Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran yuca and chipilín fritters with queso duro blando center, roasted tomato sauce, and oregano carrot slaw
An original recipe inspired by traditional Salvadoran flavors: golden fritters made with cooked yuca and chipilín, filled with queso duro blando, served with a homemade roasted tomato sauce and a fresh carrot, onion, and oregano slaw.
Ingredients
- 700 g peeled yuca in chunks (for cocer and hacer puree)
- 6 g salt (divided entre the dough, the sauce and the curtido)
- 40 g chopped chipilín leaves (without stalks duros)
- 1 unit egg (for ligar the dough)
- 35 g rice flour (for dar cuerpo a the dough)
- 120 g queso duro blando (cut en 8 cubes small)
- 120 ml vegetable oil (approx., for frying en pan)
- 450 g ripe tomatoes (cut por the mitad)
- 120 g white onion (the mitad for the sauce and the mitad en pluma fina for the curtido)
- 6 g garlic (for the sauce)
- 70 g mild green pepper (for the sauce, in strips)
- 180 ml water (for ajustar the sauce)
- 120 g carrot (grated fina for the curtido)
- 30 ml white vinegar (for the curtido)
- 1 g dried oregano (for the curtido)
- 4 g sugar (for balancear the curtido)
- 1 g black pepper (for the sauce and the dough)
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 and 3 g salt. Cook over medium heat until very tender, about 20 to 25 minutes. Drain well, remove any tough inner fiber, and mash while hot until smooth.
- 2
2. While the yuca cooks, make the slaw: combine the grated carrot, half of the onion sliced thin, white vinegar, dried oregano, sugar, and 1 g salt. Mix well and let it rest for at least 15 minutes so the flavors can develop.
- 3
3. Preheat the oven to 425 °F / 220 °C. Place the tomatoes, the other half of the onion, garlic, and mild green pepper on a tray. Roast for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the tomatoes are soft and lightly charred around the edges.
- 4
4. Transfer the roasted tomatoes, roasted onion, garlic, green pepper, water, 2 g salt, and black pepper to a blender. Blend until you have a slightly rustic sauce.
- 5
5. Pour the sauce into a small saucepan and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Keep warm.
- 6
6. When the yuca mash is warm, add the chopped chipilín, egg, rice flour, the remaining 1 g salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Mix well until you have a moldable dough that does not stick too much to your hands.
- 7
7. Divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Take one portion, flatten it in your palm, place one cube of queso duro blando in the center, and close it into an oval or round fritter. Repeat with the remaining dough and cheese.
- 8
8. Heat the vegetable oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Fry the fritters in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden and crisp on the outside. Transfer to paper towels.
- 9
9. Serve the fritters hot over or alongside the roasted tomato sauce and add the oregano carrot slaw on the side.
- 10
10. If you want to keep them warm while finishing the batches, place them on a tray in a 200 °F / 95 °C oven for up to 10 minutes.
Chef tips
Drain the yuca very well so the dough does not become wet. If the mixture feels too soft, add 1 extra tablespoon of rice flour. Slightly damp hands make shaping the fritters easier.
Substitutions
If you cannot find chipilín, you may use baby spinach or cilantro leaves, though the flavor will be different. Queso duro blando can be replaced with a firm fresh cheese that does not melt too much. Rice flour can be replaced with a smaller amount of cornstarch.
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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