Makes 24
Ingredients
5 cups yucca, boiled and mashed
Vegetable oil
1 tablespoon salt, plus more
2 cloves garlic, chopped fine
1 medium yellow onion, chopped fine
1 jalapeno pepper, deseeded and chopped fine
1 green bell pepper, deseeded and chopped fine
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped fine
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped fine
2 tablespoons tomato paste (or 1 plum tomato chopped fine)
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1-3 tablespoons hot sauce of choice
Directions
Mix the salt with the yucca and set aside. In a large sauté pan heat a small amount of vegetable oil (about 3-4 tablespoons) on high heat. Add the garlic onions , jalapeño pepper and green pepper and sauté for a few minutes, or until onions are semi translucent. Add the ground beef and continue to sauté until ground beef is fully browned or about 3-4 more minutes. Add fresh herbs. Add the tomatoes or tomato paste and all the spices and hot sauce and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes or until all liquid is cooked out of the beef mixture. Cool beef mixture. Form yucca mash into about 3 inch long circular shapes in the palm of your hand. Place a tablespoon of the beef minute in the middle and form the yucca mash around the beef mixture in the shape of an oval. Make sure there is a tight seal and all beef is in the inside of the yucca mash. Set aside. After all yucca mash patties are made, heat about 2 cups of vegetable oil in a large sauté pan until hot, Place yucca patties in the hot frying pan and fry on each side about 3 minutes each or until golden brown. When browned place on paper towels to drain off excess oil. Serve with Panamanian Salsa Chombo.
Panamanian Salsa Chombo
Makes approximately 2 ½ cups
Ingredients
4-5 Aji Chombo peppers (scotch bonnet peppers), stems removed
½ inch piece of fresh turmeric, peeled and sliced
1 small yellow onion, chopped
½ cup water
1 cup white vinegar
½ cup yellow mustard
2 tablespoons salt
Directions
Place all ingredients in medium saucepan and bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Place in blender and puree until smooth.
Recipe courtesy of Jacques Gautier, Palo Santo