Perfectly Baked Yuca Fries

I stumbled onto this recently when I visited a Venezuelan restaurant with my wife. She was adventurous enough to order the yuca fries (for the first time), and we were both blown away and surprised by how amazing they were. Needless to say, I ate most of her fries and abandoned my regular ones.

So I decided to make my own at home, thanks to the instructions provided by one awesome restaurant owner. 

The spongy fry chronicles :

What the deal with soggy fries ? You go a fast food joint and they are just like : Do you want some fries with that ? Of course, I say yes (Fries, duh !). And the moment I take that first bite, I start questioning my decision-making process. So dry and spongy, you might as well call them tampons. 

Seriously. 

I swore off all spongy fries and started making my own and let me tell you this, it was worth it. There are so many options out there and the moment you make them by yourself it’s no longer a choice. You will always go for homemade.

What the heck is Yuca ? Yu-cka ? Yooka ? 

Yuca is a root vegetable that is widely used in South American cuisine. In fact, it’s such a staple that it is the third largest source of carbohydrates eaten in South America, after rice and corn, of course. While it isn’t yet a staple in North-America, it’s slowly making it’s way onto our tables and restaurants, thanks to the different waves of immigration coming from the south.

Take a look, don’t be scared.

The crispiest fries ever : 

Now, this is what you get with yuca fries: crispiness! Guaranteed crispiness. How rare is that with home-made fries? Absolutely no need to stress about how to cut your fries, or what size they are. They will be so crispy and feathery that it will blow you away. They have this surprising flakiness that you simply will not get from potatoes: as you can see on the above pictures, and they have this element of subtle sweetness that just takes it up a notch. Wait… Have I also mentioned that they are incredibly easy to make?

I know what you think: “There is no way this is better than potatoes, Yuca-to be kidding Idriss …”

I’m not, they are awesome, just take a look : 

That being said, we should probably cover some important points before we unveil today’s recipe. 

Are Yuca Fries Gluten-free?

Yes! Rejoice.

Are Yuca Fries low in carbs?

Let me answer this one using my new found Canadian accent. Noooooooooooo way man. Heck no. Yuca contains a whole lot more carbs per 100g than a potato does (38g vs 17g). So if you’re trying to have a little keto friendly snake, stay away from these.

Are Yuca Fries Healthy?

Well, it all depends on how much you eat of them. If you eat buckets of Yuca Fries (especially deep fried), then no. They are as healthy as baked potato fries can be. Rich in potassium and vitamin C but still a treat that you should enjoy in moderation.

What do Yuca Fries taste like?

That’s a tricky one to answer, however, I will do my best. They taste sweeter than a regular french fry, but not a sweet as sweet potato fries. The thing that you will notice the most when you try yuca fries for the first time, is the texture. If you look at the picture above, you will notice that they are very flaky. That flakiness makes them super crispy and very different from anything you have ever had before.  

How to cook Yuca Fries?

There are 2 ways to cook Yuca Fries. You can either deep fry them or bake them. Either way, you are going to have to boil your fries first before bake/fry them.

But don’t take my word for it, make them, enjoy them and share with me your opinions! If you are looking for more french fries recipes, check these out! 

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Have a crispy day,

Idriss 

Print Pin

5 from 1 vote

Crispy Yuca Fries

Oven baked Crispy Yuca Fries

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Venezuelan

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 1

Author Idriss

Ingredients

• 1 Yuca root.
• 2 Tbsp of grapeseed oil
• 1 pinch of Cayenne
• 1 pinch of Smoked Paprika
• Salt to taste.

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 450.
• Peel your yuca using a speed peeler.
• Cut your yuca into sticks. This can be tricky, so be careful.
• Boil your yuca in water for 10 mins. Then drain it and let it sit until it gets cool enough to handle.
• Line your yuca fries in a baking sheet.
• Bake for 30 minutes and don't forget to flip your fries half way through to make sure they brown evenly.
• Take your Yuca Fries out and add up your spices and salt.
• Serve with your favorite dip and enjoy !

Notes

This makes one portion

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