Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran yuca and cabbage fritters with quesillo and roasted cumin tomato sauce
Original Salvadoran-inspired fritters made with cooked yuca and sautéed cabbage, mixed with quesillo and pan-seared until crisp outside and tender inside. They are served with a roasted tomato sauce scented with cumin, perfect for a comforting homemade meal with traditional Salvadoran character.
Ingredients
- 500 g peeled yuca, cut into chunks (for cocer and hacer the puree)
- 180 g green cabbage, finely shredded (packed lightly)
- 150 g Salvadoran quesillo, shredded (puede separarse en hebras)
- 100 g white onion, chopped (divided for tortitas and sauce)
- 400 g ripe tomato (approx. 3 tomates medium, for roasting)
- 12 g garlic, minced (divided)
- 1 unit egg (for ligar the mezcla)
- 35 g rice flour (for dar estructura)
- 10 g fresh cilantro, chopped (for the mezcla and for terminar)
- 2 g ground cumin (for the sauce)
- 1 g dried oregano (for the sauce)
- 45 ml vegetable oil (divided for saltear, roasting and dorar)
- 8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
- 1 g ground black pepper (or to taste)
- 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 and 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 you have a thick, mostly smooth purée.
- 2
2. While the yuca cooks, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add half of the chopped onion and half of the minced garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes. Add the cabbage and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until slightly softened but still textured. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Let cool for 5 minutes.
- 3
3. Preheat the oven to 425 °F / 220 °C. Place the tomatoes, remaining onion, and remaining garlic on a small tray. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and roast for 15 to 18 minutes, until the tomatoes are soft and lightly charred around the edges.
- 4
4. Transfer the roasted tomatoes, roasted onion, roasted garlic, cumin, oregano, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour the sauce into a small saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes to bring the flavors together. Adjust salt if needed.
- 5
5. In a large bowl, combine the yuca purée with the sautéed cabbage, quesillo, egg, rice flour, and half of the chopped cilantro. Mix well until a moist but shapeable dough forms. If it feels too soft, let it rest for 5 minutes so the rice flour can absorb some moisture.
- 6
6. Divide the mixture into 8 portions and shape into round fritters about 7 cm / 3 inches wide. Press gently so they hold together firmly.
- 7
7. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the fritters in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until deeply golden and crisp on the outside. Handle them carefully so they do not break.
- 8
8. Serve 2 fritters per portion with the roasted cumin tomato sauce underneath or on the side. Finish with the remaining cilantro and serve hot.
Chef tips
For a firmer texture, let the yuca cool well before mixing. For extra contrast, serve with a few thin slices of fresh onion on the side.
Substitutions
You can substitute the quesillo with low-moisture fresh mozzarella or Oaxaca cheese. If you do not have rice flour, use the same amount of cornstarch, though the texture will be slightly more delicate.
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
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