Best Yuca Stew Recipes

SLOW-COOKER BEEF STEW WITH YUCA

Steps:

• Place the beef in a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange the yuca, squash and Cubanelle pepper around the beef in a single layer. Combine the tomato sauce, 1/2 cup water, the cilantro stems, garlic, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a small bowl. Pour all over the meat and vegetables. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and easy to pull apart, 8 hours.
• Meanwhile, thinly slice the red onion. Bring the vinegar, 1/2 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat and stir in the red onion, submerging the slices. Let cool, then transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Remove the meat to a plate and shred into bite-size chunks with 2 forks, discarding any large pieces of fat. Skim off any excess fat from the remaining stew in the slow cooker. Stir the meat back into the stew and season with salt and pepper. Divide among bowls. Top with the chopped cilantro leaves. Drain the pickled red onion and serve with the stew.

YUCA STEW

Steps:

• Place yuca into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until soft enough to mash, 25 minutes to 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels.
• Drain and mash the yuca. Heat olive oil and canola oil in a stockpot over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic until onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mashed yuca, water, salt, and harissa. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until stew is thickened, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Insert an immersion blender into the stew and puree until smooth. Crumble bacon into the stew and stir in watercress. Turn off heat, cover, and let rest for a few minutes. Serve warm.

FISH AND YUCA STEW WITH PICKLED ONIONS

Steps:

• Cook yuca:
• If using fresh yuca, remove peel and pink flesh using a vegetable peeler. Cover fresh or frozen yuca with salted cold water in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, until yuca begins to split, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer yuca with a slotted spoon to a cutting board, reserving water in pan. Cut into 1-inch wedges, pulling out and discarding tough core. Return yuca to cooking water and simmer, covered, until tender and completely translucent, 15 to 25 minutes more.
• Make pickled onions while yuca cooks:
• Cover onion with boiling-hot water in a heatproof bowl and let stand 15 minutes. Drain onion and return to bowl. Add lime juice and salt, tossing to coat, and let stand at least 5 minutes before serving.
• Make fish stew while yuca finishes cooking:
• Bring water, tomatoes, cilantro, cumin, and 3/4 teaspoon salt to a boil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Toss fish with remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and stir into broth. Cook, uncovered, over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until fish is just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. 3Drain yuca and divide among 4 large soup bowls. Ladle fish stew over yuca and top with some of pickled onions.