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    Home » Recipes » Appetizers » Yuca Fritters (Arepitas de Yuca)

    Yuca Fritters (Arepitas de Yuca)

    Last Updated: Aug 8, 2022

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    yuca fritters stacked on a plate with blue towel on the side

    Arepitas de yuca or yuca fritters are a popular crispy and savory treat in the Dominican Republic that are perfect as a snack, appetizer, or side dish for any meal!

    yuca fritters stacked on a white plate

    Let me tell you a little secret. I'm obsessed with yuca. I cook with it a lot and buy it on every single one of my grocery trips. Yuca fritters are my absolute favorite recipe made with yuca. It's my appetizer of choice every single time, and my kids love it. I've made this recipe so often, it is one I have fully mastered over the years. 

    I perfected this recipe to the point where I can almost make it with my eyes closed. It’s great as a snack, an appetizer, or even as a side dish for any meal. It is a highly requested side dish whenever I’m expected to bring a dish to any gathering. I’m sure you and everyone in your family will love them too! 

    Try my stuffed yuca balls or boiled yuca for more yuca recipes. 

    What are arepitas de yuca?

    Arepitas de yuca, or yuca fritters, are frequently offered as a side dish to any lunch or dinner meal in the Dominican Republic. They are crunchy yet soft and so tasty.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    If you enjoy simple filling foods that you can eat with your fingers like fries, wings, or empanadas, this is the perfect treat for you. Arepitas de yuca is the perfect dish for a delicious appetizer or a side dish. You can even enjoy it as your main meal if you’re looking for something to satisfy your hunger. It’s also the perfect blend of crunchy and an inner soft interior.

    yuca fritters ingredients on a board

    Ingredients 

    • Grated yuca - make sure the yuca is washed and peeled prior to grating. You can also get yuca that is already grated. You can find it in the freezer aisle at your local grocery store. 
    • Egg - used as a binder for the yuca mixture. 
    • Anise seeds - Adds a distinctive licorice flavor. This is a must-have ingredient for authentic Dominican arepitas. However, if you are allergic to it or just don’t like it, you can simply leave it out. 
    • Butter - this ensures that the yuca fritters stay soft on the inside while maintaining their crispiness on the outside. 
    • Sugar - Sometimes, if the yuca is not fresh, it can have a bit of a bitter taste. Adding a little bit of sugar to the mixture helps balance any bitterness from the yuca. 
    • Salt - for flavor.
    • Vegetable oil - this is used for frying the arepitas.

    How to Make Arepitas de Yuca

    Grating the yuca. Grate the yuca using the smallest size of the grater. If you use the larger side of the grater, you’ll end up getting arañitas de yuca instead, which will result in a crispier fritter. 

    Preparing the mixture. Combine the yuca, egg, butter, anise seed, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix it all together with a spoon until well combined.

    Frying the yuca fritters. Heat up vegetable oil in a medium frying pan over medium heat. Place about 1 tablespoon of the mixture in the oil, separately. Cook the fritters for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel to remove excess grease.

    peeling yuca using a knife

    Serving Suggestions

    These delicious yuca fritters can be enjoyed as a side dish or appetizer. Are you serving dinner? Serve it alongside my arroz con maiz (rice with corn) and pollo guisado. You can also try dipping them in my creamy cilantro dressing recipe for a tasty snack. 

    Storage Tips

    You can store the fritters in a safe sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before they begin to lose their freshness. To reheat, you can put it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 5-8 minutes. 

    arepitas de yuca served on a plate on the table

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Yuca?

    Yuca is the most commonly used word in Spanish to name the starchy, fibrous, edible root of the cassava plant. The cassava plant is cultivated in tropical regions and its roots are rich in starch and contain a great amount of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C. 

    The Yuca can be prepared fried or boiled. It can be made into purees, as a casserole ingredient, or added into stews such as this awesome Sancocho (Caribbean Meats and Vegetables Stew). It can be used as dough for empanadas or even made into flour used for bread, cookies, and cakes. It goes well with any type of meat, eggs, and even cheese, like in these Cheese-Stuffed Yuca Balls. Did I mention you can also add cheese to this recipe for arepitas de yuca?

    Where can I buy yuca?

    Yuca root can be bought at your local grocery store in the produce section. Be sure not to get it confused with yautia, as both root vegetables look very alike! You can also find it in the freezer aisle, where it’s sold frozen, already peeled and cut into chunks, and also grated. 

    How to know if yuca is good?

    Cooking with yuca can be a little tricky. Sometimes, if the yuca is not fresh, it can taste a bit bitter after cooking. To check if the yuca is still good, remove the tip to expose the flesh. If the flesh is fully white, then you've got a good yuca. However, the yuca is past its prime if you can see black lines, specks, or discoloration that run throughout.

    If you want to know more about this delicious root vegetable, how to peel it, and how to cook it, check out my complete yuca guide. 

    Recipe Notes and Tips

    • If you’re looking to minimize time, you can prepare the batter and store it covered in the refrigerator for up to two days until you’re ready to fry them.
    • You can also add cheese to the fritter mixture to add more flavor and gooiness. I like to add about ¼ cup shredded mild cheddar cheese, but Gouda or mozzarella work great as well. 

    Other Recipes You May Enjoy

    • Boiled Yuca with Sauté Onions
    • Cheese-Stuffed Yuca Balls
    • Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup with Yuca
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    Yuca Fritters (Arepitas de Yuca)

    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 228kcal
    Print Recipe
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
    Cuisine: caribbean, Dominican
    Author: Vanessa
    5 from 2 votes
    yuca fritters stacked on a plate with blue towel on the side
    A popular crispy and savory treat in the Dominican Republic that are perfect as a snack, appetizer, or side dish for any meal!

    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 pound yuca, grated
    • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
    • 1 large egg, beaten
    • 1 teaspoon anise seed
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
    • 1 cup vegetable oil, for frying

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Grate the yuca using the smallest size of the grater.
    • Combine the yuca, butter, egg, anise seed, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Mix together with a spoon until well combined.
    • Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
    • Place about 1 tablespoon of the yuca mixture in the oil, separately. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the fritter has turned golden brown.
    • Tranfer to a plate lined with a paper towel to remove excess grease.
    • Serve immediately.

    NOTES

    • If you’re looking to minimize time, you can prepare the batter and store it covered in the refrigerator for up to two days until you’re ready to fry them.
    • You can also add cheese to the fritter mixture to add more flavor and gooiness. I like to add about ¼ cup shredded mild cheddar cheese, but Gouda or mozzarella work great as well. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 635mg | Potassium: 331mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 163IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

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    I’m a working mom, whose love for food led me to start this blog as a resource for other busy parents. I’m passionate about creating quick and easy versions of the recipes I grew up eating to share with busy parents who want to cook foods filled with Latin flavors that don’t take a ton of time to prepare.

    It is my mission to show you that you can make great flavorful dishes at home without spending the entire day in the kitchen.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. smd

      August 08, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      In asia we make this yuca fritters as dessert or snack. We make it sweeter.

      Reply
    2. Jean

      July 05, 2020 at 10:27 am

      5 stars
      I live in Costa Rica where yuca is plentiful and inexpensive. This is the first time I've ever cooked it! My fritters were delicious! I had no star anise so I added a sprinkle of cinnamon and grated a few cloves. It gave it a nice flavor. They were savory without being sweet. Had this as a side dish with baked chicken. For sure I will make these again. Such an easy recipe with so few ingredients!

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        July 28, 2020 at 6:39 pm

        Sounds yummy! Glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for the comment. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Rocio

      December 21, 2019 at 10:08 pm

      Recipe sounds yummy. Cant wait to try it . Is the yuca raw? When you grate it?

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        December 30, 2019 at 12:39 pm

        Hi Rocio,
        Yes, the yuca is raw when I grate it. 🙂

        Reply
    4. ALe

      April 05, 2019 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      I' m gonna try this for sure! The look to die for.

      Reply
    5. Silvia

      April 01, 2019 at 2:20 am

      5 stars
      I'm obsessed with yuca as well and these fritters are the bomb!

      Reply
    6. Kate

      March 27, 2019 at 4:37 pm

      5 stars
      I don't think I've ever cooked with yuca before, but this sounds so good, I can't wait to try it! Do you think I could use olive oil instead of butter? My husband has a dairy allergy.

      Reply
      • Vanessa

        April 06, 2019 at 10:33 am

        You can skip the butter. I add a bit of butter because it helps make the masa smooth after frying. But you can certainly go without and they’ll still be delicious. 😊

        Reply
    7. Enriqueta E Lemoine

      March 15, 2019 at 6:11 pm

      5 stars
      I adore yuca, como me la pongan!

      Reply
    8. Karyl Henry

      March 18, 2016 at 8:09 pm

      I love fried yucca, but never tried them as fritters before. I'll definitely need to try them that way. Thanks so much for this recipe

      Reply

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    HOLA & WELCOME

    hi im vanessa

    I grew up learning to cook traditional Dominican food, and I believe in the power of a good meal to bring a family together.

    As a busy mom, my goal is to show you that time or culinary skills don’t have to stand in the way of cooking delicious meals at home for your family.

    I’ll help you bring these craveable and comforting flavors into your busy life!

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