Yuca, or Cassava, is a starchy root vegetable. Growing up, my mom peeled it like a potato, cut it into 2-inch pieces and drizzle it with olive oil. It was, traditionally, served with cod fish or pernil (pork). Today, I usually boil the yuca the way my mom did, smother it with sauted onions and olive oil then serve it beside rice and beans. This time, however, I mashed i,t like potatoes, and made a sofrito “gravy”. If you are avoiding oil, come back to this later! The olive oil and sofrito are a necessary pair. I try to avoid oil most of the time but once in a blue moon wont hurt. The old me had oil everyday all of the time, which is not good.”Progress not perfection”.

Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients

12-inch piece of yuca, chopped*

¼ cup of yuca water

½ cup mylk

¼ cup Sofrito

1 pinch sea salt, or to taste

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

¼ tsp adobo (or sea salt), or to taste

1 tbsp chopped cilantro, garnish

*Note: Use a long piece of yuca or pieces that equal about 8 inches or longer.

Instructions

Peel and chop yuca into 1 inch pieces removing all of the skin from the yuca. Bring salted water to a boil in a medium pot then add the yuca. Boil until fork tender (approximately 20-30 minutes). Reserve ¼ Cup of the water you cooked the yuca in, discard the rest. Drain the yuca and place on a cutting board until slight cool. Carefully halve the hot yuca pieces, lengthwise, and remove thin stem in the cores. Now, add the yuca to the pot you cooked it in, over very low heat, along with the mylk, reserved water and salt. Coarsely mash yuca, adding additional mylk, if desired. (Note: Feel free to pulse in a food processor). Meanwhile, add the olive oil and the Sofrito to a small sauce pan over medium heat. Saute the sofrito and olive oil for about 5 minutes then turn the heat down to simmer and cover for additional 5 minutes. Now add the adobo or salt. Serve immediately and top with the olive oil & sofriot mixture. Garnish cilantro, if desired.

Note/Tip: My Sococo/Tom Sococo recipes will also go well on top! If you choose to make these, skip step 6.