Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran yuca and loroco patties with toasted corn cream
Golden, crisp-edged patties made with cooked yuca and chopped loroco, served over a smooth toasted corn cream and finished with quick-pickled onion. This is an original recipe inspired by traditional Salvadoran flavors, perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
Ingredients
- 700 g yuca, peeled and cut into chunks (for cocer and hacer the puree)
- 60 g chopped loroco buds (fresh or descongelado)
- 100 g crumbled fresh cheese (for mezclar en the tortitas)
- 1 unit egg (for ligar the mezcla)
- 30 g corn flour (for dar estructura)
- 6 g salt (divided to taste)
- 1 g ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 45 ml vegetable oil (divided for frying and sofreír)
- 200 g sweet corn kernels (fresh or descongelado)
- 80 g chopped white onion (divided)
- 6 g minced garlic (divided)
- 120 ml table cream (for the cream of maíz)
- 240 ml water (for ajustar the cream and cocer the yuca)
- 70 g red onion, thinly sliced (for the curtido quick)
- 30 ml white vinegar (for the curtido quick)
- 4 g sugar (for balancear the curtido)
- 1 g dried oregano (for the curtido)
- 10 g chopped cilantro (for terminar)
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 large pot and cover with enough water. Add half of the salt and cook over medium heat until very tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain, remove any tough inner fibers, and mash until you have a thick puree.
- 2
2. While the yuca cooks, make the quick pickle: combine the red onion with the white vinegar, sugar, dried oregano, and a pinch of salt. Let it rest for 15 minutes, stirring once so it softens evenly.
- 3
3. For the toasted corn cream, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add half of the white onion and half of the garlic, and sauté for 2 minutes until fragrant.
- 4
4. Add the sweet corn kernels and cook for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often, until some kernels are lightly browned. Add the water, cook 3 minutes more, and remove from the heat.
- 5
5. Blend the cooked corn with the cream, a pinch of salt, and a little black pepper until smooth and thick. For a finer texture, strain it if desired. Transfer to a small saucepan and keep warm over very low heat.
- 6
6. In a small skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and sauté the remaining white onion and garlic for 2 minutes. Add them to the mashed yuca along with the chopped loroco, crumbled fresh cheese, egg, corn flour, remaining salt, and black pepper. Mix very well.
- 7
7. Divide the mixture into 8 portions and shape into medium patties about 1.5 cm or 1/2 inch thick. If the mixture sticks, lightly wet your hands with water.
- 8
8. Heat the remaining vegetable oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Cook the patties for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until golden and crisp around the edges. If you prefer to finish them in the oven, transfer them to a tray and bake for 5 minutes at 375°F / 190°C.
- 9
9. To serve, spread the toasted corn cream onto the plates. Place the hot patties on top, add some quick-pickled onion, and finish with chopped cilantro.
- 10
10. Serve immediately, making sure each portion includes corn cream, patties, pickled onion, and cilantro for balanced texture and flavor.
Chef tips
Be sure to remove the tough inner fiber from the yuca so the patties stay smooth. If the mixture feels too wet, add 1 or 2 extra tablespoons of corn flour. Brown the corn well before blending for a deeper flavor.
Substitutions
You can substitute the fresh cheese with shredded quesillo. If fresh loroco is unavailable, use thawed frozen loroco, well drained. The cream can be replaced with light sour cream, thinning with a little extra water if needed.
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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