Carimañolas Recipe (Yuca Fritters)
Carimañola is a savory snack from Colombia and Panama, offering a South American twist on the classic meat pie.
Ingredients
- Ground beef or pork – 1 lb
- Onion (finely chopped) – 1
- Garlic (minced) – 2 cloves
- Red bell pepper (finely chopped) – 1
- Tomato (finely chopped) – 1
- Cumin – 1 tsp
- Paprika – 1 tsp
- Salt and pepper – to taste
- Olive oil – 2 tbsp
- Green olives (optional) (chopped, for extra flavor) – to taste
- Yuca (cassava) (peeled and grated) – 2 lbs
- Egg – 1
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Vegetable oil – for frying
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion, garlic, and red bell pepper. Cook until softened.
- Add ground beef or pork to the skillet and cook until browned.
- Stir in chopped tomato, cumin, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together. If using green olives, add them to the filling mixture.
- Remove from heat and let the filling cool while you prepare the dough.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine grated yuca, egg, and salt. Mix until well combined and a dough-like consistency form.
- Take a small portion of the yuca dough and flatten it in your palm. Place a spoonful of the meat filling in the center.
- Fold the dough over the filling to enclose it, shaping it into a cylindrical or oval shape. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or large skillet to 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully place the shaped carimañolas into the hot oil, frying in batches until golden brown and crispy, about 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Serve the carimañolas hot, either as a snack or appetizer, with your favorite dipping sauce or salsa.
Nutrition
Calories: 158kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 5gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 190mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g
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