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Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries

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Don’t let the “tough” exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries!

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

I may be just a little too overly excited about this post 😛 You should be excited too; why else would you be reading? I usually introduce a new food to you and then give you some recipes, but this time, I did it reversed. When I posted my Cassava Crusted Chicken last week, it sparked a lot of conversation about exactly “cassava” was. To clear things up right off the bat, cassava and yucca (yuca <— it’s spelled with 2 c’s, not one!) are the same thing, just different names depending on the region. And tapioca is the extracted starch from the yucca root.

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

Now, the next thing is to not be sacred when you see this root in the produce section of the store. It is big, long, and brown. The outside bark is super hard and looks like the outside of a tree (with a protective wax coating), but you’ll be peeling that off! I usually pick up 2-3 yucca roots every week and when I go to check out my groceries, the cashiers always ask me…”What is this???”. But obviously I must not be the only one buying the yucca as they keep stocking it! I also like that they’re right next to the plantains so I can grab both of my favorite non-potato starches at once 😉

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

So, yucca is native to Brazil, but cultivated in arid regions of North America (deserts!), Central and South American, as well as the Caribbean. It’s a very high starch, fibrous, root, but also super delicate and can bruise or go bad very easily. Sometimes they’re super long, sometimes super thick, sometimes super thin. I never know what to expect at the store. If they’re too big for me, I break them off to the size I want! The inside is white and when cooked and baked (as I’ll show you below), becomes a bit tanner, has a sweet nutty taste, crisp outside, but super soft “chewy” creamy inside!

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

Now, if you’re looking for a low calorie low-carb grain-free option, this is not for you. Yucca has twice the calories of a potato, with 160 calories and 38g of carbohydrates per 100g of yucca root. However, it’s high in Vitamin C, B vitamins, minerals (like copper and iron), and potassium. It’s a tuber so it’s also (obviously) gluten-free and paleo. Yucca is a resistant starch so it keeps you full and is digested slowly. Yucca makes a great option for carbing up and refueling (or pre-fueling) for an intense workout too!

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

Yucca can simply be boiled and then mashed for making tortillas and breads, like plantains. It can also be dried and made into the famous cassava flour. The flour is actually a pretty close 1-to-1 replacement of wheat flour! Baking with it is super easy, being a godsend to gluten/grain-free and paleo people (I have recipes to share soon!). It may just be me, but I love the smell of cassava flour! It can also be fried and made into crunchy chips as a killer alternative to potato chips (i.e. my recipe). Grilled, fried, mashed, baked, steamed, really any way you cook it up will be good, but baked fries…the best!

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

Here’s the kicker. If you don’t cook it properly, you could kill yourself. It should never ever be eaten raw (that would be hard to do anyway!). This is why, “Cassava should never be eaten raw as the root composes small quantities of cyanogenic glycosides, especiallyhydroxycyanic acid. Cyanide compounds interfere with cellular metabolism by inhibiting the cytochrome-oxidase enzyme inside the human body. Peeling followed by cooking ensures them safe for consumption by removing these compounds.” (source). It’s okay though, I’ll show you how to not die of cyanide poisoning!

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

Simple, peel the tough brown bark off the yucca root with a vegetable peeler, cut it into fries with a sharp knife (it is tough!). Boil in a pot of water (this is key), and bake! The boiling is not only essential for getting rid of the toxins, but it also leads to the greatest baked fries you will ever have the pleasure of dipping into a bowl of ketchup! I don’t even season my fries! You don’t need to (you can, but it is not necessary in the least!) The sweet nutty flavor is so spectacular on its own. Dipped in some ketchup and I am SUCH a happy yucca-loving girl!

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

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Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries

Don’t let the “tough” exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

  • Author: Rebecca Pytell
  • Cook Time: 30 mins
  • Total Time: 30 mins
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American, Caribbean, South American
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 Large Yucca Root

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  2. Bring 2-3 cups of water to a boil on the stove, while you peel the outside brown bark off the yucca root.
  3. Next, chop off the top “stem” and bottom tip of the yucca root, then into thick cut fries. Any shape will do, at any thickness you prefer.
  4. Place the yucca fries into the boiling water and cover. Boil for about 8-10 minutes until fork tender. The longer you boil them, the softer and creamier they are after you bake them.
  5. Drain the yucca root and place the boiled fries on a parchment lined baking sheet.
  6. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, flip, and bake another 5-10 minutes.
Recipe Card powered by

Baked Yucca (Cassava) Fries | Strength and Sunshine @RebeccaGF666 Don't let the "tough" exterior scare you. Yucca (Cassava) root is one delicious plant starch to add to your diet. When prepared properly, you can make the best baked , crispy, creamy, yucca (cassava) fries! Gluten-free, paleo, vegan, and Whole 30 approved side dish!

 So if you prepare your fresh yucca root this way, you won’t die…promise 😉 Although, I am the girl who eats “potentially” dangerous foods without a second thought (i.e. mango skins, sprouted beans, etc.) In all seriousness though, these baked yucca (cassava) fries will change you life. If I were to rank the 3 starch-based baked fries, it would be #3 potato, #2 plantain, and #1 yucca! That may surprise you since potatoes are my love child, but I’m telling you, baked yucca fries are love at first bite! (And please…dip them in ketchup! So BEYOND good!)

So tell me:

+ Have you ever had fresh yucca root?

+ Favorite “fry”? Yucca…hands down!

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Comments

  10. sydneyv@yahoo.com says

    My husband is from Fiji and he introdcued to me to casava when we first met. I’m not a big fan of it baked but I do like it boiled. Or we fry pieces and then toss it in raw pounded garlic with chili and sea salt. Not so healthy but an amazing treat!

    Reply

  11. kimmythevegan says

    You always keep things fresh in the kitchen! You’re always bringing us fun, new things to try and showing us where it came from and how to prepare it. I especially appreciate the tips on how not to kill myself haha ;p
    I have seen this at the store and I have most definitely been intimidated by it so I’m glad you posted this. I am not scared of carbs! And think this would make an excellent part of a post-run supper =)

    Reply

  18. Faith VanderMolen says

    This is seriously one of my favorite foods! I would always ask for this when traveling in Africa, but have never made it myself. Not sure why, cause it so easy and Yuca is everywhere here in China! Thanks for the recipe:)

    Reply

  22. Nikki Frank-Hamilton says

    LOL! Reading the comments I see that I’m way behind on the Cassava trend! I haven’t had the chips or the fries! Where have I been! Pinned and Yummed this, going to look for some cassava of my own, what doesn’t kill you must be really delish! LOL

    Reply

  23. Mel@avirtualvegan.com says

    I have never tried cassava but you have inspired me to pick some up next time I visit my wonderful green grocer. I have see it there but always walked on by. I love starchy foods like potatoes so I think it’s right up my street!

    Reply

  26. Donna says

    You know what, I have never tried cooking with cassava (I am not even sure if I have tried it). I have been noticing it in my local store lately, now I will have to buy some and give this a go! Love being introduced to new ingredients 🙂

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Bake it!!!! It gets so crispy on the outside and then you bite into that sweet creaminess…swoon!

      Reply

  35. Jenn says

    I have never tried yucca before. I wouldn’t have known what to do with it, but I do know my local grocer sells it. I’ll pick one up next time I’m there!

    Reply

  41. Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says

    I keep meaning to try these, Rebecca. I don’t think I’ve seen them in the grocery store though. I’ll have to pay more attention. I love the description of the taste and I’m in with any healthy substitute for fries! Enjoy your weekend, friend. xoxo

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Look! I bet you’ll find them in a hidden corner 😉 They are so good though and you’ll be addicted!
      Have a lovely V-day!!!!

      Reply

  45. Trish says

    I have never had yucca before, but love trying new foods … this looks really delicious!

    BTW I know I have said this before, but you do the most amazing food photography, too!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      I hope you find them!!! ( I don’t shop at whole food’s and the times I have, I never saw yucca :/ )

      Reply

  49. Sarah James says

    I loved your post last week, I can’t find Yucca root in France or the UK but I do have a few yucca plants in my garden, I’m going to investigate. Thanks Rebecca for sharing a delicious recipe with so much interesting information.

    Reply

  50. neil@neilshealthymeals.com says

    I love trying out new foods of all kinds, but this one I definitely can’t get here in the U.K.

    Even on our travels, I asked Lynne and she can’t recall seeing this.

    So. Next time we go to a tropical destination we will be on the lookout for this. So thanks for bringing Cassava to my attention.! 🙂

    Reply

  51. Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says

    I love trying out different kinds of vegetable fries! This sounds like another good one to add to the list!

    Reply

  54. Regina says

    Yum! My husband grew up un South America so I’ve has cassava at my mother-in-law’s house. She boiled it though. I bet baking them into fried would be soo much better!

    Reply

  56. Healing Tomato says

    Growing up, this was a staple in our home. We would eat the yucca fries with cayenne pepper when we came home from school. Sometimes we would drizzle lemon juice. Your recipe brings back so many wonderful memories. I will make these for my family.

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      Ah, bringing the heat and I could see how the lemon juice would be fantastic! I’m glad I brought back dome happy yucca memories, my friend 😉

      Reply

  60. Linda @ Veganosity says

    I’m always a bit skeptical about eating foods that can kill me if not prepared properly. After reading this I’m 98% convinced that I should try these. Then again, I could just cut up some potatoes. 🙂 Just kidding! These look and sound great!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      I’ve finally nailed down parsnip fries these past few weeks! They always came out sad and…chewy?? But now, I’m getting them to work every time!

      Reply

  63. Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says

    Hi yucca/cassava, it’s nice to meet you and get to know you better! I pass by the cassava in the grocery store all the time, but I don’t think i ever put two and two together that that is what it was haha 😀 MY favorite way to try all new starches or squashes or veggies is in fry form. Everything is so good in fry form because ketchup-ibilities 😉 And I am coming to love tapioca flour, so I need to be better acquainted with it’s whole form! Funny how it has so many names though, no wonder we are all confused :/ Your crispy and creamy description has me very intrigued though…!

    Reply

    • Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says

      We should try dipping these in your noochy filled pesto 😉 (but with a side of ketchup too…can’t even be left out! Ketchup cries when it’s forgotten!)
      I really want you to make some yucca fries!!! These are just another thing that WILL change your life 😉 (and hopefully not kill you in the process!) hahaha!

      Reply

  66. Lu Ann @ The Cup of Life says

    the “tough” exterior is the exact reason why I’ve never tried yucca before. however, recently, I saw a recipe for vegan bacon using them that I thought would be neat to try. I’ll have to serve it up with yucca fries now too 🙂

    Reply

  77. Katrin says

    This looks interesting and it must be delicious! I’ve made yucca chips and love them, so I can imagine this must be awesome as well! Will have to make it!

    Reply

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Hey there, welcome to Strength and Sunshine! I’m Rebecca and I’m so glad you’re here! This is your go-to destination for delicious, fun, and (mostly) healthy gluten-free and allergy-free recipes, tips & tricks, advice, as well as celiac and food allergy coaching services!

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