2. Add the rice flour to the mashed yucca and mix until a soft, shapeable dough forms. If it feels too wet, let it rest for 5 minutes so the flour can absorb moisture.
- 3
3. For the filling, heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup of the chopped onion and 1 garlic clove. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
- 4
4. Stir in the white beans and lightly mash them in the skillet. Add the loroco, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cook 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat, let cool slightly, and mix with the fresh cheese.
- 5
5. For the sauce, preheat the oven to 425°F / 220°C. Place the tomatoes, sweet green pepper, 1/4 cup onion, and 2 garlic cloves on a baking tray. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and roast for 18 to 20 minutes until browned and fragrant.
- 6
6. Blend the roasted tomatoes, green pepper, roasted onion, roasted garlic, oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the water if needed for a thick sauce texture. Transfer the sauce to a small saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
- 7
7. For the cilantro cream, mix the Salvadoran cream, cilantro, lime juice, and the remaining 2 tablespoons chopped onion in a bowl until smooth.
- 8
8. Divide the yucca dough into 12 portions. Shape each into a ball, flatten it in your hand, add a generous spoonful of the white bean and loroco filling, and seal into an oval hand pie. Repeat with all the dough and filling.
- 9
9. Heat enough oil for frying in a deep skillet to 350°F / 175°C. Fry the hand pies in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden. Drain on paper towels or a rack.
- 10
10. Serve the hand pies hot with the roasted tomato sauce spooned over or on the side, and finish with dollops of cilantro cream.
Chef tips
If the yucca is very fibrous, remove the inner string well before mashing. Lightly wetting your hands with water helps shape the hand pies without sticking.
Substitutions
You can use firm ricotta-style cheese instead of fresh cheese. If loroco is unavailable, use a small mix of chopped spinach and a few cilantro leaves, though the flavor will be different.
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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