Attieke (Fermented Cassava) with Chicken, Tomatoes, and Onions (Gluten-Free, Grain-Free)

Attieke (Fermented Cassava) with Chicken, Tomatoes, and Onions (Gluten-Free, Grain-Free)

Cooked attieke, chicken, tomato and onion topping each in separate bowls.

There are endless ways to enjoy yuca/cassava, as it’s eaten in so many parts of the world in various different ways! Attieke is fermented, grated cassava. It’s a staple street food of the people who live along the Ivory Coast of West Africa. Attieke is similar in consistency to couscous, with an added subtle sour taste (as a result of the fermentation) which I found to be a delicious, new flavor not typical of American cooking! Just imagine – a gluten-free, grain-free side dish that’s actually feeding your beneficial gut bacteria!!! I get incredibly excited every time I learn of a new way to eat yuca! This recipe is so quick and easy, I know it will become a regular weeknight meal in my house!

If you’re lucky enough to live near an African market, you can buy Attieke frozen. Otherwise, it can be purchased dried in a box.

This recipe will demonstrate how to make attieke from a boxed brand. Knowing that I love all things yuca, my daughter brought me a box of Nayama Attieke, and we recreated a recipe similar to the one she often makes with a friend whose mother is from the Ivory Coast. We all LOVED it!! Although I was told (on a comment on Instagram) that no African from the Ivory Coast would eat boxed attieke, it was truly delicious, convenient, and a super healthy dish! Check out Nayama Natural Attieke by clicking below:

 

Nayama Natural Attieke

A box of Nayama Attiteke

 

Preparing the AttiekeCooked attieke close up.

Attieke Ingredients:

-Box of Nayama Attieke

-filtered water

pink Himalayan salt (chosen because of its high mineral content)

-1 tablespoon avocado oil

Attieke Instructions:

1. In a bowl, simply mix equal amounts attieke and water and let sit for a minute or two until the water is fully absorbed.

2. Cover attieke and heat in a microwave until warm (about 2-3 minutes.)

3. Season to taste. We chose to simply add 1 tablespoon avocado oil and a pinch or two of pink Himalayan salt.

That’s it! The attieke is now ready to be added to our dish!

 

Attieke is typically served with chicken or fish, and either the attieke or the protein is seasoned with hot peppers, onions, and garlic. We chose to keep the attieke simple, and make a scrumptious flavored chicken, along with a raw onion and tomato topping. We then layered them all together. This worked out perfectly! Since we used a store-bought organic rotisserie chicken, this meal took no more than 20 minutes to assemble! #Weeknightrecipe!!!

 

Preparing the Chicken Shredded organic chicken with onions, garlic, and jalapeños for attieke.

Chicken Ingredients:

-whole, store-bought organic rotisserie chicken or my Easy Go-to Crockpot Chicken  – shredded

-1 organic onion – chopped

-3 organic garlic cloves – minced

-2 jalapeño peppers – minced

-chili powder – to taste

-1 tablespoon avocado oil

-1 teaspoon Jada Spices Chicken Salt (While a Maggi cube is typically used in authentic attieke dishes, they’re filled with hydrogenated oils and MSG. (A big no-no in my kitchen!) I use Jada Spices Chicken Salt in all recipes that call for bullion-type seasoning. It provides all the flavor with all natural ingredients! Check out Jada Spices Chicken Salt by clicking below:

 

Jada Spices Chicken Salt

Jada Spices Chicken Salt Original - 3 pack

 

Chicken Instructions:

Heat large frying pan with avocado oil. Add chopped onions along with minced garlic and jalapeños. Saute for 2-3 minutes. Add cooked, shredded chicken. Add chili powder and Jada Spices Chicken Salt. Blend fully. Cook for a few minutes just until chicken is warm.

 

Preparing the Raw Tomato and Onion ToppingChopped tomato and onion topping for attieke.

 

Topping Ingredients:

-1 organic sweet onion – chopped

-2 organic tomatoes – chopped

-1-2 teaspoons olive or avocado oil

-pinch of pink Himalayan salt

Topping Instructions:

While chicken is warming up, chop raw onion and tomatoes. Add oil and salt. Mix it all together. (It doesn’t get any easier than that!)

 

Put it all together!

Place warm attieke on the bottom of dish. Then layer with shredded chicken and tomato/onion topping.

Enjoy!!!

Attieke with chicken, tomatoes and onions in gray bowl.

 

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5 from 3 votes
Attieke (Fermented Cassava) with Chicken, Tomatoes, and Onions (Gluten-Free, Grain-Free)
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

Attieke is fermented, grated cassava. It's a staple street food along the Ivory Coast of West Africa. It's similar in consistency to couscous, with an added subtle sour taste, not typical of American cooking. In this dish, attieke is added to a flavorful shredded organic chicken, and topped with raw tomatoes and sweet onions. Quick and easy, healthy and delicious!

Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: African
Keyword: attieke, attieke and chicken, couscous, fermented cassava, fermented yuca, gluten-free, Grain-Free, Ivory Coast, West African cooking
Servings: 4
Author: Lauren from Crazy For Yuca
Ingredients
Attieke Ingredients:
  • Box of Nayama Attieke
  • filtered water
  • pink Himalayan salt (chosen because of its high mineral content)
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
Chicken Ingredients:  
  • whole, store-bought organic rotisserie chicken or my Easy Go-to Crockpot Chicken - shredded
  • 1 organic onion - chopped
  • 3 organic garlic cloves - minced
  • 2 jalapeño peppers - minced
  • chili powder - to taste
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon Jada Spices Chicken Salt (While a Maggi cube is typically used in authentic attieke dishes, they're filled with hydrogenated oils and MSG. I use Jada Spices Chicken Salt in all recipes that call for bullion-type seasoning. All the flavor, all natural ingredients!
Topping Ingredients:
  • 1 organic sweet onion - chopped
  • 2 organic tomatoes - chopped
  • 1-2 teaspoons olive or avocado oil
  • pinch of pink Himalayan salt
Instructions
Attieke Instructions:
  1. In a bowl, simply mix equal amounts attieke and water and let sit for a minute or two until the water is fully absorbed.

  2. Cover attieke and heat in a microwave until warm (about 2-3 minutes.) 

  3. Season to taste. We chose to simply add 1 tablespoon avocado oil and a pinch or two of pink Himalayan salt.

Chicken Instructions:
  1. Heat large frying pan with avocado oil. 

  2. Add chopped onions, minced garlic and jalapeños. Saute for 2-3 minutes. 

  3. Add cooked, shredded chicken, chili powder and Jada Spices Chicken Salt. Blend fully and heat for a few minutes just until chicken is warm.

Topping Instructions:
  1. chop raw onion and tomatoes. 

  2. Add oil and salt. Mix it all together. 

Put it all together!
  1. Place warm attieke on the bottom of dish. Then layer with shredded chicken and tomato/onion topping.

  2. Enjoy!

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DisclaimerAt Crazy for Yuca I write about my own personal health and diet journey.  My experience and recipes are not to be considered expert advice or suggestive that anyone follow any particular diet protocol. Each person’s body and medical issues are individual and need to be evaluated by a medical professional. If you have any concerns due to your specific diagnoses, please consult your doctor before eating yuca.

 

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6 thoughts on “Attieke (Fermented Cassava) with Chicken, Tomatoes, and Onions (Gluten-Free, Grain-Free)”

  • 5 stars
    I did major research to find attieke in the San Jose, CA area. I found just one place, a small African grocery store. They sold the box you mention and sold frozen. So I bought 2 bags of the frozen. I just microwaved with a little olive oil and chicken broth. I love it. I didn’t make your recipe but I stuck with the concept and added leftover turkey and made a side salad. It seems so crazy that we can’t readily get natural food like this. So much healthier than couscous, right?!

    • I’m so glad you enjoyed the attieke! I think it will become easier to find cassava products once more Americans discover how awesome they are!! And it’s my mission to spread the word! I agree that they are much healthier than grains and are so yummy!!

  • 5 stars
    Wow…..I finally tried this! Its delicious!! and one of the quickest meals to make! I just used some organic chicken cutlets and cooked them quick in broth. Everything else took about 5 minutes!! SO tasty! I Highly recommend this meal!

  • 5 stars
    I’m so super excited to read this blog and the reviews!!! I’m Ivorian and I can correct what people told you on Instagram I do eat boxed attieke. I live in a region where frozen attieke isn’t readily attainable so boxed attieke is a great alternative and some brands are really delicious 😋. You can also have attieke with fish soup, vegetables soup etc. Keep spreading the good news about attieke. Love it

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