Thursday, April 14, 2011

How to cook Cassava?




So believe it or not I have never cooked with cassava! Yes I am from the Caribbean and we eat it all the time there, as well as here in South Florida where I am now, but for some reason I myself have never bought and prepared it. Last weekend at the market as I went to pick up my regular potatoes, I noticed this intimidating (to me!) root vegetable, and figured I might as well try it.

So yes I admit I jumped online to search how to cook cassava (also called yucca or manioc). Did I have to peel that tough looking skin? My search revealed that yes you peel the skin, and that boiling or frying the cassava seemed to be the most popular ways to prepare it. I was happy that my flimsy looking vegetable peeler actually peeled off that tough skin. It took a little more muscle to cut it into rounds, but soon I had them boiling away in a pot of salted water. It cooked until tender, about 25 minutes. After I tried to recreate a mojo-like sauce to go on top of it, and came up with my Honey Lime Dressing.


HONEY LIME DRESSING


¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tbsp cilantro, chopped

juice from 1 lime

2 tsp honey

a pinch of salt


1. In a small pan over medium heat, heat olive oil. Add onion and garlic, and let cook for 5 minutes.

2. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro, lime juice, honey and salt.

3. Drizzle over boiled cassava.








3 comments:

  1. I followed you from the foodie blog roll and I'd love to guide Foodista readers to your site. I hope you could add this cassava widget at the end of this post so we could add you in our list of food bloggers who blogged about cassava recipes,Thanks!

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  2. How did this come out K? I too am always nervous about cassava...I have yet to introduce Rob to this root...lol

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  3. It came out really good Saf. I was surprised at myself for not cooking with it before! It was pretty simple to cook with.

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