Textual Chef Textual Chef

Alcapurrias de Yuca

Crispy golden cassava fritters stuffed with a savory Puerto Rican ground beef picadillo filling.

50 minMediumServes 6340 cal/serving

Puerto RicanAppetizerStovetopStandardGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeSoy-FreeEgg-FreePork-FreeAlcohol-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs fresh cassava, grated
  • 2 tbsp annatto oil
  • 1 tsp fine salt
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1/4 cup sofrito
  • 1/4 cup tomato sauce
  • 2 tbsp stuffed olives, minced
  • 2 cups vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat a skillet over medium heat, then add 1 lb lean ground beef and 1/4 cup sofrito, cooking until beef is browned and reaches an internal temperature of 160°F.

  2. 2

    Stir 1/4 cup tomato sauce and 2 tbsp minced stuffed olives into the skillet, then simmer for 5 minutes until thickened and let cool.

  3. 3

    Combine 2 lbs grated fresh cassava, 2 tbsp annatto oil, and 1 tsp fine salt in a bowl to form a smooth dough masa.

  4. 4

    Spread a portion of masa on parchment paper, place meat filling in the center, and fold masa over to seal into a cylinder.

  5. 5

    Heat 2 cups vegetable oil to 350°F in a deep pan and fry fritters for 5 to 7 minutes until crisp and golden brown.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Questions

What is Alcapurrias de Yuca?

Crispy golden cassava fritters stuffed with a savory Puerto Rican ground beef picadillo filling. This reference files it under Puerto Rican appetizer: made on the stovetop, rated medium and about 50 minutes start to finish.

How hot should the oil be for Alcapurrias de Yuca?

For Alcapurrias de Yuca, the target internal temperature is 160 F (about 70 C), given in step 1. A probe thermometer removes the guesswork. The frying oil is held at 350 F (about 175 C) in step 5. Hotter scorches the outside before the inside cooks, and cooler turns it greasy.

How do I know when Alcapurrias de Yuca is done?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 2: cook until thickened and let cool. Step 5: cook until crisp and golden brown. A reading of 160 F on a thermometer settles it.

Is there a substitute for achiote in Alcapurrias de Yuca?

The entry for Alcapurrias de Yuca calls for 2 tbsp annatto oil. In its place: Mix paprika with a pinch of turmeric and a few drops of vinegar for the color and mild earthiness.

Can I use ground turkey instead of ground beef in Alcapurrias de Yuca?

Yes. Choose turkey that is not extra-lean and add a tablespoon of oil to the pan, because turkey has less fat and browns more slowly. Season it a little harder than you would beef. As written, the entry for Alcapurrias de Yuca uses 1 lb lean ground beef.

How many calories are in Alcapurrias de Yuca?

One serving (the recipe makes 6) is about 340 calories, with 14 g protein, 32 g carbohydrate and 18 g fat, plus 3 g fiber and 480 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,530 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.

More Puerto Rican entries

All Puerto Rican recipes · All Appetizer recipes · All Cassava recipes