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Crunchy on the outside, soft and cheese on the inside, these Cheese Stuffed Fried Yuca Balls are a simple and scrumptious appetizer that can only be made better with a tangy and perfectly delicious cilantro dressing. Easy to make they are ready to serve in 20 minutes.
Yuca or Cassava is one of my favorite ingredients in the whole wide world. It is so versatile and absolutely delicious anyway you cook it.
This is an ingredient I cook with very often. I have perfected the Yuca Fritters recipe which you should check out!
But today, I am sharing this Yuca Balls Stuffed with Cheese which is a delicious appetizer when served with this creamy cilantro dressing.
Ingredients
For the fried yuca balls
- Vegetable oil
- Yuca
- Butter
- Egg
- Anise seed
- Salt
- Sugar
- Cheese
For the dressing
- Cilantro
- Mayonnaise
- Garlic
- Lime juice
- Olive oil
- Apple cider vinegar
- Salt
How to make stuffed fried yuca balls
- Grate the yuca using the smallest size of the grater.
- In a medium bowl, combined the yuca, butter, egg, anise seed, salt and sugar. Using a wooden spoon, mix together until well combined.
- Take 1 tablespoon of the yuca mixture in the palm of your hand and flatten it. Place 1 piece of cheese in the center and form a ball to cover the cheese.
- Using a frying pan, fry the yuca balls in vegetable oil over medium heat for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and place on a plate lined with a paper towel to remove excess grease.
How to make cilantro sauce
- Combine cilantro, mayonnaise, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, vinegar and salt in a food processor or blend until smooth. Serve on the side for dipping.
What is yuca?
Yuca, also known as Cassava, is a root vegetable. The plant is cultivated in tropical regions and its root is rich in starch and contains a great amount calcium, phosphorus and vitamin C.
How else can you cook yuca?
The Yuca can be prepared fried or boiled. It can be made mashed, as a casserole ingredient or added into stews such as Sancocho. It can be used as dough for empanadas or even made into a flour used for breads, cookies and cakes. It goes well with any type of meat, eggs and even cheese.
What do they taste like?
These fried yuca balls have a mild, savory and slightly nutty flavor. Because yuca is quite starchy it can be fairly dry, but the cheese-stuffed middle makes them perfectly moist and gooey.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Make sure to cover the cheese well with the yuca so that it doesn't ooze out when the balls are fried.
- The oil should be hot when you fry the balls. You can drop a little of the mix in to check that it is hot enough.
- Serve immediately.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
- Fried Sweet Plantain Slices (Plátanos Maduros Fritos)
- Mexican Grilled Corn Salad (Esquites)
- Queso Fundido with Chorizo
- Spicy Shrimp and Guacamole Bites
- Stuffed Plantain Cups (Tostones Rellenos)
INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound yuca , grated
- 1 tablespoon butter , softened
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 teaspoon anise seed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 2-3 mild cheddar cheese sticks , cut into cubes
For the Dressing
- ½ cup cilantro , roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 garlic clove
- juice of half a lime
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- pinch of salt
INSTRUCTIONS
- Grate the yuca using the smallest size of the grater.
- In a medium bowl, combined the yuca, butter, egg, anise seed, salt and sugar. Using a wooden spoon, mix together until well combined.
- Take 1 tablespoon of the yuca mixture in the palm of your hand and flatten it. Place 1 piece of cheese in the center and form a ball to cover the cheese.
- Using a frying pan, fry the yuca balls in vegetable oil over medium heat for about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove from the pan and place on a plate lined with a paper towel to remove excess grease.
- Serve warm.
Cilantro Dressing
- Combine cilantro, mayonnaise, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, vinegar and salt in a food processor or a blender until smooth. Serve on the side for dipping.
NOTES
- Make sure to cover the cheese well with the yuca so that it doesn't ooze out when the balls are fried.
- The oil should be hot when you fry the balls. You can drop a little of the mix in to check that it is hot enough.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
share your plate
Silvia Martinez
A great yuca recipe, my kids would it this no problem!
Ale
Yum!!!!! Need this in my life now.
Enriqueta Lemoine
Yucca and cilantro dressing? OMG, what can be better than this?
Edna
so you grate the yuca right out of packaging, Raw/uncooked?
Vanessa
Hi Edna, yes. The yuca will cook through when you fry it.
Regine
EEEW LOL. Why is this face next to my name. I don't look like that. D)
Regine
I used the cilantro sauce on some shredded pork inside a soft taco. OMG this is the most amazing sauce.
Andi | greenbasket.me
I don't have any fresh cassava, can you use frozen?
Vanessa
@Andi, Yes! You can definitely use frozen cassava.
Caroline
Those look delicious. Having people over tomorrow and they would make the perfect appetizers.
Thalia @ butter and brioche
Oh god these cheese stuffed balls look so moorish and delicious. If I was to make the recipe - they definitely would get devoured TOO quickly!
Krystal
Oh my goodness these look sooo good! And yes i totally feel you with the bedtime struggles, kids nowadays have it way too easy!..lol
Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom
I could dive into that cilantro dressing! WOW!! And yuca balls is something very interesting I need to try!
Vanessa
The cilantro dressing is so good! I was putting it on everything after that.
Judith
Oh my goodness, this looks so delicious!!! I wanna go run to the store right now and get the ingredients that I need for this recipe!
Vanessa
Hi Judith! And you definitely can. It is so simple you only need a few ingredients. 🙂
Lisa
This might be a really silly question, but... boil the yucca first? Till it's semi soft, or really soft?
Vanessa
Hi Lisa, you can boil the yuca if you'll like but it's not necessary. They will be completely cooked through after frying.