... And all things wellness!
*** Do you want delicious pizza with a crispy crust and gooey cheese, but it just doesn’t fit into your healthy eating plan? Maybe you follow a gluten, grain, and /or dairy-free diet and have felt deprived of your beloved pizza! 🍕Perhaps you want a …
Are you gluten, grain, and/or dairy-free but love lasagna??? This Cassava Flour Pasta Lasagna is the answer to your prayers! Layers of sautéed vegetables and organic, grass-fed meat in between layers of homemade cassava flour fresh pasta! Healthy, “real food” Italian at its best!!! I …
Have you ever tried Hamantaschen??? They’re the wonderful, triangle shaped pastries traditionally eaten on the Jewish holiday of Purim! Hamantaschen are named for Haman, the villain in the story of Purim. I thought it would be fun to make a gluten, grain, and dairy-free version of these delicious cookies out of cassava flour! (Because anyone who knows me knows I must make cassava flour versions of EVERYTHING I enjoyed before I cut out gluten from my diet.) Why should healthy eaters miss out??? With cassava flour, there’s literally zero deprivation as a grain-free, paleo eater!!! 😃 Thank you cassava flour!!! 🙏
Hamantaschen are especially fun because they can be stuffed with a variety of possible fillings! While I filled mine with strawberry and apricot fruit spreads, the possibilities are endless! Back in the day, they were originally filled with poppy seeds, but these days people make them with all sorts of fruit fillings, prunes, chocolate, nuts, dates, raisins, figs, caramel… you name it!! You can get pretty creative with Hamantaschen! But I’m keeping things super simple here.
(Makes 18-20, 3 1/2″ cookies)
*Click on any needed ingredient to purchase
-1 1/2 cups cassava flour (I use Otto’s Cassava Flour)
-1 cage-free egg (I use a small duck egg since I’m sensitive to chicken eggs, but either can be used)
-1/2 cup organic maple syrup
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum
-1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt (chosen for its high mineral content)
-2/3 cup organic vegetable shortening (I use Spectrum Organic Vegetable Shortening)
-1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-1/4 cup filtered water
-Jelly or jam of choice for filling (I chose St. Dalfour Strawberry and Apricot Fruit Spreads– because they contains no added sugar!)
-circle cookie cutter or round glass with 3 – 3 1/2″ circumference
-rolling pin
-cookie sheet
Purchase Otto’s Cassava Flour by clicking here:
Instructions:
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees
-Blend dry ingredients in a large bowl (cassava flour, pink Himalayan salt, baking soda, and xanthan gum) with a spoon.
-In a small bowl blend egg, maple syrup, vanilla, and vegetable shortening with an electric mixer.
-Add water and continue mixing, first with a spoon, and then with your hands until a dough is formed.
-Roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper (to prevent dough from sticking to rolling pin) to about 1/8″ thick. If they’re too thick or thin, it will be difficult to form them into triangle shapes.
-Using a cookie cutter or glass, cut out 18-20 dough circles, re-rolling extra dough as needed until all dough is used.
-Place a spoonful of filling into the center of each dough circle. (I used St. Dalfour Strawberry Fruit Spread here.)
-Carefully begin folding the right end of each dough circle, while pinching it together between your thumb and forefinger, to form one corner of the Hamantaschen triangle. (see picture below)
-Then fold up the left side of the dough circle, using both hands to pinch dough together on each side to form the next 2 triangle corners. (See picture below.)
-Place each triangle Hamantaschen on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
-Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
-Enjoy!!!
Click here, or on the SHOP link in the menu bar above,to see the recommended pantry items and kitchen gadgets I personally use to make Crazy For Yuca recipes. Check out the yuca/cassava snacks – all personally taste tested and approved by me and my family!
By ordering recommended products through our website we get a small commission which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional cost to you. All recommended products are ones that meet my own personal standard for high quality and clean eating that I use in my own kitchen. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
Have you ever tried Hamantaschen??? They’re wonderful, triangle shaped pastries traditionally eaten on the Jewish holiday of Purim! Hamantaschen are named for Haman, the villain in the story of Purim. I thought it would be fun to make a gluten, grain, and dairy-free version of these delicious cookies out of cassava flour! Because anyone who knows me knows I must make cassava flour versions of EVERYTHING I enjoyed before I cut out gluten from my diet. Why should healthy eaters miss out??? With cassava flour, there’s literally zero deprivation as a grain-free, paleo eater!!! I filled mine with St. Dalfour Fruit Spread. What will you use to fill yours???
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Blend dry ingredients in a large bowl, including cassava flour, pink Himalayan salt, baking soda, and xanthan gum.
In a second bowl blend egg, maple syrup, vanilla, and palm shortening with an electric mixer.
Add the contents of the two bowls together, along with the water, and blend until a dough is formed. (Full blending will likely require using your hands if you do not have a stand mixer.)
Roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper (to prevent dough from sticking to rolling pin) to about 1/8″ thick. If dough is too thick or thin, it will be difficult to mold the circles created into triangle shapes.
Using a cookie cutter or glass, cut out 18-20 dough circles, re-rolling extra dough as needed until all dough is used.
Place a spoonful of filling into the center of each dough circle.
Carefully fold the right end of each dough circle while pinching it together between your thumb and forefinger to form one corner of the Hamantaschen triangle.
Then fold up the left side of the dough circle, while using both hands to pinch dough together on each side, forming the next 2 triangle corners.
Place each filled, Hamantaschen triangle on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes
Allow to cool before enjoying these delicious treats!
Disclaimer– In 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.
Welcome to the Crazy For Yuca… and All Things Wellness community! In honor of the 1 year anniversary of the creation of Crazy For Yuca, I thought it was time to get personal and connect with my followers in new ways! Hi! I’m Lauren, and I …
I was inspired to make these Stuffed Cassava Balls from a chat I had with my Guyanese friend Anita, who grew up eating yuca/cassava in many exciting ways! She always gives me great authentic recipe ideas. Of course her idea of a recipe is telling …
I can’t think of any better way to say Happy Chanukah than with Cassava Latkes!!! (Although they’re also the perfect appetizer or side dish any day of the year!) These latkes are crispy on the outside, and slightly chewy in the very center. DELICIOUS! These Cassava Latkes are eggless, gluten and grain-free, and since they’re made with yuca/cassava instead of potatoes, they have a much lower glycemic index than traditional potato latkes. (That’s a huge plus for people with blood sugar issues like me!)
I used Goya Frozen Grated Cassava, which made these latkes super easy to make – no grating! They can also be made by grating fresh yuca/cassava. So simple! So yummy! Especially with a dollop of applesauce!
I’m literally Crazy For Yuca, as this root vegetable can be made into an endless number of exciting things!!
Check out my pages: Getting to Know Yuca (Cassava) and Yuca (Cassava) Nutrition Facts
Just a few simple ingredients are needed to make Cassava Latkes!
-fresh yuca/cassava or frozen grated cassava. (I can often find Goya Frozen Grated Cassava at Wal-Mart)
*If using fresh yuca, check out my page: Buying, Storing, Peeling, & Cooking Fresh Yuca (Cassava.)
-onion
-fresh garlic
-oil (I used Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado oil)
-salt (I used pink Himalayan salt because of its high mineral content.)
-organic applesauce (I used Trader Joe’s)
Check out Julie’s full recipe by clicking link below.
Cassava Latkes With Applesauce & Coconut Sour Cream (Paleo, AIP, Vegan)
See below for other creative latke recipes using fresh yuca or cassava flour!
Bowl of grated cassava
Combine grated cassava, minced onion and garlic, salt, and oil (I also added a pinch of fresh black pepper.)
Place spoonfuls of the cassava mixture into pan to form desired sized latkes, once oil has been heated. Flatten so they aren’t too thick. The thinner they are, the crispier your latkes!
Once latkes brown all around the edges, flip and cook on the other side. They should be a nice golden color!
Once cooked on both sides, place on a plate covered with paper towel to remove excess oil. Be careful though, yuca is sticky and if any parts of the latkes aren’t fully browned they may stick a bit to the paper towel.
Serve!
Cassava Latke Taco!
Get creative with your latkes! Wrap them around taco seasoned organic, grass-fed beef and guacamole!
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*By ordering recommended products through our website we get a small percentage of the sale which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional charge to you. I only recommend products that I’ve personally tried, use in my own kitchen, and believe are high quality products. Thank you so much for supporting Crazy For Yuca’s efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
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Check out these other great gluten-free latke recipes that use either yuca/cassava or cassava flour!
Root Veggie Latkes: a combination of sweet potato, parsnips, beets & cassava flour by AmyMyersMD.com
Best Latke Recipe: made with a combination of potatoes and cassava flour by EverydayMaven.com
Sweet Potato Latkes: a combination of potatoes, sweet potatoes, & cassava flour by ZenBelly.com
Looking for a scrumptious, fudgy, brownie recipe? Look no further! These Chocolate Chip Peppermint Brownies are not only AWESOME, they’re gluten, grain, dairy, and soy-free! The peppermint adds an extra holiday feel, but these can be made any time of year! Not a …
Nothing says Fall like the smell of apples and cinnamon! And there’s nothing cozier than snuggling up with a baked apple crumble on a chilly day! This Apple Cassava Crumble is so quick and easy to make! Perfect for your next brunch, snack, dessert for Thanksgiving …
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:
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!!!
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:
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.
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!)
Place warm attieke on the bottom of dish. Then layer with shredded chicken and tomato/onion topping.
Enjoy!!!
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By ordering recommended products through our website we get a small percentage of the sale which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional charge to you. I only recommend products that I’ve personally tried, use in my own kitchen, and believe are high quality products. Thank you so much for supporting Crazy For Yuca’s efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
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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!
In a bowl, simply mix equal amounts attieke and water and let sit for a minute or two until the water is fully absorbed.
Cover attieke and heat in a microwave until warm (about 2-3 minutes.)
Season to taste. We chose to simply add 1 tablespoon avocado oil and a pinch or two of pink Himalayan salt.
Heat large frying pan with avocado oil.
Add chopped onions, minced garlic and jalapeños. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
Add cooked, shredded chicken, chili powder and Jada Spices Chicken Salt. Blend fully and heat for a few minutes just until chicken is warm.
chop raw onion and tomatoes.
Add oil and salt. Mix it all together.
Place warm attieke on the bottom of dish. Then layer with shredded chicken and tomato/onion topping.
Enjoy!
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Disclaimer– At 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.
Pasta made from cassava flour! Dreams really do come true!!! I couldn’t be more excited to add this homemade Cassava Flour Fresh Pasta to my yuca/cassava repertoire! I’ve been meaning to create a pasta recipe, but I’ve been too caught up in all my other …
Nothing says Fall like homemade pumpkin pie! Just because you’re gluten or dairy-free doesn’t mean you should miss out! These delicious, adorable Cassava Flour Pumpkin Tartlets rival any pumpkin pie out there! Made with Otto’s Cassava Flour, they’re not only gluten-free, but grain-free and paleo …
I like to think of Baked Stuffed Yuca as healthy stromboli – an Italian inspired gluten and grain-free yuca dough rolled around all “real food” nutritious ingredients! They can be made vegan by filling them with only veggies. I filled these with organic grass-fed beef, onions, fresh garlic, red peppers, heirloom tomatoes, spinach and herbs. These have all the nutrition of a full meal rolled into one impressive appetizer, side dish, or main dish! I love dipping these roll-ups in my favorite tomato sauce! YUM! The yuca makes a perfectly crispy, crunchy crust on the outside, while having a soft (almost cheese-like) consistency on the inside (yet these are dairy-free!) Baked Stuffed Yuca can be made ahead, refrigerated or frozen, then sliced and reheated when ready to serve. A true crowd pleaser!!
Ingredients below make one Baked Stuffed Yuca loaf that can be cut into about 10 pieces.
*Full printable recipe below*
-3/4 pound fresh or frozen yuca (I use frozen yuca)
-2 teaspoons avocado oil – divided (I use Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil)
-1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt – divided (Chosen for its high mineral content)
-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder – divided
-Optional – cage-free egg white – to use as an egg wash. Vegan option: Brush avocado oil on top of loaf just before placing it into oven.
-1 pound organic grass-fed beef (or ground turkey or chicken) *Omit for vegan option
-1 tablespoon avocado oil
-5 organic garlic cloves – minced
-1 organic red pepper – diced
-1 1/2 cups organic chopped tomatoes (I used heirloom cherry tomatoes, but any preferred tomato can be used.)
-2 cups organic frozen chopped spinach
-1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
-1 teaspoon organic dried parsley
-1 teaspoon organic dried basil
-1 teaspoon organic dried oregano
-1/4 teaspoon ground chili powder
-fresh ground pepper to taste
If using fresh yuca, it must first be peeled and cut into pieces before boiling. See my page: How to Peel Fresh Yuca
If using frozen yuca, it’s already peeled, cut, and ready to be boiled. There’s no need to even defrost it before boiling! Many find frozen yuca to be much more convenient. It’s typically found in the Goya frozen section at the supermarket.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, place yuca in pot. Ensure yuca is fully covered by water. Return to a boil, then cook 15-20 minutes until fork tender. *Do not to overcook! Overcooking will result in mushy, difficult to work with yuca! While yuca is cooking, prepare filling as directed below.
Once fork tender, drain boiled yuca in colander and allow to cool. When cool enough to handle, cut each piece of yuca in half lengthwise (top to bottom) and remove the stick-like stem that runs through the center.
Cut boiled yuca into chunks before placing into food processor. (See picture below)
*Pulverizing yuca in small batches will avoid overheating the machine. Place 1 heaping cup yuca chunks, 1 teaspoon avocado oil, 1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder in food processor at a time.
I use a Vitamix which works very well because of its tamper (a tool used to push the food down onto the blade while it spins.) If using a different food processor, the machine may need to be paused a few times to scrape yuca off the wall of the bowl so that it blends completely.
Check out the Vitamix Blender by clicking here:
Yuca chunks literally transform into dough in under a minute! (maybe a bit longer if a Vitamix isn’t being used.) It’s truly exciting to witness the first time you do it! Check out my little video below!
Once dough forms, spoon it onto a large piece of parchment paper. Beware – dough can be very sticky! Parchment paper is a non-stick surface which is needed to easily work with this dough. If dough seems too sticky to work with, wrap it in parchment and place into freezer for 5-10 minutes. It’s a miraculous trick to decrease the stickiness!
Using a rolling pin, roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper to about 1/4″ thickness.
-While the yuca is boiling, bring two frying pans to medium heat.
-In the first pan, brown the organic grass-fed beef (or other ground meat of choice) until no longer pink (about 7-10 minutes.) Omit for vegan option.
-In the second heated pan, place 1 tablespoon avocado oil, chopped organic onions and minced garlic cloves.
-Once onions begin to brown, add chopped red peppers and tomatoes. Cook 2-3 minutes.
-Add spinach, basil, oregano, parsley, chili powder, pink Himalayan salt, and pepper. Cover and saute for an additional 2-3 minutes until spinach becomes warm and wilted, and seasonings mingle.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place rolled out yuca dough, with parchment paper underneath, on counter or cutting board.
Spoon sauteed vegetables onto rolled out yuca dough, leaving a 1″ edge at the top. This will prevent filling from overflowing upon rolling, and allow dough to seal closed.
Spoon browned, ground meat over vegetables.
Starting at the end where the filling comes right up to the edge, carefully peel the edges of the dough away from parchment paper and begin to tightly roll dough around vegetables and meat (like a jelly roll.) Lift parchment slightly to help guide you.
Once dough and fillings are fully rolled up, pinch dough at the seam and at each end to form a seal.
Place on parchment lined baking sheet.
Brush loaf with the white of an egg (or with avocado oil for vegan option) to create an egg wash. This creates a nice shine and browning effect once baked.
Sprinkle loaf with a pinch of pink Himalayan salt, garlic powder, chili powder, and dried basil.
Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Flip and bake for an additional 10 minutes – until yuca crust is firm and slightly brown.
Note: Remove from oven and fully cool before cutting. This will ensure the pinwheel design will stay intact.
Baked stuffed yuca can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve. Simply remove from refrigerator (defrost if in freezer,) slice, then bake slices at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, flip, then bake for an additional 5 minutes. SOOOOO GOOD!!!!
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*By ordering recommended products through affiliate connections on our website we get a small percentage of the sale which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional charge to you. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
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I like to think of Baked Stuffed Yuca as healthy stromboli; a gluten and grain-free yuca dough rolled around all nutritious, "real food" ingredients! They can be made vegan by filling them with only the sautéed veggies. These were made with organic grass-fed beef, onions, garlic, red peppers, heirloom tomatoes, and spinach with lots of herbs. Baked Stuffed Yuca has all the nutrition of a full meal rolled into one impressive appetizer, side dish, or main entree! I love dipping these Italian-inspired roll-ups in my favorite tomato sauce! YUM! Make them ahead of time, refrigerate or freeze, then slice and reheat when ready to serve. A true crowd pleaser!!
If using frozen yuca, it’s already peeled, cut, and ready to be boiled. There’s no need to even defrost it before boiling! Many find frozen yuca to be much more convenient.
Cut up boiled yuca into small chunks before placing it into food processor. *Pulverize yuca in small batches to avoid overheating the machine (about 1 - 1 1/2 cups chopped yuca at a time.) Yuca turns into dough in about 30-60 seconds.
Once dough forms, place onto a cutting board lined with parchment paper. *Note: dough can be very sticky. Parchment paper is a non-stick surface needed to easily work with this dough. If dough seems too sticky to work, place it into the freezer for 5-10 minutes. It's a miraculous trick to decrease the stickiness!
Using a rolling pin, roll out yuca dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper until about 1/4" thick.
While yuca is boiling, heat 2 frying pans. The first for browning the meat, and the second, along with 1 tablespoon avocado oil, to saute the vegetables.
Brown the organic grass-fed beef (or other meat of choice) for 7-10 minutes, until no longer pink.
In the second pan, add chopped organic onions and garlic. Saute for a minute or 2.
Once onions begin to brown, add chopped red peppers and tomatoes. Saute 2-3 minutes.
Add spinach, basil, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, and chili powder and saute for another 2-3 minutes until spinach warms and wilts, and flavors mingle.
Place rolled out yuca dough, with parchment paper underneath, on counter or cutting board.
Spoon sauteed vegetables onto rolled out yuca dough, leaving a 1" edge at one end to prevent filling from overflowing, and allow dough to seal closed.
Starting at the end where the filling comes right up to the edge, carefully peel the edges of the dough away from parchment paper and begin to tightly roll dough around vegetables and meat (like a jelly roll.)
Place loaf on parchment lined baking sheet.
Sprinkle loaf with a pinch each of pink Himalayan salt, garlic powder, chili powder, and dried basil.
Baked stuffed yuca can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to serve. Simply remove from refrigerator, (defrost if in freezer) slice, then bake slices at 350 degrees for 10 minutes, flip, then bake for an additional 5 minutes. SOOOOO GOOD!!!!
Disclaimer– In 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.
These baguettes are AMAZING! You’d never guess they’re gluten-free! And they’re super simple to make! Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and airy on the inside – just like good bread should be! I had to make it for myself after watching Jules Shepard …
Everything is awesome with chocolate – am I right??? These Chocolate SunButter Pinwheel Cookies are a variation of my Strawberry Almond Butter Pinwheel Cookies (which are great even without chocolate!) Not only is this variation gluten, grain, dairy, and soy-free, but can be made nut-free as …
Creamy, whipped Yuca Mash! Simple, healthy, and made with all “real food” ingredients!!! What can be better than that? Oh, maybe that it’s Paleo, low glycemic, non-GMO, non-inflammatory, as well as Whole30 and autoimmune protocol approved!! Not sure what yuca is??? It’s a root vegetable, also called cassava or manioc, that’s a staple in Latin, Asian, and African cooking. It has been gaining popularity in the US lately within the healthy eating community. I’m literally OBSESSED!!! This is a super easy dish to prepare, and a great one if you’re cooking yuca for the first time.
You may wonder, why make Yuca Mash instead of mashed potatoes??? Great question! While they’re both root vegetables, look the same once mashed, have a very similar flavor profile, and are good sources of vitamin c and potassium, yuca has a few benefits over white potatoes.
Most significantly, yuca has a low glycemic index (GI) of 46 (below 55 is considered low) while a baked white potato has a GI of 72.5 (above 70 is considered high.) Having a low glycemic index means that a food releases glucose into the bloodstream at a slow, steady rate without causing blood sugar spikes. For those with blood sugar issues (like me) yuca is a way better option. It has even been recommended by the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology for diabetics.
The sense of fullness one gets from eating yuca has been shown to aid in weight loss as well! (Yay!)
Unlike potatoes, yuca is not genetically modified. That’s super important to me!
While both yuca and potatoes contain resistant starch, potatoes must either be eaten raw, or cooked and then fully cooled (and eaten cold) to gain the benefits. Resistant starch got its name because it resists digestion throughout the small intestines. It makes its way all the way to the large intestines undigested. It’s here where it becomes food for beneficial probiotic bacteria, thereby supporting colon health. Within the large intestines it ferments into short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, which provide numerous potential health benefits. #Eatyuca!!!
For more details see: Yuca (Cassava) Nutrition Facts
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*Printer-friendly recipe below*
Serves 6
Yuca Mash Ingredients:
-1 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen yuca (1 small bag Goya frozen yuca)
-1 teaspoon granulated onion (I use Primal Palate organic seasoning)
-1 1/2 teaspoons Himalayan pink salt (I use Primal Palate organic seasoning)
-1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (omit for AIP)
-3 organic garlic cloves – minced
-1 tablespoon avocado oil (I use Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil)
-1 cup almond milk
-2 tablespoons fresh chives – chopped
Instructions:
-Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
-If using frozen yuca, it has already been peeled. If using fresh yuca, the skin must first be removed. For instructions on how to peel yuca click here: How to Peel Fresh Yuca
-Place peeled yuca into pot of boiling water (no need to defrost if frozen) and boil for 25 minutes. I boil my yuca for a few extra minutes for Yuca Mash as compared to other recipes. Cooking for that 5 extra minutes will make the yuca must softer, and the Yuca Mash much creamier. But don’t cook for too long or you’ll end up with a sticky pile of mush!
-Once boiled, drain water and allow to cool slightly.
-Once cool enough to handle, remove the stick-like stem that runs through the center
-Cut yuca into chunks to make it easier to mash.
-Yuca can be mashed in a food processor, with an electric beater, or a hand masher.
-Place boiled yuca either into food processor or large bowl, along with granulated onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, avocado oil, and almond milk. (*If using a food processor, work in 3 or 4 batches to not overwhelm the machine.)
-Blend until perfectly creamy.
-Add chopped chives and thoroughly blend with a spoon. Garnish with additional chives.
as well as pantry items & kitchen gadgets I personally use to make Crazy For Yuca recipes!
*By ordering recommended products through affiliate connections on our website we get a small percentage of the sale which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional charge to you. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
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Creamy, whipped Yuca Mash!!! Simple, healthy, and made with all "real food" ingredients. What can be better than that? Oh, maybe that it's Paleo, low glycemic, non-GMO, non-inflammatory, as well as Whole30 and autoimmune protocol approved!! Not sure what yuca is??? It's a root vegetable, also called cassava or manioc, that's a staple in Latin, Asian, and African cooking. It has been gaining popularity in the US lately within the healthy eating community. This is a super easy dish to prepare, and a great one if you're cooking yuca for the first time.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
If using frozen yuca, it has already been peeled. If using fresh yuca, the skin must first be removed. For instructions on how to peel yuca click here: How to Peel Fresh Yuca
Place peeled yuca into pot of boiling water (no need to defrost if frozen) and boil for 25 minutes. I boil my yuca for a few extra minutes for Yuca Mash as compared to other recipes. Cooking for that 5 extra minutes will make the yuca must softer, and the Yuca Mash much creamier. But don't cook for too long or you'll end up with a sticky pile of mush!
Once boiled, drain water and allow to cool slightly.
Once cool enough to handle, remove the stick-like stem that runs through the center.
Cut yuca into chunks to make it easier to mash.
Yuca can be mashed in a food processor, with an electric beater, or a hand masher.
Place boiled yuca either into food processor or large bowl along with granulated onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, oil, and almond milk. (*If using a food processor, work in 3 or 4 batches to not overwhelm the machine.)
Blend until perfectly creamy.
Add chopped chives and thoroughly blend. Garnish with additional chives.
Disclaimer– In 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.
What do you get when you take cassava flour and a bunch of nuts and seeds? Delicious, nutritious Paleo Nut and Seed Bars!!!! These bars have just enough sweetness, without being overly sweet. Cassava flour is a low-glycemic, non-inflammatory starch, while nuts and seeds provide …
Bring the campfire home with Oven Baked S’mores Bars! These were created as a surprise birthday “cake” for my daughter who is gluten and dairy-free! She isn’t a fan of typical cake so I wanted to come up with something special. (Mission accomplished!!!) Years ago, …
Have you tried Yuca Chips yet??? If not, maybe this post will inspire you. They’re crispy, crunchy, and DELICIOUS! While my Perfect Yuca Chip recipe is AWESOME, you likely don’t have time to break out the mandolin every time you’d like a snack. And since different brands of ready-made yuca/cassava chips are very different from one another, I thought a little review of my favorite varieties might come in handy (because I’ve tried every brand I could find!!) If you’ve tried one, you have definitely NOT tried them all!!!
Yuca (pronounced “yoo-ka”) and also known as cassava, is an incredibly versatile root vegetable that can do pretty much anything potatoes or wheat can do, only in a healthier way! (Check out the many gluten and dairy-free recipes on CrazyForYuca.com featuring yuca.) Yuca is a tuberous root with a waxy, brown, bark-like skin and a white or yellowish flesh. It’s long and thin, with one end thicker than the other (similar in appearance to a large sweet potato with thicker, waxy skin.) The yuca that we see in the US tend to be about a foot long, but they can grow really large. It can also be bought frozen. It can be found in the frozen Goya section at many supermarkets.
Yuca is gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, Vegan, Paleo, Whole30 approved, soy-free, non-inflammatory, non-GMO, and typically considered safe for those following an autoimmune protocol (AIP friendly.) While not typically a familiar food in America, it’s widely consumed in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, and its popularity is growing steadily in the US. (I’m doing everything I can to get the word out!!!)
For more information about yuca and its incredible health benefits, click links below.
Getting to Know Yuca (Cassava)
Buying, Storing, Peeling, and Cooking Yuca (Cassava)
Yuca (Cassava ) Nutrition Facts
In this post I’ll be describing my favorite brands and varieties of yuca/cassava chips, and will do my best to provide enough detail so you can choose the ones you think you’d enjoy. Keep in mind that since I’m gluten, dairy, and soy-free, I’m not able to personally taste test every flavor variety offered. I also aim for the healthiest options that use the “cleanest” ingredients and taste great!
It’s rare to find most brands in stores, but they can all be purchased online by clicking the pictures and links below.
Artisan Tropic Cassava Strips are an excellent, truly classic yuca chip! They’re similar in appearance and crunch to potato chips. They’re made the same way I make mine, by thinly slicing the whole yuca root, cooking in oil (these are cooked in sustainable, non-hydrogenated palm oil) and adding sea salt. Simple, crispy, salty goodness! Artisan Tropic Cassava Strips are non-GMO, vegan, Paleo and gluten-free certified, contain no preservatives, and are made in a peanut and tree nut-free facility. Click text or pictures below to check them out!
Don’t let the name “tortilla chip” fool you! While these chips look like typical tortilla chips made of corn, they’re actually made with a blend of cassava and coconut flours. These are amazing!!! They come in 3 flavors: sea salt, lime, and nacho. All 3 varieties are gluten, dairy, and soy free! I love them all, but my absolute favorite is the lime flavor! No need to dip these babies. They’re awesome plain! Be sure to eat the crumbs at the bottom of the bag – they’re extra limey!! The nacho ones remind me of the Herr’s Ketchup Chips that my kids used to be obsessed with. While not a true nacho cheese type flavor, they’re still delicious! In addition to cassava and coconut flour, these chips are made with chia seeds, sea salt, and conscious spice choices (different for different flavors.) I love that Siete makes these chips with avocado oil, as this is a very healthy oil that remains stable at high temperatures. The cassava flour blend is formed into classic tortilla chip triangle shapes. These chips literally melt in your mouth, kind of like a Pringle. There’s one caveat with these chips – they’re TOTALLY ADDICTIVE! I never buy just one bag!
Click here or on pictures below to check out Siete Grain-Free Tortilla Chips – Sea Salt
Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips, 3 bags (5 oz each) Sampler of Nacho, Lime, Sea Salt
(Yes, that’s me! A rare cameo!!!)
Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips, Lime, 5 oz. (Pack of 3)
Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips, Nacho, 5 oz
Plant Snacks created these delicious gluten-free, non-GMO, grain & corn free, Paleo, trans fat free chips with no preservatives and no artificial flavors or colors. So what’s in them? In the sea salt variety (the one I sampled) the ingredients are simply dried yuca/cassava root, sunflower oil, sesame seeds, nutritional yeast and sea salt. These ingredients are blended together, then formed into a square chip (about 1″ square.) They’re salty and crispy with a sesame flavor. Very unique and delicious!
*Note: These yuca root chips used to be called “Cassava Crunch” but have been renamed “Plant Snacks” and repackaged after the taking of the picture below. The recipe has not changed.
Plant Snacks Yuca Root Chips come in 4 flavors including: Sea Salt, Cheddar, Beet with Goat Cheese, and Super Seed varieties.
Click the link or picture below if you’d like a sampler pack so you can try them all!
(Note: I have not taste tested all of the flavors since some contain dairy.)
Plant Snacks Variety Pack – Cheddar, Sea Salt, Beet with Goat Cheese, Super Seeds Cassava Root Chips, Vegan, Big-8 Allergen Free, Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Grain Free, No Added Sugar, 5 oz Bags, Pack of 4
If you like a little spice in your life, Jans Jalapeño Chips are the way to go!!! These chips start out like a classic yuca chip in that they’re made from fried, thinly sliced whole yuca/cassava root, but with a kick of jalapeño seasoning! (A mixture of sugar, salt, yeast extract, onion powder, garlic powder, and chili powder.) Don’t be frightened off by the word “jalapeño.” I think they taste more like an extra spicy barbecue potato chip. No matter what you call these, they’re AMAZING! These are a real favorite in my house, especially with my husband and daughter, true spice lovers who put Sriracha sauce on everything! I enjoy them as well, as long as I have a glass of water handy. (And I’m not typically a spice lover.) Check them out by clicking the pictures or link below.
Jans Root Chips (Jalapeno Cassava Chips, 3 oz)
By ordering recommended products through links on our website we get a small commission which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional charge to you. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
For yuca snacks, pantry items, and kitchen gadgets I personally use to make Crazy For Yuca recipes in my own kitchen.
Disclaimer– In 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.
Imagine a dreamy, creamy soup made of all healthy ingredients that can be thrown together in under 45 minutes! It’s hard to believe this vegan soup is also gluten and dairy-free! The yuca gives this soup its creamy consistency, as well as makes it …
What’s more fun than strawberry shortcake?… Strawberry Short-Crepe Cream on Top!!! This beautiful gluten, diary, and refined sugar-free dessert is made simply by layering Grain-Free Crepes, scrumptious homemade Strawberry Jam, organic fresh strawberries, and Coconut Cream! It’s the perfect dessert, brunch dish, or birthday cake …
Grain-Free Crepes are quick and easy to prepare, and lots of fun to eat! They can be filled with almost anything – whether sweet or savory! With a fruit filling, such as strawberry jam, they’re perfect for entertaining guests for brunch, or as a sweet treat any time. They can also be used in place of bread to roll up meats, salads, nut butters, cheese, or anything desired! Since they’re made with tapioca and cassava flours they’re naturally gluten-free, grain-free and Paleo-friendly. They’re so delicious, no one will ever guess they’re healthy!
This post includes a great recipe for Strawberry Chia Seed Jam” by Lexi from LexisCleanKitchen.com. Why buy store-bought jellies or jams when homemade, low sugar jam is this simple to make? Thank you Lexi for this incredible, healthy recipe!
While this Strawberry Crepe is super low in sugar (it only contains a little honey in the jam) it really satisfies one’s sweet tooth!
Have fun adding your favorite fillings to these grain-free crepes and share your ideas and comments below, or tag me on instagram @CrazyForYuca and include #CrazyForYuca.
Servings: Six 8 inch crepes
Crepe Ingredients:
-1/2 cup tapioca flour – (I use Bob’s Red Mill Tapioca Flour)
-2 Tbsp Cassava Flour – (I use Otto’s Cassava Flour)
-4 organic, cage-free eggs (I use duck eggs since I’m sensitive to chicken eggs. Both work perfectly!)
-2 Tbsp coconut oil – melted (I use Nutiva Coconut Oil)
-1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract (*Omit if using a savory filling)
-2 Tbsp almond milk (Cow’s milk can be used if a dairy option is preferred.)
-1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt (While any salt can be used, I use pink Himalayan salt because of its high mineral content.)
Crepe Instructions:
Melt coconut oil.
Place melted coconut oil into mixing bowl along with eggs, vanilla, and almond milk. Blend thoroughly.
Heat a frying pan on medium heat. (No need to use a non-stick pan or oil. These crepes will not stick to pan!)
Pour batter, about 1/4 cup at a time, into ungreased, heated frying pan. In order to make thin, circle-shaped crepes, pour batter slowly into the center of pan and use the back of the spoon or ladle in a circular motion to spread the batter evenly.
Cook on first side for about 1 minute, until batter solidifies. (See picture below.)
7. Flip and cook for an additional 30-60 seconds. Crepes should be slightly browned.
Eat immediately with desired toppings, such as the Strawberry Chia Seed Jam below. Crepes can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for future use in an airtight bag or container.
*Note: These crepes can be quickly reheated from frozen in a toaster oven for 3-5 minutes or microwave for 30-45 seconds. Enjoy!
Strawberry Jam Ingredients:
-organic strawberries
-raw organic honey or maple syrup
-lemon juice
-chia seeds
Check out Lexi’s super simple recipe by clicking here: Strawberry Chia Seed Jam. She also has variations for blueberry and mango! If you haven’t checked out LexisCleanKitchen.com yet, you’re in for a treat!!!
No time to make Grain-Free Crepes and Strawberry Chia Seed Jam?
Check out St. Dalfour brand strawberry fruit spread by clicking the picture below. It’s made with all natural ingredients including strawberries sweetened only with grape and date juice concentrates, fruit pectin, and lemon juice.
Shop online now for ingredients needed to make Grain-Free Crepes With Strawberry Jam by clicking pictures of needed pantry items below.
By purchasing items through our affiliate links we get a small commission which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca at no additional cost to you. All recommended products are ones that I use in my own kitchen. Thank you for supporting the efforts of CrazyForYuca.com to bring you the lastest yuca/cassava recipes when you shop online!
for healthy pantry items, yuca snacks, and kitchen gadgets I personally use to make Crazy For Yuca recipes in my kitchen!
All personally taste tested and approved by myself and my family! For a detailed description of recommended yuca/cassava chips, see my post The Perfect Yuca Chip!
Grain-Free Crepes are quick and easy to prepare, and lots of fun to eat! They're perfect for entertaining guests for brunch, or as a dessert any time. Since they're made with tapioca and cassava flours they're naturally gluten-free, grain-free and Paleo-friendly. They're so delicious, no one will every guess they're eating healthy! These crepes can be filled with any number of things! See full post for a link to a super easy Strawberry Chia Seed Jam by LexisCleanKitchen.com.
Have fun adding your favorite fillings to these grain-free crepes and share your ideas and comments below, or tag me with your crepe pictures on instagram @CrazyForYuca and include #CrazyForYuca.
Melt coconut oil.
Place melted coconut oil into mixing bowl along with eggs, vanilla, and almond milk. Blend thoroughly.
Add tapioca flour, cassava flour, and pink Himalayan salt. Blend until smooth.
Heat a frying pan on medium heat. (No need to use a non-stick pan or oil. These crepes will not stick to pan!)
Pour batter, about 1/4 cup at a time, into ungreased, heated frying pan. In order to make thin, circle-shaped crepes, pour batter slowly into the center of pan and use the back of the spoon or ladle in a circular motion to spread the batter evenly.
Cook on first side for about 1 minute, until batter solidifies. Flip and cook for an additional 30-60 seconds. Crepes should be slightly browned.
Eat immediately with desired toppings, or store crepes in the refrigerator or freezer for future use in an airtight bag or container. These crepes can be quickly reheated from frozen in a toaster oven for 3-5 minutes or microwave for 30-45 seconds.
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Disclaimer– In 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.
This guilt-free lasagna has everything that makes lasagna yummy, yet no gluten, grain, or dairy to trigger many common food sensitivities. It’s even Paleo and Whole30 compliant! Who ever thought one could say that about lasagna??? While it may be a bit unconventional, this lasagna …
What’s a Southwestern Egg Roll? Think Chinese egg rolls, only the inside is a burst of spicy Southwestern flavored chicken and veggies! WHAT AN AMAZING IDEA!!! I only wish I thought of it! This recipe is courtesy of The Modern Cavegirl from Heart & Bones …
How do you like your Avocado Toast? Slathered in guacamole? With organic turkey bacon and tomatoes? With a sunny side up egg? – with a broken yolk dripping down your toast… No matter how they’re garnished, they are a truly special treat! Made on top of a Garlic Yuca Flatbread, this gluten-free, grain-free avocado toast is perfect for your next brunch, or whenever you want to give yourself an extra special breakfast.
Ingredients needed: (Adjust depending on the number of servings desired.) This recipe makes 4 individual pizza crusts (about the size of a dinner plate) or 12 ovals (as pictured below.) Note: I like to make a batch of these flatbreads (since it takes a bit of time and effort) and have them in the freezer rolled out and ready for future use. Simply pull out of freezer and bake for 20-30 minutes whenever you want a little Garlic Yuca Flatbread, Avocado Yuca Toast, or pizza in a hurry. These are AWESOME even without the avocado!
Your flatbreads can be custom sized and shaped to your preferences. For Avocado Yuca Toast I make mine oval shaped, about 5″ by 7″.
To make the flatbreads, check out my post, including step by step instructions here –
Ingredients needed:
-3 large organic avocados
-2 tablespoons organic sweet onion – finely chopped
-1 organic tomato – chopped
-1-2 organic lemons – juiced
-1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt (While any salt can be used, I use pink Himalayan salt for all my cooking and baking because it contains 84 minerals and elements. What an easy way to boost wellness in a world where the typical diet is deplete of needed minerals!)
For step by step directions click link to my Guacamole post here.
Once Garlic Yuca Flatbread has baked, add desired amount of Guacamole.
Customize your Avocado Yuca Toast with any additional toppings desired! Here, I added 1 strip of cooked, diced Applegate Farms Organic Turkey Bacon, some organic sliced heirloom cherry tomatoes, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. YUM!!!
My absolute favorite Avocado Yuca Toast for breakfast includes a sunny side up egg right on top! Nothing beats a broken yolk dripping all over my breakfast! It just pops it up to a whole new level for me!!!
Enjoy!!!!
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By ordering recommended products through our website we get a small commission which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional cost to you. All recommended products are ones that I use in my own kitchen. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
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Disclaimer– In 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.
Who doesn’t love a salty hot pretzel??? As a gluten-free eater I thought I’d never have one again, until now! These Grain-Free Soft Pretzels are THE REAL DEAL!!! They’re made with Otto’s Cassava Flour, so they’re naturally gluten and grain-free! With all “real” whole …
These Grain-Free Popovers are so light and airy! They’re fun to eat and really hit the spot when you’re craving some bread, but don’t want the grain! They’re especially delicious warm right out of the oven! While most of my Crazy For Yuca recipes are …
Nothing says Easter like decorated eggs! And nothing says “fun celebration” like hand pies!!! Did you love Pop-tarts as a kid? If the answer is “yes”, you’ll adore these Easter Egg Hand Pies – with a delectable flakey crust on the outside, and sweet fruit spread on the inside!!! Don’t be fooled by the beautiful colors, these hand pies are decorated with colorings found in nature such as beets, turmeric, and spirulina! (Absolutely no chemical colorings!) Since they’re made with cassava flour, they’re both gluten and grain-free! They’re also dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free and low in sugar, but you’d never know it! These Easter Egg Hand Pies are SCRUMPTIOUS, FUN, and GOOD FOR YOU!!!
These Easter Egg Hand Pies are made with Otto’s Cassava Flour (a gluten-free, grain-free, non-GMO, non-inflammatory, whole-food, amazingly delicious flour!) If you don’t have any on hand, it can be found in some specialty markets or online by clicking below.
Otto’s Naturals 100% Natural Cassava Flour Made from Yuca Root Bag, 2 Pound
By ordering Otto’s Cassava Flour or other recommended products through our website, we get a small commission which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional charge to you. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
Click link: Getting to Know Cassava (yuca) Flour.
Dough Ingredients: (Full printer-friendly recipe below)
-1 1/2 cups Otto’s Cassava Flour
-2 tablespoons organic maple syrup
-1 cage-free egg
-1/2 teaspoon xantham gum
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt (I use pink Himalayan salt for all my cooking and baking because of its high mineral content.)
-1/2 cup Spectrum Organic Vegetable Shortening (or pastured butter if you tolerate dairy.)
-1/2 cup filtered water
Filling:
-Fruit spread (flavor of choice.) I used St. Dalfour Strawberry Fruit Spread. It’s made with only strawberries, grape and date fruit juice concentrate, pectin, and lemon juice. (Click link below to check it out.)
Icing: (With these hand pies you control the amount of sugar by deciding how much icing to put on top. Other than the icing, the only added sugar in 15 hand pies is 2 tablespoons of pure organic maple syrup.)
-1 cup powdered sugar
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-1 tablespoon water. (If icing is too thick, add additional water 1 teaspoon at a time.)
-natural food coloring. I used Color Kitchen Decorative Food Colors From Nature. (Click link below to check it out.)
In a large bowl, whisk egg. Add maple syrup and thoroughly blend. Then add Otto’s Cassava Flour, xantham gum, pink Himalayan salt, baking soda, vegetable shortening (or butter for a dairy option,) and water. Blend with a spoon. When dough gets crumbly and difficult to mix, use your hands to fully incorporate ingredients into dough.
Roll out half the dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper and cut into oval shapes. (Since my craft store was out of oval cookie cutters, I used a plastic disposable cup while gently bending it into an oval shape. It worked perfectly!) These will be the bottom halves of the hand pies.
Transfer each cut-out pastry bottom onto a parchment lined baking sheet and fill with a heaping tablespoon of fruit spread. (Be sure to leave a rim around the entire perimeter so the top and bottom pastries can be pinched together without fruit spread between them.)
Roll out second half of dough into matching sizes and shapes for the pastry tops. Then dip finger in water and run wet finger along the perimeter of each pastry bottom. Carefully lay each pastry top over the bottom pastry and filling. Press down along edges to seal.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes until edges begin to brown.
Place cooked pasties on a rack to cool.
Make decorative icing (if desired) by combining powdered sugar, water, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add desired coloring and blend thoroughly. Decorate cooled Easter Egg Hand Pies any way desired – like these adorable hatching chicks!!!
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Did you love Pop-tarts as a kid? If the answer is "yes", you'll adore these Easter Egg Hand Pies - with a delectable flakey crust on the outside, and sweet fruit spread on the inside!!! Don't be fooled by the beautiful colors, these hand pies are decorated with only colorings found in nature such as beets, turmeric, and spirulina! Since they're made with cassava flour, they're gluten and grain-free! They're also dairy-free and low in sugar. But don't let the fact that these are healthy fool you, they're gorgeous, fun, and delicious!!!
In a large bowl, whisk egg. Add maple syrup and thoroughly blend. Add Otto’s Cassava Flour, xantham gum, pink Himalayan salt, baking soda, vegetable shortening (or butter,) and water. Blend with a spoon. When it gets all crumbly and difficult to mix, use your hands to fully incorporate ingredients into dough.
Add Otto’s Cassava Flour, xantham gum, pink Himalayan salt, baking soda, vegetable shortening (or butter,) and water. Blend with a spoon. When it gets all crumbly and difficult to mix, use your hands to fully incorporate ingredients into dough.
Roll out half the dough onto parchment paper and cut into oval shapes. (Since my craft store was out of oval cookie cutters, I used a plastic disposable cup while gently bending it into an oval shape. It worked perfectly!) These will be the bottom halves of the hand pies.
Transfer each cut-out pastry bottom onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
Place a heaping tablespoon of fruit spread on each cut-out pastry.
Roll out second half of dough into matching sizes and shapes for the pastry tops.
Dip finger in water and run wet finger along the perimeter of each pastry bottom. (This will help pastry layers adhere to each other.)
Carefully lay each pastry top over the bottom pastry and filling. Press down along edges to seal.
Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes until edges begin to brown.
Once cooked, place cooked pasties on a rack to cool.
While cooling, make icing (if desired) by combining powdered sugar, water, and vanilla until smooth. Add desired coloring.
Once cooled, use icing to decorate the Easter Egg Hand Pies any way desired.
Disclaimer– In 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.
I call this recipe Mandel Bread / Biscotti because there’s little (if any) difference between these 2 cookies. I want everyone to feel free to enjoy them – no matter one’s heritage, or holiday celebrating. With both Passover and Easter coming within the next week, …
It’s time to plan your Passover menu! Why not decrease the grains this holiday with Grain-Free Cassava Flour Matzo Balls? They will be adored by your gluten-eating and gluten-free guests alike! (I had a little trouble stopping myself from eating them all before getting a …
While I usually incorporate yuca (a.k.a. cassava) into typical American food as a way to make gluten-free cooking more diverse and less restricting, today I’m excited to share a traditional recipe showing how yuca is eaten in another part of the world. This recipe for Ground Provisions was shared by my friend Anita, who is from Guyana. She was so surprised to hear that I’m literally Crazy For Yuca (since she has rarely met an American that is familiar with it.) Anita enthusiastically shared the many ways she eats yuca! She taught me a few amazing dishes (all which will be posted in the coming weeks!) If you have a traditional yuca recipe that you’d like to share on CrazyForYuca.com, send me an email at CrazyForYuca@gmail.com or tag me with a picture of it on Instagram @CrazyForYuca. I’d love to feature the recipe along with your story.
Ground Provisions, also simply called Provisions, is a staple dish in Guyana and includes root vegetables such as yuca (cassava,) sweet potatoes, yams, green plantains, and eddoes (all pictured below.) Some, or all of these root vegetables may be included in the dish. It’s also referred to as a “boil and fry” in Guyana. The root vegetables are boiled, while onions, peppers, scallions, and garlic are stir fried in a pan. The two are then combined for a delicious, traditional Guyanese dish! Provisions can be eaten in this way, or with the addition of fish or meat. Anita enjoys her Provisions with curried fish on top. I made mine with organic, grass-fed ground beef. This dish can be customized to meet your needs.
1 1/2 pounds fresh, peeled yuca or 1 bag Goya frozen yuca
1-2 sweet potatoes
1-2 yams
1-2 green plantains
2 large organic onions – chopped
2 organic red, orange, red, and/or green peppers – chopped
4 organic scallions – chopped
4 organic garlic cloves – minced
1 tablespoon organic, grass-fed ghee
2 tablespoons fresh organic lemon juice (juice of 1 medium lemon)
pink Himalayan sea salt – 1 tablespoon for salted boiling water and 1 teaspoon as seasoning. (Any salt will taste good, but I use pink Himalayan salt for all of my cooking because of its rich mineral content.)
1 pound organic, grass-fed ground beef (Any preferred meat or fish can be used.)
Optional: hot pepper – minced – to taste.
Step 1: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon pink Himalayan salt.
Step 2: While water boils peel the provisions (yuca, sweet potatoes, yams, eddoes, and plantains) and cut them into large chunks for boiling.
Step 3: Place peeled, cut provisions into boiling pot of water. (*Note: Wait 5 minutes before placing plantains into pot. Plantains don’t need as much cooking time.) Boil for 20-25 minutes, or until provisions are fork tender.(15-20 for plantains.)
Step 4: While provisions boil, chop onions, peppers, scallions, and hot peppers (if using) and mince garlic cloves.
Step 5: Add 1 tablespoon organic ghee and chopped vegetables to preheated frying pan. Season with 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt and lemon juice. 
Step 6: If adding beef, in a separate frying pan brown 1 pound organic, grass-fed ground beef until meat is no longer pink.
Step 7: Once provisions are fork tender (after about 20 minutes) drain water.
Step 8: Add pan fried vegetables to provisions. Stir gently, as provisions are soft and easily mashed. Ground Provisions can be enjoyed as pictured below, without the addition of meat or fish.
Ground Provisions are also traditionally eaten with curried fish (often flaked and mixed in with the provisions) or with meat (as pictured below.)
Enjoy!!!
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This recipe for Ground Provisions was shared by my friend Anita, from Guyana. Ground Provisions, also simply called Provisions, is a staple dish in Guyana and includes root vegetables such as yuca (cassava,) sweet potatoes, yams, green plantains, and eddoes. Some, or all of these root vegetables may be included in the dish. The root vegetables are boiled, while onions, peppers, scallions, and garlic are stir fried in a pan. The two are then combined for a delicious, traditional Guyanese dish! Provisions can be eaten this way, or with the addition of fish or meat. Anita enjoys her Provisions with curried fish on top. I decided to make mine with ground organic, grass-fed beef. This dish can be customized to meet your needs.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon pink Himalayan salt.
While water boils, peel provisions (yuca, sweet potatoes, yams, eddoes, and plantains) and cut them into large chunks for boiling.
Place peeled, cut provisions into pot of boiling water. (*Note: Wait 5 minutes before placing plantains into pot, since they don't need as much cooking time.) Boil for 20-25 minutes (15-20 for plantains,) or until fork tender.
While provisions boil, chop onions, peppers, scallions, hot peppers (if using,) and mince garlic cloves.
Add 1 tablespoon organic ghee along with chopped vegetables to preheated frying pan. Season with 1 teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt and lemon juice.
If adding beef, in a separate frying pan brown 1 pound organic, grass-fed ground beef. Cook until meat is no longer pink.
Once provisions are fork tender (after about 20-25 minutes) drain water.
Add pan fried vegetables to provisions. Stir gently, provisions are soft and easily mashed.
Add cooked ground beef (or fish) to provisions and pan fried vegetables. Garnish with chopped scallions.
Note: Guyanese Ground Provisions are often served with curried fish, either on top or shredded and mixed in with this dish.
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(For a listing of other pantry items, kitchen gadgets, yuca snacks and goodies
that I use, click here shop.)
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Disclaimer– In 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.
I’m making this banana bread as I type up this post, and the incredible aroma as it’s baking has taken over the house! I can’t wait for it to cool off so I can take my blog pictures and dig in!!! Whether made into muffins …
Why should the gluten-free be denied scrumptious almond cookies from the Chinese restaurant? (After all, we already can’t have most Chinese food!) My daughter, who is gluten and dairy-free, had a hankering for almond cookies and asked me to create this recipe using cassava flour. …
This is no ordinary chocolate chip cookie! While it has chocolate chips, it also has dried cherries, cinnamon, and is made from naturally gluten-free cassava flour! They’re soft-baked, with a melt-in-your-mouth crumbly texture, and just enough maple syrup sweetness. These are my go-to cookie when I need to bake a quick, easy treat for guests. They never disappoint!
Cassava flour is not only gluten-free, it’s grain-free, nut-free, soy-free, Paleo, Vegan, Autoimmune Protocol friendly, non-GMO, and full of whole-food goodness! If you haven’t tried it yet, these simple to make Chocolate Cherry Chunk Cassava Flour Cookies are a great place to start!
To learn more about baking with cassava flour see: Getting to Know Cassava (Yuca) Flour.
While cassava flour is very similar to wheat flour, it can be dryer. It, therefore, needs a greater amount of liquid than the same recipe would if wheat flour were being used. I tweaked this recipe at least 6 times before I found the right combination of cassava flour, coconut oil, and maple syrup, leading to this soft-baked, yet firm cookie, with just the right amount of sweetness. I always create recipes with the least possible amount of sweetener required for it to be delicious (since I’m pre-diabetic.) Based on the 6 cookies I felt compelled to eat the day I came up with this version, I think I got it right! But feel free to add a bit more maple syrup or chocolate chips if you enjoy a very sweet cookie.
Click below to purchase Otto’s Cassava Flour online here!
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A common complaint in the gluten-free community is that gluten-free versions of a favorite food don’t taste the same as the gluten-containing food one is used to. Because of this fact, I recommend making something totally new, instead of trying to re-create a beloved food. Gluten-free food is AWESOME! It’s just a little different. Finding new, delicious meals and treats to add to one’s repertoire makes a gluten-free lifestyle truly enjoyable, without any sense of deprivation!
I think we can all agree that no cassava flour, gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free chocolate chip cookie is going to taste EXACTLY like a classic Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie – so why try??? It’s just going to be a disappointing, lesser cookie! Am I right???
That’s why I set out to create a cassava flour cookie that contained chocolate chips, (because I have no plan to give up chocolate chips!) but is its own unique cookie creation. A cookie that stands on its own! A cookie that no one thinks is trying to be a typical chocolate chip cookie!
These Chocolate Cherry Chunk Cassava Flour Cookies truly achieve that goal! They have just the right amount of cinnamon, which pairs perfectly with the bursts of chocolate from the chips! The sweet, chewy cherries add an unexpected twist that puts these cookies in a class by themselves!
These cookies freeze perfectly! They can be made in advance and pulled out whenever company drops by. Just leave them on the counter for an hour and they’re like fresh baked cookies again! If I’m baking them just for my immediate family, we eat a few then put them right into the freezer. This prevents us from eating the whole batch in one day! It’s hard to pass a plate of these and not grab one every time!!! While in the freezer, they’re available to be quickly defrosted whenever anyone wants a snack. They even taste amazing straight from the freezer! (Just ask my husband who never defrosts one before eating it!!!)
Makes one dozen cookies.
-3/4 cup Otto’s Cassava Flour
-1 egg – room temperature (I use a duck egg since I’m sensitive to the protein in chicken eggs, but any egg works.)
-1/3 cup organic coconut oil – melted / or Spectrum organic vegetable shortening (not melted)
-1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-1/2 cup organic maple syrup -room temperature
-1 teaspoon cinnamon
-3/4 tsp baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
-3/4 cup dried cherries – (I use Trader Joe’s Dried Bing Cherries – unsulfured, no sugar added.) They are large, so feel free to cut them in half, if desired.)
-1 cup dairy-free chocolate chips (I use Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels, semi-sweet baking chips, or mega chunks)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, blend maple syrup, melted coconut oil (or room temperature vegetable shortening), egg and vanilla. In a second bowl, mix Otto’s Cassava Flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Combine wet and dry ingredients into one bowl. Once fully blended, add dairy-free chocolate chips and dried cherries.
Stir to combine.
On a parchment lined baking sheet, divide dough and press down to form 12-14 cookies.
Bake on middle rack of oven for about 12 minutes, or until edges begin to slightly brown.
Enjoy your Chocolate Cherry Chunk Cassava Flour Cookies!!!
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This is no ordinary chocolate chip cookie! Yes, it has chocolate chips, but it also has dried cherries and cinnamon. YUM!!! And since these cookies are made with cassava flour, they're naturally gluten-free and full of whole-food goodness! They're soft-baked with a melt-in-your-mouth crumbly texture, and just enough maple syrup sweetness. These are my go-to cookie when I need to bake a quick, easy dessert for guests. They never disappoint!
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl, blend maple syrup, melted coconut oil (or room temperature vegetable shortening), egg and vanilla.
In a second bowl, combine cassava flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Combine wet and dry ingredients into one bowl.
Once fully blended, add dairy-free chocolate chips and dried cherries. Stir to combine.
On a parchment lined baking sheet, spoon and press dough into 12-14 equal sized cookies.
Bake on middle rack of oven for about 12 minutes, or until edges begin to slightly brown.
Enjoy!
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Disclaimer– In 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.
Spend 5 minutes of prep time, then go about your day knowing this simple, delicious 4 ingredient crockpot chicken will be ready and waiting for you when you get home! Then boil up some yuca (because everything is better with yuca!) while chopping and sauteing …
With this Paleo French Onion Soup topped with melted yuca dough, you won’t miss the cheese! This perfect pairing is deliciously gratifying in every way!!! Upon baking, the underside of the yuca gets soft and gooey, while the top browns just right! This Paleo variation …
Many panic when they find out they need to be gluten and/or dairy-free! I think one of the main reasons is fear of giving up their comfort foods. This Grain-Free Chicken Pot Pie recipe is true comfort food at its best! It’s proof positive that gluten and dairy are not needed to create a hearty, flavorful pot pie filling topped with a mouth-watering, flaky crust!
Chicken Pot Pie was one of my FAVORITE dishes growing up! If it was on the menu at a restaurant, or ready-made in my freezer, that’s what I picked!!! I’m beyond excited to have it back in my life now that I’ve created this gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, incredibly satisfying recipe!
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While at the supermarket, I recently read the ingredients on the label of a popular brand of frozen chicken pot pie. I was shocked to find that there was way more than just chicken, vegetables, and seasonings in it! It had “isolated soy protein product,” modified corn and potato starch,” “modified whey,” caramel color, “flavors”, and ” interesterified soybean oil!” – That’s not a typo!!! I looked it up! According to wikepedia:
Why would any food manufacturer put that in a chicken pot pie??? There’s no deep frying in this recipe! Why not just use a fat that’s naturally stable at high temperatures, like ghee, avocado oil, or coconut oil? The only reason I can think of is because “interesterified” soybean oil is cheap!
Understanding the reality of what’s in most processed foods, and how these ingredients affect our bodies and health is truly terrifying! This is what motivates me to cook simple, “real” food recipes filled with all the flavor and none of the crap! I have no formal culinary training. I’m just a working wife and mother whose health had been compromised as a result of the Standard American Diet. I’m continuing to heal myself and preserve the health of my family by consuming only “real” food ingredients. None of my recipes require any special skill to make.
For 4 servings: 2 cups of pre-cooked, diced or shredded chicken is needed. I use my Easy Go-to Crockpot Chicken, but any pre-cooked chicken can be used, such as store-bought rotisserie chicken or leftovers. If needed, chicken breasts can be quickly cut into chunks and cooked in a pan covered with chicken broth or bone broth for a few minutes.
Add lots of diced vegetables: There’s no rule as to what vegetables need to be in chicken pot pie, so use what you enjoy or have on hand. In the printable full recipe below I list onions, celery, carrots, string beans, and peas (omit for Paleo version) because that’s what is classically found in chicken pot pie. When I made this recipe for my family the other night, I also added leeks, orange peppers, broccoli, and tricolor carrots (I try to eat the rainbow everyday if possible.)
Chop raw vegetables and saute, along with minced garlic, in 1 tablespoon ghee or avocado oil. (See Healthy Eating Tip below to learn about ghee.) If using frozen peas and string beans add them at the very end so they don’t get over-cooked.
Add chicken broth or both broth: Once raw vegetables soften (about 5 minutes) add chicken or bone broth and bring to a simmer.
To thicken sauce: In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder with 1 tablespoon cold water to form a slurry. Slowly add slurry to the pan, blending thoroughly into sauce.
Season: Add rosemary, thyme, Himalayan sea salt and black pepper.
Add cooked chicken along with frozen string beans and peas (omit for Paleo version.) Mix well.
Divide pot pie filling into 4 individual oven-safe ramekins. I use my small round and oval Corningware. This recipe can also be made into one large, family-sized pot pie if desired.
Cassava flour is a grain-free, Paleo, nonGMO, whole-food flour made from grated and dried cassava/yuca. It’s a true miracle flour for gluten-free people, or for those who choose to avoid grain. It creates baked goods with all the positive characteristics of wheat flour, but none of the negatives (such as gluten, GMOs, inflammation, and risk of developing a leaky gut.) See: Getting to Know Cassava (yuca) Flour.
By ordering Otto’s Cassava flour through Crazy For Yuca we get a small commission which helps support the maintenance of the website. There’s absolutely no additional charge to you. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
In a large mixing bowl blend Otto’s Cassava Flour, baking soda, and salt. In a second bowl, blend Spectrum Organic Palm Shortening and one egg with an electric mixer. Combine contents of both bowls, add water, and continue to mix until a dough is formed. Divide dough into 4 equal sized balls. On parchment paper, roll out each dough ball to fit the size and shape of each ramekin.
Lay each crust over each filled ramekin. Pinch crust all along the edge to seal in filling. This will prevent filling from overflowing during baking.
Egg wash: In a small bowl, crack and whisk an egg. Brush egg wash on top of each pot pie crust. This will create a nice golden brown color when baked.
Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before eating.
Enjoy this deliciously satisfying Grain-Free Chicken Pot Pie and comment below to tell me what you think!
Ghee, also known as clarified butter, is a dairy-free cooking fat that’s made by extracting the water, lactose and casein from butter. It tastes like butter, only with an even stronger buttery flavor. It originated in India thousands of years ago and has been gaining popularity within the healthy eating community in recent years in the US. Ghee made from naturally raised, grass-fed cows has an excellent fat profile, and contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and butyrate, both of which have tremendous health benefits. CLA is a fatty acid that has been associated with tumor reduction, weight loss, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, and decreased inflammation. Butyrates aid in digestion and promote healthy bacterial growth in the intestines, which supports colon health. Butyrates are also alkalinizing, anti-inflammatory, supportive of healthy insulin levels, and may even be beneficial for people with IBS, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Ghee is high in vitamins A, D, and E. It’s safe for cooking at high temperatures because of its high smoke point. This is very important because when oils are heated to temperatures above their smoke point they break down, increasing free radical production and destroying their beneficial phytonutrients (1, 2.)
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This Grain-Free Chicken Pot Pie recipe is true comfort food at its best! It's proof positive that gluten and dairy are not needed to create a hearty, flavorful pot pie filling with mouth-watering, flaky crust!! I can't think of anything I'd rather have for dinner on a cold, winter night!
Place a Tbsp of ghee or avocado oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add chopped onions, celery, carrots, minced garlic (and any other desired raw vegetables) and saute until tender (about 5 minutes.)
Add chicken broth (or bone broth) and bring to a simmer.
In a small bowl, blend arrowroot powder with a tablespoon of cold water to make a slurry. Add it to saucepan with vegetables and broth, stirring until the broth thickens.
Add rosemary, thyme, peas, string beans, ½ tsp sea salt and ¼ tsp black pepper.
Add cooked chicken and blend all ingredients together.
Divide Chicken Pot Pie filling evenly and place into 4 ramekins or oven-safe ceramic bowls. (I use my small, white oval or round Corningware.)
In a large bowl mix cassava flour, baking soda, and sea salt.
In a second bowl, use an electric mixer to blend Spectrum Organic Palm Shortening and one egg.
Combine contents of both bowls, add water, and continue to blend until a dough is formed.
Divide dough into 4 equal sized balls.
Roll out each dough ball on parchment paper to fit the size and shape of each ramekin.
Lay each crust over each filled ramekin. Pinch crust all around the edge of ramekin to seal in filling. This will prevent filling from leaking out during baking.
Egg wash: In a small bowl, crack and whisk an egg. Brush egg on top of each crust to create a golden color upon baking.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, until crusts have lightly browned.
This recipe makes 4 top crusts to cover 4 Chicken Pot Pies. If top and bottom crusts are desired, simply double recipe, roll out 8 crusts, and line each ramekin with a crust before placing filling inside. Then continue following recipe above.
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Disclaimer– In 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.
Valentine’s Day Cassava Flour Cake Pops The time has come for the gluten-free and gluten-eating alike to enjoy cake pops together for all occasions!!! These pops are so incredible, no one will ever guess they’re gluten-free! Not to mention grain-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and nonGMO!!! I …
Being gluten-free doesn’t mean missing out on the fun of holiday cookie baking! With cassava flour, you can make scrumptious gluten-free, whole-food sugar cookies that taste just like those made from wheat flour! If you haven’t discovered cassava flour yet, these Cassava Flour Holiday Sugar …
Have you tried baking with cassava flour yet? If not, this is the perfect cookie recipe to get you started! Whether you’re gluten-free, or just want to eat less grain, these cassava flour Strawberry Almond Butter Pinwheel Cookies are fun to make and to eat! They’re sweet, but not too sweet. A perfect pastry to serve to guests at your next dinner party or brunch, or to accompany your afternoon coffee or tea.
Cassava flour is a whole-food flour made simply by drying and grinding the white flesh of the peeled cassava root. (Cassava is also known as yuca.) Nothing is added or removed. It’s a pure, natural foundation for baking.
Cassava flour is a relatively new flour that’s gaining popularity within the healthy eating community. And why not? It’s gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, soy-free, Paleo, Vegan, easily digested, and Autoimmune Protocol friendly! If that’s not enough to entice you, consider that cassava flour can replace wheat flour in a 1:1 ratio in most recipes, so it’s super easy to incorporate into your baking!!!
Making the swap to cassava flour adds wholesome, real-food goodness to your recipe without any sacrifice to the quality of your dish. The only things you have to lose are:
Cassava flour has a neutral taste and a texture similar to wheat flour (not grainy like some nut flours.)
If you are gluten-free, adding cassava flour (and yuca) into your repertoire is really a “no-brainer.” It will add so much back into your diet that you thought was lost forever.
*See additional yuca/cassava recipes in the recipe dropdown menu located at the top of this post. Discover how you can live happy, healthy and gluten-free with CrazyForYuca.com! Your days of feeling deprived are over!!!
For more information on the nutritional value of Cassava Flour see: Getting To Know Cassava (Yuca) Flour
There are many reasons for this choice. First – it tastes great, practically indistinguishable from wheat flour! It has no fillers and is not enriched with anything. The only ingredients are cassava/yuca and water. Otto’s Cassava Flour is certified non-GMO, gluten-free, and Paleo. Many other cassava flours are made by peeling and then sun-drying the root. This allows fermentation which can create a sour tasting and musty smelling flour. Otto’s Cassava Flour is made in Brazil, (not Africa like some brands) where it’s peeled and baked according to their proprietary method – with no fermentation or opportunity for mold growth. As someone with autoimmune issues, avoiding mold is a top priority. Otto’s is the highest quality, cleanest tasting flour. If you tried a different brand of cassava flour and didn’t like the taste of your recipe, don’t give up before trying Otto’s. You won’t be sorry.
Otto’s Cassava Flour is available in small specialty markets or online here!
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Otto’s Naturals 100% Natural Cassava Flour Made from Yuca Root Bag, 2 Pound
*Printer-friendly recipe below*
Ingredients for cassava flour dough:
-1 1/2 cups Otto’s Cassava Flour
-2 tablespoons organic 100% maple syrup
-1 organic, cage-free egg (I use duck eggs since I’m sensitive to chicken eggs, but either can be used.)
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda (I use Bob’s Red Mill Baking Soda)
-1/2 teaspoon xantham gum
-1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
-1/2 cup Spectrum Organic Vegetable Shortening
-1/2 cup filtered water
What makes this crust so flakey and delicious?
Spectrum Organic Vegetable Shortening. Click below to check it out:
Ingredients for filling:
-1/2 cup raw almond butter – divided (I use Trader Joe’s Raw Unsalted Almond Butter)
-1/2 cup fruit spread – I use St. Dalfour Strawberry 100% Fruit Spread (Sweetened only with real fruit and concentrated grape juice.)
(-1/2 cup chopped raw or dry roasted pecans – divided (I use Trader Joe’s Dry Toasted Pecan Pieces)
-1 teaspoon cinnamon – divided (I use Primal Palate Cinnamon)
Check out St. Dalfour 100% Fruit Spread by clicking below:
Topping ingredients:
-1 organic cage-free egg – whisked for use as egg wash
-1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (I use Primal Palate Cinnamon.)
-1/4 cup chopped raw or dry roasted pecans (I use Trader Joe’s Dry Toasted Pecan Pieces)
To make cassava flour dough: In a large bowl, blend Otto’s Cassava Flour, baking soda, xantham gum, and salt. In a second bowl, whisk egg and add organic maple syrup and water. Combine contents of the two bowls. Add Spectrum Organic Vegetable Shortening and blend until a dough is formed. Once mixing with a spoon becomes too difficult, use your hands to fully incorporate ingredients into a dough. (A stand mixer can also be used.)
Divide dough into 2 equal balls. Roll out each dough ball between 2 pieces of parchment paper to form the base of the Pinwheel Cookies.
Spread half of the almond butter (1/4 cup) on top of each piece of rolled-out dough, leaving a 1/2 inch plain edge along one side. (This will prevent filling from overflowing over the top of the pastry when being rolled up.)
Place half of the strawberry fruit spread (1/4 cup) on top of the almond butter, for each of the two rolled-out pieces of dough. Any preferred fruit spread flavor can be used for these Pinwheel Cookies. Some great options include apricot, blueberry, mixed berry, raspberry, or peach!
Spread fruit preserves evenly over almond butter, remembering to leave 1/2 plain edge on one side.
Sprinkle each rolled-out dough with half of the cinnamon and chopped pecans (or other preferred chopped nut.)
Starting with the end where the almond butter and fruit spread were spread right up to the edge, tightly roll dough from one end to the other into a jelly roll. I find it helpful to lift parchment paper to guide the dough. (Note: In the picture below I didn’t leave enough of a plain edge to prevent almond butter and jam from overflowing at the top. Oops! Live and learn! )
Ensure that pinwheel log is rolled-up as tight as possible (no air within the log.)
Rolled-up Strawberry Almond Butter Pinwheel Cookie log.
Wrap Strawberry Almond Butter Pinwheel Cookie logs tightly in either parchment or plastic wrap and place in freezer for one hour. (I prefer using the same parchment I just used to roll out dough. This prevents waste as well as provides a non-toxic wrap for my logs as compared to plastic wrap.) Placing Pinwheel logs into the freezer is needed to firm up ingredients so they will hold their shape during slicing into individual cookies. This will enable the creation of the pinwheel design. If sliced at room temperature, layers blend together during slicing. If frozen for longer than 1 hour, dough becomes brittle and crumby when slicing into cookies. If this occurs, simply leave log out on the counter for a few minutes before continuing to slice.
Remove logs from freezer, unwrap and place on cutting board. Use a sharp knife to slice each log into 12 Strawberry Almond Butter Pinwheel Cookies. Test readiness for slicing by starting at one end (since each end is unlikely to form a perfect pinwheel design.) It’s the proper temperature for slicing when a sharp knife easily slices through log without the dough crumbling or log losing its shape.
Place Pinwheel Cookies onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. (The same piece of parchment can be wiped clean and re-used.)
Whisk an egg and brush top of each cookie with egg wash. Sprinkle with cinnamon and chopped pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until edges begin to brown.
Enjoy as a delectable dessert or as a pastry at your next brunch!
Chocolate Variation! Everything is delicious with chocolate – am I right???
For the chocolate version, simply swap 1/2 cup melted chocolate in place of the strawberry jam, and immediately roll after spreading chocolate and sprinkling cinnamon and nuts. Rolling will be hampered if chocolate is left to cool and harden.
I use Enjoy Life Dark Chocolate Morsels. I prefer dark chocolate because it’s lower in sugar. Enjoy Life dark and semi-sweet chocolate chips are both gluten, dairy, nut and soy-free as well as non-GMO verified. If you like your cookies sweet then you may prefer using semi-sweet chocolate. Click link below to check out Enjoy Life Morsels.
By ordering recommended products through our website we get a small percentage of the sale which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional charge to you, and shipping is always free. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
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Healthy Eating Tip: Choose almond butter over peanut butter!
Both peanuts and almonds are a good source of protein, have heart healthy monounsaturated fats, have similar amounts of calories, contain fiber, and have vitamins and minerals such as potassium, biotin, magnesium, and zinc. However, there are a few big reasons to choose almond butter over peanut butter for optimal health.
One of the main reasons I limit my intake of peanuts is because they can be inflammatory within the body. Systemic inflammation is believed to be an underlying cause of many debilitating illnesses including heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, irritable bowl syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and chronic pain. Omega 6 fats cause inflammation, while Omega 3 fats reduce it. Peanut butter contains too much Omega 6 fats, which can disturb the healthy balance between Omega 3 and 6 fats within the body. While a 2:1 ratio between Omega 6 and Omega 3 fats is recommended, as a result of the Standard American Diet the ratio is more often about 20:1 (1.)
The second reason I choose almond butter is because almonds are alkalizing while peanuts are acidic within the body. We are susceptible to illness when the body is in an acidic state. Our blood should be slightly alkaline (just higher than a ph of 7.) Since most Americans consume an overabundance of acidic foods such as meat, dairy, wheat, sugar, alcohol, and coffee, it’s important to find areas to make swaps to more alkaline foods whenever possible to keep our bodies in balance (2, 3.)
A further problem with peanuts is that they are prone to mold growth. This is a major trigger for asthma, allergic reactions, as well as autoimmune disease (1.)
As compared to peanut butter, almond butter has significantly more iron, calcium, and vitamin E (an antioxidant that can stop the development of plaque within the arteries,) as well as 25% more monounsaturated fats (a further link to a reduction of heart disease.) Almond butter also has half the saturated fat as peanut butter (4.)
Overall, almond butter has clear advantages over peanut butter. If peanut butter is eaten, be sure to choose an organic brand with no additives, hydrogenated oils or added sugar. The ingredients should simply be peanuts or peanuts and salt. Choose peanut butter made with Valencia peanuts since they’re grown in a way that doesn’t promote mold growth. While eating peanut butter, eat foods or take supplements that contain Omega 3 fats to keep the Omega 6:3 ratio in balance (.1)
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Ditch the grain with these incredible gluten and grain-free Strawberry Almond Butter Pinwheel Cookies made with cassava flour. You'll never miss the grain! They're the perfect to accompany your afternoon coffee or tea, brunch item, or dessert. They're sweetened with only a touch of maple syrup and strawberry jam. Who says unprocessed, "real" food can't be a scrumptious treat???
In a large bowl, blend cassava flour, xantham gum, salt, and baking soda.
In a small bowl, whisk egg. Add maple syrup and water and fully combine.
Combine the wet and dry ingredient bowl contents and add Spectrum Organic Vegetable Shortening. Blend into a dough, first by mixing with a spoon and then using hands to fully incorporate ingredients. If dough is too dry, add additional water - 1 Tbsp at a time. If dough is too wet, add additional cassava flour - 1 Tbsp at a time.
Split dough into 2 equal sized balls.
Place dough balls, one at a time, on a piece of parchment paper.
Roll out each of the 2 dough balls between 2 pieces of parchment paper until they're about 1/4 inch thick.
Remove top piece of parchment paper and place each rolled-out dough, with bottom parchment, onto a baking sheet.
Spread half of the almond butter (1/4 cup) onto each of the 2 pieces of rolled-out dough, leaving a 1/2 inch plain edge along one side. (This will prevent filling from overflowing at the top of the pastry when rolled up.)
Spread half of the strawberry jam (1/4 cup) to fully cover almond butter. (Any preferred jam flavor can be used such as raspberry, apricot, peach, blueberry, mixed berry, etc.)
Sprinkle 1/2 tsp cinnamon evenly over each of the 2 rolled-out pastries.
Sprinkle half of the chopped pecans (1/4 cup) over each of the 2 rolled-out pastries.
Starting with the end where the almond butter and jam were spread right to the edge, roll dough into a tight jelly roll. (I find it helpful to lift parchment to help guide the dough. See picture in body of post.)
Wrap each of the 2 individual Pinwheel Cookie logs tightly in either parchment or plastic wrap and place in freezer for one hour. (Placing logs in freezer is needed to firm up ingredients so they hold their shape during slicing - allowing for the pinwheel design.) The log is ready for slicing when a sharp knife easily slices through log without the dough losing its shape or crumbling. If crumbling occurs, the log froze excessively. Simply leave log out on counter for a few minutes before slicing.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place individual Strawberry Almond Butter Pinwheel Cookie slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. (The same parchment can be used.)
In a small bowl, crack and whisk an egg.
Brush the top of each cookie with egg wash.
Sprinkle a touch of cinnamon on top of each cookie.
Sprinkle chopped pecans on top of each cookie.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until edges begin to brown.
Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!!
Chocolate Variation: Substitute 1/2 cup melted chocolate for the strawberry jam in the recipe above. Melt and then spread chocolate directly over the almond butter on the rolled-out dough. Be sure to roll up the pinwheels immediately after spreading chocolate. Once chocolate cools it will harden and hamper rolling. All other instruction steps are the same for both variations. Use dark chocolate for a dairy-free, less sweet version or dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate for a sweeter cookie. I use Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips, as they are gluten, dairy, nut and soy-free as well as non-GMO verified.
*These freeze perfectly.
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Disclaimer– In 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.
Otto’s Cassava Flour If you haven’t tried Otto’s Cassava Flour yet, what are you waiting for?? Otto’s Naturals 100% Natural Cassava Flour Made from Yuca Root Bag, 2 PoundCassava flour is a relatively new flour that is starting to become popular in the healthy …
Not sure what to do with your Thanksgiving turkey leftovers? Sick of eating plain, dry turkey? This Turkey Bacon Yuca Salad will forever change your perception of leftover turkey. Think potato salad mixed with chicken salad – only way better!!! The addition of organic turkey …
If you haven’t tried yuca (a.k.a. cassava) yet, you are in for a treat! Yuca is in many ways similar to a potato in that it’s white, has a very mild taste, and takes on the flavor of the sauces and spices within which it is cooked. It has the amazing ability of being transformed into a number of exciting things like flatbreads, pizza and pie crusts, tortillas, cookies, pancakes, and dough that can be used to make any number of things – such as Yuca Empanadas! Check out the recipe tab above for lots of exciting ideas!
This Roasted Root Vegetable With Yuca recipe makes a perfect side dish for Thanksgiving! It’s especially good for those avoiding stuffing as a result of a gluten-free, grain-free, or Paleo diet. Yuca adds an additional texture to this dish. It’s slightly more firm and chewy (in a good way) as compared to the other vegetables. It’s hard to describe, but trust me it’s good!!! If you try it, please comment below and let me know what you think!
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*Full Printable Recipe Below*
Ingredients:
-3/4 pound fresh or frozen yuca/cassava (the fresh yuca pictured below is about 3/4 pound)
-4 organic carrots – sliced (I enjoy using organic tricolor carrots from Trader Joe’s)
-1 organic beet (Note: the beet color bleeds onto the other vegetables. This isn’t a problem, but omit if this will bother you.)
-2 large organic sweet potatoes – chopped
-2 large parsnips – sliced
-1 turnip – chopped
-1 organic leek or onion – chopped
-1 organic red pepper – chopped
-4-6 large organic garlic cloves – minced
-1 tablespoon fresh organic rosemary
-1 tablespoon fresh organic thyme
-3 tablespoons avocado oil – (I use ChosenFoods 100% Pure avocado oil)
-1 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt
-black pepper to taste
Instructions:
This dish can be made with fresh or frozen yuca. If using fresh yuca, it must first be peeled and cut into a few pieces before boiling. Frozen yuca is already peeled and cut into pieces. Both fresh and frozen yuca must be boiled for 15-20 minutes before roasting in the oven with the other vegetables.
This is what fresh yuca looks like. Fresh yuca can often be found in Asian, Latin and other specialty markets. I sometimes find it in large supermarkets as well.
See: About Yuca: How to Peel Fresh Yuca if using fresh yuca and are in need of detailed instructions on how to peel it.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add the yuca.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
While the yuca is boiling, peel and chop the other vegetables so they will all be ready to go into the oven at the same time.
There are a wide variety of root vegetables that can be used in this recipe! I like to use sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and beets. Turnips, celeriac, white potatoes, and rutabaga can also be used. Chose what you like, or what you have available. I also like to add leeks or onions, as well as peppers and garlic for more flavor and nutritional value. Rosemary and thyme add that familiar flavor that one expects from a good Thanksgiving side dish.
Once yuca is boiled, drain in colander, and allow to cool slightly. Once cool enough to handle, cut each piece of yuca in half to remove the stem that runs through the center. Cut boiled yuca into chunks.
In a large bowl, place all cut vegetables, along with oil, herbs, salt and pepper. Blend thoroughly.
Place onto a baking pan or oven safe baking dish.
Place into preheated oven for 45 minutes. Mix vegetables halfway through to ensure even cooking.
While great for Thanksgiving, these Roasted Root Vegetables With Yuca are great for any day of the year, or for any meal! I often make a big portion and eat it all week for breakfast with my eggs! It’s like healthier hash browns. When I break the yolk of these sunny side up eggs and it drips all over the vegetables, it’s pure heaven!!! This dish is also great for brunches!
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Healthy Eating Tip: Add yuca to your diet! Yuca is an excellent source of vitamin C, and a good source of manganese, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins. In our mineral deplete world, it’s also nice to know that yuca provides some copper, zinc, calcium, and iron! Yuca is high in carbs and not particularly high in protein, so it’s best to eat it alongside a healthy source of protein to be considered a complete meal. But don’t be scared off by the fact that it is a carb (which has become a nasty 4-letter word!) Yuca is a whole-food, non-inflammatory, non-GMO source of carbs, and it’s lower in carbohydrate than wheat, rice, yellow corn, or sorghum! It’s gluten and grain free and has a low glycemic index of 46! This means it releases glucose into the bloodstream at a slow, steady rate without causing blood sugar spikes. This is why it’s recommended for diabetics! Yuca also contains a significant amount of resistant starch, a type of insoluble fiber which makes its way all the way to the large intestines undigested (which means those calories don’t count!) It then becomes food for beneficial probiotic bacteria in the colon, thereby supporting colon health (10,11, 12.) Within the large intestines it ferments into short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, which provide numerous potential health benefits including:
So eat yuca!!!!!
See: About Yuca: Yuca (Cassava) Nutrition Facts for more information on the nutritional value of yuca.
See: Getting to Know Yuca (Cassava)
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This recipe can be made with whatever root vegetables you enjoy! As long as yuca (a.k.a. cassava) is included, it will be delicious and satisfying. Other root vegetable options include sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, parsnips, turnips, celery root, and rutabagas. Choose what you like, or what is available, and enjoy!
Preheat oven to 425 degress.
In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Meanwhile, if using fresh yuca, remove peel and cut into 3 or 4 pieces. See: About Yuca: How to Peel Fresh Yuca for step by step directions if needed. If using frozen yuca, it is already peeled, cut, and ready to be boiled.
Place peeled, cut yuca into boiling water and boil for 15 minutes - until fork tender. Ensure that water fully covers yuca throughout boiling.
While yuca is boiling, cut up the other vegetables. Place them into a baking dish lined with parchment paper (greatly aids clean up and prevents food from sticking to the pan.)
Once yuca is fork tender, drain water.
Once cool enough to handle, place yuca on a cutting board. Cut each piece in half vertically to remove the stick-like stem that runs through the center.
Once stems are removed, chop boiled yuca into chunks and place into the baking dish with the other root vegetables.
Add avocado oil, and mix well ensuring all vegetables are coated evenly.
Add rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper, and mix to fully combine.
Bake for 45 minutes, turning vegetables halfway through to ensure even cooking.
Enjoy as part of your Thanksgiving feast, or any other meal.
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Disclaimer– In 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.
This is not your typical, dry Thanksgiving turkey! This bird is moist and flavorful and is made a day ahead so it can soak up its juices overnight and free you up to enjoy your guests. It makes a scrumptious main meal and side dish …
Whether right out of the pan or filled with your favorite toppings, these tortilla wraps are outstanding! While cooking up a batch I literally have to stop myself from eating them all before I finish making them. They’re sooooo yummy on their own… especially warm! …
If you’re looking for a crowd-pleaser you’ve found it! Young and old, as a meal, side dish or an appetizer for guests, these empanadas are a hit with everyone! (Whether the person is gluten-free or not!) They can also be made with beans for a delicious vegetarian version.
Yuca makes a delectable dough! No need to be concerned that these won’t taste as good as those made with wheat or gluten-free flour. Yuca is no inferior, gluten-free choice! I’d argue that these are actually superior to traditionally made empanadas, not just in nutritional value, but in overall taste! I’ve made these for my family, guests, and for my Recipe Swap Club with 5 star ratings all around! No matter what I’ve made for my Recipe Swap Club since, someone always brings up how amazing the empanadas were at EVERY MEETING! They’re that memorable! Try them out for yourself and comment below to let me know what you think.
These Yuca Empanadas can be custom-sized to fit any need. Make little 3 inch appetizer-sized ones (pictured above.) They’re so much fun to eat with your hands and maybe dip into guacamole or salsa! Or make medium-sized, or even giant meal-sized ones!!
This Yuca Empanada recipe is what truly made me go Crazy For Yuca! It’s so perfectly crunchy on the outside and bursting with mouth-watering flavor on the inside! I cannot say enough about how much my family and I enjoy them. Everyone is ecstatic to run to the table on empanada night!
This is the way my husband loves them – slathered with salsa and guacamole! He just picks up the whole thing and takes a big bite! No forks or knives needed!!
It’s still a bit hard to believe that a whole-food, non-inflammatory starch that’s filled with immune-building vitamin C and resistant starch can be this deliciously satisfying! Yuca is truly in a class by itself!!
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Ingredients: (4 servings)
-1 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen yuca
-2 tablespoons avocado oil – divided (plus additional to brush on empanadas just before baking.) I use Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil.
-1 teaspoon pink Himalayan sea salt– divided (I choose Himalayan sea salt because of its purity and rich mineral content as compared to other salt.)
-1 teaspoon garlic powder – divided
-optional – 1-2 tablespoons either tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, or coconut flour (used to decrease stickiness of dough. If dough is too sticky to work with, it can also be placed into refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes.)
–Vitamix (or other food processor)
*By purchasing items through our affiliate links we get a small commission which helps support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca at no additional cost to you. All recommended products are ones that I use in my own kitchen. Thank you for supporting the efforts of CrazyForYuca.com to bring you the lastest yuca/cassava recipes when you shop online!
If using fresh, be sure to peel yuca before boiling. For step by step directions on how to peel yuca, see: About Yuca: How To Peel Fresh Yuca (Cassava.) Jennifer from PredominantlyPaleo was the originator of “yuca dough.” I vary her recipe slightly to make these empanadas. See her dough recipe here.
Once fresh yuca is peeled, cut it into 3 or 4 pieces before placing it into a pot of boiling water. Frozen yuca (pictured below) is already peeled and cut. It’s as easy to make as boiling rice!
Boil until fork tender (about 15-20 minutes.) Drain and discard water.
Remove stem. Once boiled yuca is cool enough to handle, place on a cutting board. Cut each piece in half lengthwise, remove and discard the stem that runs through the center. (That stick-like center will not be pleasant in your empanadas!)
Chop boiled, cored yuca into cubes before putting it in the food processor (the smaller the better to not over-heat the machine.)
Pulverize into dough. Place 1 to 1 1/2 cup of yuca chunks into Vitamix (or other food processor) at a time, along with a pinch of Himalayan sea salt, pinch of garlic powder and a drizzle of avocado oil. Blend for about 30 seconds until yuca turns into a ball of dough. I never get tired of watching boiled yuca turn into dough in a matter of seconds! Watch the video below and you will see what I mean!
Place yuca dough ball on parchment paper. If too sticky to handle, I typically throw it into the freezer for 5-10n minutes and that usually does the trick. Adding a little tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, or coconut flour until it becomes manageable (just like bread dough) can also help.
See: Tips For Handling Sticky Dough.
Divide dough into balls, the number and size depending on desired size. One cup of yuca can make 6-8 appetizer-sized empanadas, 4 medium-sized ones, or one giant meal-sized one. (They are yummy no matter what size they are!!)
Roll out each dough ball in between 2 pieces of parchment paper to form a circle.
Ingredients:
-1 pound organic, grass-fed, ground beef, turkey, or chicken. (For vegetarian option I use 2 cans organic, BPA free black beans or lentils.)
-1 tablespoon avocado oil (I use Chosen Foods 100% Pure Avocado Oil)
-1 large onion – chopped
-2 cloves organic garlic – minced
-2 tablespoons Primal Palate Taco Seasoning (or gluten-free taco seasoning of choice, or a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and cumin.)
–Himilayan sea salt – to taste
–lemon pepper – to taste
Saute onions and garlic with avocado oil in a pan. Add ground beef, turkey, or chicken (black beans or lentils for vegetarian option) and cook until no longer pink. Add taco seasoning, pink Himalayan sea salt, lemon pepper and cook a few more minutes.
Fill one side of each rolled-out dough circle with Taco Meat (or bean mixture,) leaving a rim of dough along the edge.
Fold dough in half to create a semi-circle, pinching edges together to seal in meat (or beans.) If dough sticks to your fingers, it may be easier to fold the entire piece of parchment in half, along with the dough, as pictured below. Brush top of empanada with avocado oil and sprinkle with a pinch of Himalayan sea salt.
Bake at 375 on parchment lined baking sheet for 20 minutes. Flip empanadas and bake for another 5-10 minutes until crust starts to brown and get crispy. Enjoy!!
These Latin delights can be made ahead and frozen, ready to be pulled out for a delicious meal or appetizer any time! Nothing makes my older daughter happier than being sent back to her apartment with a bunch of frozen empanadas to quickly heat up as a scrumptious meal any time! It’s hard to believe that you’re actually eating healthy when eating these empanadas, but you are!!!
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Healthy Eating Tip: Choose grass-fed beef. Many make big claims about the health benefits of grass-fed beef over grain-fed beef. At the same time there is research showing that the differences in the amount of debated nutrients are minimal. After reading the literature, I’ve decided to buy grass-fed mainly because cattle raised on a pasture have been proven to be healthier and are not injected with antibiotics. I don’t want to eat meat from cattle that are stressed and diseased as a result of their confined, unsanitary living conditions, then injected with antibiotics in order to manage the disease caused by this horrendous environment! I also don’t want to support such cruel practices! In addition, antibiotic use in animals increases the risk of antibiotic resistance in humans, which is a real concern for our future. It is also an agreed upon fact that grass-fed beef is much leaner and is higher in omega 3 fatty acids, which may reduce the risk of heart disease. Raising animals on a pasture is also good for the environment. It has been shown to decrease soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and improve water quality (due to decreased pollution) (1 , 2, 3, 4, 5.) The taste of grass-fed beef, compared to grain-fed, is slightly different, and the meat is not as tender (due to lower fat content.) It may take some getting used to for some people, but my family always enjoys it. Grass-fed is a bit more expensive, but I think it’s worth it. I shop at Trader Joe’s a lot and their prices are excellent. Their organic, grass-fed ground beef is $6.99 per pound! They also have Grass-Fed Angus Beef Strip Loin Steak in the freezer section for $9.99 per pound! (I feel like an add for Trader Joe’s right now!! I promise – I have no connection to Trader Joe’s and receive no money for promoting their products. I just love that store and feel so thankful that I live close to one!!! Not everyone is so lucky.) I have both in my fridge at the moment so I snapped a picture in case you are interested.
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These grain-free empanadas are deliciously crispy on the outside and bursting with Mexican flavor on the inside! Make appetizer or meal-sized ones. No matter the size, they'll be a hit with everyone!
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Meanwhile, if using fresh yuca, thoroughly peel and cut yuca into 3-4 pieces. See: How To Peel Fresh Yuca (Cassava). Frozen yuca is already peeled and cut.
Place yuca into pot, ensuring yuca is fully covered by water. Return to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes until fork tender.
Once yuca is fork tender, drain water and allow to cool for a few minutes.
Once cool enough to handle, place cooked yuca on a cutting board. Cut each piece of yuca in half lengthwise to remove and discard the stick-like center that runs through the middle.
Cut boiled yuca into chunks (the smaller the better - to not overwhelm your food processor.)
Place yuca chunks into food processor in batches of about 1cup (I use a Vitamix.) Add 1-2 tsp avocado oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp garlic powder per cup of yuca.
Blend until a dough forms. This takes about 30 seconds in a Vitamix, but may take longer in other food processors.
Spoon blended dough onto a cutting board lined with parchment paper. (Parchment is a non-stick surface and will help greatly with managing this sticky dough.)
Divide dough into equal sized balls (the number of balls depends on the size of the empanadas you are making.) Each cup of yuca can make about 6-8 appetizer-sized, 4 medium-sized, or 1 giant meal-sized empanada.
Optional - Sprinkle each ball of dough with a little tapioca, arrowroot, or coconut flour and knead into dough to decrease stickiness. Add as much as needed until dough can be handled without sticking excessively to your hands. It should look and feel just like bread dough. Dough can also be made less sticky by placing it into the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes.
Using a rolling pin, roll out each ball between 2 pieces of parchment paper until it forms a circle. Remove top layer of parchment.
While yuca is boiling, saute onion and minced garlic in 1 Tbsp avocado oil until slightly brown.
Add ground meat and cook until meat is no longer pink. Drain fat. (Vegetarian option - substitute black beans or lentils.) Add 1-2 Tbsp Primal Palate Taco Seasoning, plus sea salt and lemon pepper - to taste. Cook for another few minutes to allow flavors to blend. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Spoon filling on to one half of each rolled-out dough circle, leaving a rim of dough along the edge.
Fold each dough circle in half to create a half-moon shape and pinch the edges together to seal in the meat (or beans.) You may prefer to press edges together with a fork. (If dough is sticky or too thin, I fold the parchment paper in half along with the dough, push down edges to seal, then uncover parchment paper.)
Place empanadas on parchment lined baking sheet.
Brush the top of each empanada with olive oil. Sprinkle a pinch of Himalayan sea salt on top.
Bake in a pre-heated oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Flip empanadas and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until dough is slightly browned along the edges. Cooking time will vary based on empanada size.
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“Yuca-ta” Try These Cassava Flour Pancakes got their name because no one can believe they’re made with anything other than wheat flour! The taste is truly indistinguishable! These pancakes have been taste tasted on my husband, my kids, and a bunch of their friends with …
Welcome to the first post of the new blog Crazy For Yuca! What is yuca??? It’s the key to living happy, healthy and gluten-free! ***** First, let’s answer the basic question on everybody’s mind – “What is yuca???” Yuca (pronounced yoo-ka) is an incredibly …
Come one, come all! The time has come! Whether you’re following a gluten-free, Paleo, Vegan, or Autoimmune Protocol, there is now a scrumptious flatbread that you can eat without guilt!
Who could believe that delicious flatbread can be made simply by boiling some yuca, blending it with oil, salt and garlic powder (or any other spices you like), rolling it out, and baking it! It really is too good to be true! Thank you Jennifer Robbins of PredominenatlyPaleo.com for discovering this ingenious fact! While I use a similar “yuca dough” recipe to make this flatbread, Jennifer calls hers pizza crust. Two AMAZING options! See her full recipe and video links below.
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One of my husband’s favorite sayings is, “Everything is easy when you know how to do it.” This idea totally applies to making yuca flatbread. While it isn’t complicated, there are a few tips and tricks that will help avoid some common pitfalls. We’ll take it step by step. Mastering the making of this dough is very important, since it’s the foundation of countless recipes to come!
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Ingredients:
– 4 cups fresh or frozen yuca, peeled, boiled and cut into chunks (This is the equivalent of one 1 1/2 pound bag of Goya frozen yuca or 2 medium sized fresh yuca.)
– 3 tablespoons avocado oil – divided
– 1/2 teaspoon organic garlic powder
– 1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt (chosen for its high level of purity and mineral content)
– parchment paper
This flatbread can be made using either fresh or frozen yuca. The result will be the same either way, so use whatever feels more comfortable for you. If using frozen, it’s already peeled, cut, and ready to be boiled. There’s no need to even defrost it before boiling. Many find frozen yuca to be much more convenient.
If using fresh yuca it must be fully peeled before it gets boiled. For step by step instructions on how to peel yuca see: About Yuca: How to Peel Fresh Yuca (Cassava) on this site.
Once fresh yuca is peeled, cut it into 3 or 4 pieces and place it in a pot of boiling water. Ensure that the yuca is fully covered by water. Once water returns to a boil, cook 15-20 minutes, until just fork tender. It is very important not to overcook! Drain in a colander.
Once cool enough to handle, cut each piece of yuca in half lengthwise (top to bottom) and remove the stick-like stem that runs through the center.
Chop boiled yuca into small chunks before placing it into food processor. *Pulverize yuca in small batches (1 to 1 1/2 cups at a time) to avoid overheating the machine. Overheating the food processor is very easy to do and can be one of the most frustrating parts of making yuca dough. No one wants to wait 10 minutes for the machine to cool down in the middle of making dough! When I first started making this I would overheat my machine many times in the same day!!! Now I just pulverize about 1 cup at a time and it’s “easy peasy lemon squeezy” – as my daughters used to say! Trust me on this one. You will save a lot of time in the end.
I use a Vitamix which works very well because of its tamper (a tool used to push the food down onto the blade while it spins.) If using a different food processor you may need to stop a few times to scrape yuca off the wall of the bowl so that it blends completely.
Yuca chunks literally transform into dough in under a minute! (maybe a bit longer if a Vitamix isn’t being used.) It’s truly exciting to witness the first time you do it! Check out my little video!
Once dough forms, place it onto a cutting board lined with parchment paper. Beware – dough can be very sticky! Parchment paper is a non-stick surface which is needed to easily work with this dough. If dough seems too sticky to work with there are a few tricks that will help.
1. I try not to touch the dough much. I spoon it from the Vitamix right onto parchment paper. I then place a second piece of parchment on top, then roll it out.
2. Refrigerating or freezing dough for a few minutes will help greatly to reduce stickiness.
3. Kneading a little tapioca flour, arrowroot flour or coconut flour into the dough and keeping fingertips coated in flour will help as well. For more tips see About Yuca: Tips For Handling Sticky Dough.
Using a rolling pin, roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper. Decide how thick or thin to make it. Thinner dough will come out crispier, although this also depends on how long it’s cooked. I love it crispy along the edges and a little soft and doughy in the center.
Remove top piece of parchment and place flatbread (along with bottom piece of parchment) on a cookie sheet. If top parchment sticks to the dough, place the whole thing into the refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes. The top parchment will then easily be removed.
Brush top of flatbread with a little avocado oil. Sprinkle with a pinch of Himalayan sea salt and garlic powder (according to taste.)
Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, depending on thickness. Once edges start to brown and a spatula easily slides between flatbread and parchment, it’s ready to be flipped. Cook on second side for an additional 5-10 minutes – until reaching desired doneness.
Adjust cooking time according to how doughy or crispy you like it. Cooking at a higher temperature (400 degrees) will make the dough crispier as well. It can come out soft and bendable like a typical pizza crust or more crispy like a cracker. There’s no right or wrong way to bake these. They come out delicious no matter what!
Slice immediately into desired shapes with a pizza cutter. Delays in cutting will make slicing more difficult and increase breakage. Enjoy!
Variation: “Everything But The Bagel” Flatbread – One of my favorite variations is topping this flatbread with Trader Joe’s “Everything But the Bagel Seasoning Blend.” This seasoning contains all the toppings you would expect on an “Everything bagel” including sesame seeds, sea salt, garlic, onion, and poppy seeds (I’m happy to say there are no caraway seeds and no gluten ingredients.) Who needs bagels when you have this! Cut into whatever shape you want. Eat plain or top with anything you would put on a bagel! Yummy “whole-food” goodness!!! *Note- the addition of this seasoning would prevent this flatbread from being approved for those following an autoimmune protocol.
By ordering recommended products through our website we get a small commission which helps to support the maintenance of Crazy For Yuca. There’s absolutely no additional cost to you. All recommended products are ones that I use in my own kitchen. Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to bring you the latest yuca/cassava recipes!
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See Original Recipe by Jennifer Robbins here at PredominanatlyPaleo.com
See Video – Yuca Dough – PredominanatlyPaleo.com
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Healthy Eating Tip: Make extra and freeze them! Spend the time once to boil up a big batch of yuca, blend in food processor in 1 cup batches, then roll out into individual flatbreads. (I make each individual flatbread with 1 cup of boiled, chopped yuca.) Separate each flatbread with parchment paper, place in an airtight plastic bag, and store in your freezer until you’re ready for a warm, fresh flatbread in about 30 minutes. Simply toss one into the oven to bake while you prepare the rest of your dinner (or bake one to enjoy as a delicious snack anytime!) To retain freshness of leftovers, freeze baked flatbread on the day it’s baked. Baked flatbreads won’t stay fresh when simply wrapped up and left at room temperature or put in the refrigerator.
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What if you want to make flatbread, but don’t own a food processor? You’re in luck! Stacy from PaleoGoneSassy.com has devised a way to make this same yuca dough on the stovetop with grated yuca/cassava! The main reason I don’t do it this way is because I haven’t found a store near me that carries grated yuca. The one time I found it was at a Wal-Mart and they only had one package Goya grated yuca left! Unfortunately, it isn’t carried at the Wal-Mart near my house. You can check Wal-Mart.com using the store locator to see if it’s carried at a store near you. It can also be gotten at Asian markets if you live near one. Click here to check out Stacy’s technique.
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I can’t wait to hear your feedback about these incredible grain-free, egg-free flatbreads! Once you master the making of this dough there is no limit to what you can create with yuca! Give them a try and let me know any new variations you come up with!
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Makes four 8” round flatbreads
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Meanwhile, if using fresh yuca, remove bark-like peel with a vegetable peeler or sharp knife before boiling. See: About Yuca: How To Peel Fresh Yuca (Cassava.) Once peeled, cut each yuca root into 3 or 4 pieces. Place frozen or peeled fresh yuca pieces into boiling water - ensuring yuca is fully covered throughout boiling. Return to a boil and cook for 15-20 minutes, until fork tender. Drain water.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Once cool enough to handle, place cooked yuca on cutting board and cut each piece in half lengthwise (from top to bottom) to remove the stick-like center.
Cut boiled yuca into chunks (the smaller the better - to not overwhelm your food processor.)
Place yuca chunks into food processor (I use a Vitamix) in batches of about 1 - 1 1/2 cups. Add 1-2 tsp avocado oil, 1/4 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp garlic powder per cup of yuca. Blend for about 30 seconds until a dough forms. (It will likely take a bit longer with a traditional food processor.)
Spoon dough onto a cutting board lined with parchment paper. Note: dough is very sticky. Either spoon directly on to parchment paper without touching it or knead some arrowroot, tapioca, or coconut flour into dough until it can be handled without sticking to fingers.
Using a rolling pin, roll out dough between 2 pieces of parchment paper. Decide how thick or thin to make it. Thinner flatbread will be crispier and thicker will be softer.
Remove top piece of parchment paper and place rolled-out crust and bottom piece of parchment paper onto a cookie sheet. Brush the top of the dough with a thin layer of avocado oil and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt and garlic powder.
Place in preheated oven and bake. For thin flatbread - bake for 20 minutes before flipping. It's ready to be flipped when edges begin to brown and a spatula easily slides between flatbread and parchment. If flatbread is sticking to parchment, cook for a few additional minutes before flipping. Cook on second side for 5-10 minutes. For thicker flatbread, cook a bit longer.
Adjust cooking time according to desired crispiness. It can be soft and bendable like pizza crust or more crispy like a cracker.
Remove from oven. Slice immediately using a pizza cutter. Delays in slicing may cause it to crumble upon cutting. Enjoy!!
Variation: "Everything But The Bagel" Flatbread - One of my favorite variations is topping this flatbread with Trader Joe's "Everything But the Bagel Seasoning Blend." This seasoning contains all the toppings you would expect on an "Everything bagel" including sesame seeds, sea salt, garlic, onion, and poppy seeds (I'm happy to say there are no caraway seeds.) Simply roll out dough, brush with avocado oil, and sprinkle with amount of "Everything But The Bagel Seasoning" preferred. A true favorite!!
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Disclaimer– In 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.
The Perfect Yuca Chip! I’ve been busily perfecting my yuca chips! I tried fresh vs. frozen yuca, paper thin vs. slightly thicker slices, pan frying vs. oven baking, and 4 different seasoning variations! If you ask me, they’re all pretty terrific! But if I had …
Making yuca fries is super easy! It’s a perfect recipe to try when first experimenting with yuca (a.k.a. cassava.) These fries are baked in the oven (not fried) so their fat content is low – yet their taste satisfaction is high!! They’re crispy on the …
