These cassava balls can be served as an appetizer, snack or dessert. They are crispy outside and soft inside.
Yesterday I posted a recipe for Melado, so today I want to share with you a delicious recipe that uses this syrup. Yuca or cassava balls are a traditional Colombian recipe that you can eat as a side dish, snack or appetizer with your favorite sauce, including Melado, as in this recipe.
This unrefined sugar cane syrup is the perfect complement to these cassava balls. I love the combination of salty and sweet. But feel free to serve them with other sauces if you prefer or serve them plain as a side dish for grilled meats or seafood.
What do you need to make Yuca Balls with Melado
Yuca: This starchy vegetable is also known as cassava. You can use fresh or frozen yuca for this dish.
Oil: Vegetable or canola oil will work to fry these yuca balls.
Melado: This syrup is very popular in Colombia, it's made with raw sugar cane (panela). Here is the link for the my recipe for melado, but you can use dark brown sugar to make it if you don't find panela.
Below you will find the recipe card with ingredients and cooking directions.
Cassava Balls with Melado Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb cooked and mashed yuca or cassava
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Melado
Instructions
- Form small balls with the mashed yuca using your hands and place on a plate.
- Fill a large skillet with oil, deep enough to cover the entire ball and heat over medium-high heat.
- Carefully add the yuca balls to the oil and fry them for about 4 to 5 minutes or until golden on all sides, turning over once about halfway through.
- Remove from the oil and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the oil.
- Place on a serving plate and pour the melado over the yuca balls.
Nutrition
This Bolitas de Yuca con Melado recipe is more proof of just how versatile yuca is and how many ways Colombians have found to enjoy it in their cuisine. This dish is sweet and absolutely fantastic and your kids will love it too!
More recipes to make with Yuca
Barbara
Those look delicous, Erica! Don't think I've ever had yuca; what does it taste like?
Erica
Thank you all for taking the time to leave a comment!
Maria
I often see Yuca in the vegetable market but I have yet to purchase any. I will definitely pick some up in the upcoming days to try this recipe.
shaz
Wow, these look so delicious. I can just imagine that golden deep-fried goodness and the sticky syrup. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oysterculture
These balls look absolutely yummy, and like they would get me in serious trouble. They also look like they have the consistency of doughnuts, which might send me over the edge =) but what a way to go!
Ivy
When I saw them I thought they were loukoumades, kind of doughnut balls we make and serve them with honey. Never heard of Yuca before. Must be great.
Viviana
I love yuca, and this is the first time I've heard of this way of eating it... I'll try it!
girlichef
Oh wow, these sound really, really good! I've never had yuca before...I hope I can find some,I'm intrigued 🙂
Erica
Thank you everyone for visiting!
Sarah Naveen
Thats sounds great Erica..I love yuca..So this will dfntly win my vote.
Sandra g
Yuca is my favorite root vegetable! yummy.
Chef E
I want a little something sweet too, you are teaching me so much about foods I am unfamiliar, and love it. I have been using some raw honey lately on a pinch of bread to avoid over eating on regular sugar, so this is nice to know...
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie
These are scrumptious and sound so good with your special Melado syrup!
rebecca subbiah
oh I want one of these with my cup of tea please!
Gloria
Erica these balls look amazing!!! gloria
Simply Life
YUM! those look soooo perfect to dig into!!!