Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran yuca and sweet corn fritters stuffed with fresh curd cheese, roasted green chile tomato sauce, and cabbage-mint salad
Golden, crisp-edged fritters made with cooked yuca and sweet corn, filled with fresh curd cheese and served with a roasted tomato and green chile sauce plus a fresh cabbage and mint salad. An original recipe inspired by traditional Salvadoran flavors.
Ingredients
- 500 g peeled yuca (cut en trozos)
- 150 g fresh sweet corn kernels (pueden ser cut of the mazorca)
- 160 g Salvadoran fresh curd cheese (desmoronada en 8 porciones small)
- 1 unit egg (beaten)
- 30 g rice flour (for dar estructura)
- 80 g white onion (finely chopped, divided)
- 2 cloves garlic (chopped, divided)
- 10 g fresh mint (chopped)
- 200 g green cabbage (finely grated)
- 300 g ripe tomato (for roasting)
- 60 g green chile (tipo jalapeño or similar, for roasting)
- 30 ml lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 1 g dried oregano
- 8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
- 1 g black pepper (divided)
- 60 ml vegetable oil (divided for frying and for the sauce)
- 45 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
Place the yuca in a pot with enough water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook until very tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain well, remove any tough central fibers, and mash while still hot until smooth.
- 2
While the yuca cooks, roast the tomatoes and green chiles on a griddle, skillet, or sheet pan in the oven at 425 °F / 220 °C for 12 to 15 minutes, turning once, until charred in spots and loosened from the skin.
- 3
For the salad, combine the cabbage with half of the chopped onion, the mint, lime juice, 2 tablespoons water, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Lightly massage with your hands and let it rest while you finish the rest.
- 4
Sauté in 1 teaspoon oil the remaining onion and 1 clove garlic for 2 minutes over medium heat, until softened. Add them to the mashed yuca along with the corn kernels, egg, rice flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper. Mix until a workable dough forms.
- 5
Divide the mixture into 8 portions. Flatten each portion in your palm, place a portion of fresh curd cheese in the center, and close carefully. Shape into thick, compact fritters.
- 6
Blend the roasted tomatoes, roasted chiles, remaining garlic, oregano, 2 teaspoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the remaining pepper, and 3 tablespoons water into a slightly rustic sauce.
- 7
Heat half of the remaining vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat, about 340 °F / 170 °C at the oil surface. Fry the fritters in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, adding the rest of the oil as needed, until deeply golden and hot in the center.
- 8
Transfer the sauce to a small saucepan and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat until slightly thickened and the garlic no longer tastes raw.
- 9
Serve the fritters hot with the roasted green chile tomato sauce spooned over or on the side, alongside the cabbage and mint salad.
Chef tips
If the dough feels too wet, add 1 extra tablespoon of rice flour. If it cracks while shaping, lightly dampen your hands. Do not overfill the fritters or the cheese may leak during frying.
Substitutions
You can substitute the cuajada with firm fresh cheese. Mint can be replaced with cilantro for a different flavor profile. If you do not have rice flour, use masa harina, though the texture will be slightly more rustic.
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 imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ratings & reviews
Sign in to rate this recipe
Sign inRelated recipes
Salvadoran sweet plantain and red bean cakes with queso duro blando and roasted tomato chirmol
55 min
Salvadoran corn and squash fritters with fresh curd center, fire-roasted tomato sauce, and crisp radish salad
55 min
Salvadoran corn and mora herb fritters with seared fresh curd, tomatillo sauce, and sesame
55 min
Salvadoran rice and chipilín cakes with fresh cheese, carrot slaw, and creamy roasted tomato sauce
50 min
Salvadoran purple corn bites with black beans, fresh cheese, and warm cashew apple sauce
55 min
Salvadoran Yuca and Quesillo Cakes with Fresh Cucumber and Mint Salad
55 min