Salvadoran FoodSalvadoran Stuffed Yuca with Quesillo and Pork Cracklings, Cabbage Salad, and Roasted Tomato Sauce
An original recipe inspired by traditional Salvadoran flavors: tender yuca croquettes stuffed with quesillo and seasoned pork cracklings, fried until golden, served with a fresh cabbage salad and a roasted tomato-garlic sauce. Crisp outside, creamy inside, and deeply comforting.
Ingredients
- 900 g peeled yuca, cut into chunks (without the fibra central dura)
- 8 g salt (divided)
- 180 g Salvadoran quesillo cheese (in strips small)
- 150 g cooked pork cracklings (finely chopped)
- 140 g white onion (divided: parte chopped fina and parte en trozos for the sauce)
- 12 g garlic (divided)
- 2 g ground cumin
- 30 ml vegetable oil (for the relleno)
- 35 g rice flour (for dar estructura a the dough)
- 750 ml vegetable oil for frying (approx.)
- 300 g green cabbage (finely grated)
- 100 g carrot (grated)
- 1 g dried oregano
- 60 ml white vinegar
- 120 ml hot water (for suavizar the ensalada)
- 500 g ripe tomatoes (cut a the mitad)
- 1 g black pepper
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 large pot with enough water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a medium boil and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until very tender. Drain, remove any tough inner fiber left, and mash while still hot until smooth.
- 2
While the yuca cooks, make the filling. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté 1/2 cup finely chopped onion and 2 minced garlic cloves for 2 to 3 minutes, until fragrant.
- 3
Add the chopped pork cracklings, ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring, until the filling is well seasoned. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly.
- 4
Add the rice flour to the mashed yuca and mix well until a soft, workable dough forms. If it is too hot, let it rest for 5 minutes before shaping.
- 5
Take a portion of yuca dough and flatten it in your hand. Place some pork filling and a strip of quesillo in the center, then close and shape into an oblong croquette. Repeat until all the dough, pork filling, and quesillo are used.
- 6
For the salad, mix the cabbage, carrot, the remaining onion sliced thinly, dried oregano, white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and hot water. Toss well and let rest for 15 minutes so it softens slightly.
- 7
Preheat the oven to 425 °F / 220 °C. Place the tomatoes, the remaining 2 garlic cloves, and a few chunks of onion on a tray. Roast for 18 to 20 minutes, until the tomatoes are browned at the edges and soft.
- 8
Blend the roasted tomatoes, roasted garlic, roasted onion, and a pinch of salt until smooth. If you want a looser texture, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water.
- 9
Heat the frying oil in a pot or deep skillet to 350 °F / 175 °C. Fry the yuca croquettes in batches for 4 to 5 minutes per batch, turning them, until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towels.
- 10
Serve the stuffed yuca hot with the cabbage salad on the side and the roasted tomato sauce spooned over or served separately.
Chef tips
Lightly dampen your hands with water when shaping the croquettes to keep the yuca dough from sticking. Do not overfill each piece so it does not split while frying.
Substitutions
You can substitute low-moisture mozzarella if Salvadoran quesillo is unavailable. For a milder version, use cooked shredded pork instead of pork cracklings.
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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