The EASIEST Boiled Yuca Recipe EVER!

By Published On: January 10th, 2024

This boiled yuca recipe is a simple and versatile side dish and a staple ingredient in most Central American and Caribbean cuisines.

bowl of freshly boiled yuca from costa rica

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About Boiled Yuca

Yuca roots are large tubers endemic to Central America and much of the world. It’s one of the oldest foods around- yuca roots (also spelled yucca) are filling and inexpensive.

Many Latin American countries use yucca in their national recipes- Dominican yuca empanadas, yucca fries, yuca mash, yuca tamales, even Costa Rican enyucados- little cassava patties with cheese and fried until golden.

Cuban party food is not complete without yucca roots boiled and served with garlic and onions- same with Puerto Rico.

costa rican boiled yuca in a wooden bowl on a placemat

Yuca, also spelled yucca, is also called cassava. It’s a long, brown root vegetable with a very tough and waxy dark brown exterior shell. It grows to an almost spiky point at its base and is quite heavy and dense.

You can generally find yucca in most grocery stores- I often find it at Kroger and Sprouts. Yucca does contain a bit of cyanide so it is best to cook it all the way through before serving (obviously).

To peel, you simply (ok it’s not that simple, it’s kind of a pain in the butt) chop off the top and the bottom. Then, create a long lengthwise cut through the tough brown exterior. From there, use a paring knife to remove the exterior. I then cut the yucca into pieces about 3-4 inches long. After boiling, it will separate itself into several longer pieces. You can then mash or fry the pieces if you want- like for Costa Rican yuca fries.

Our Most Popular Costa Rican Recipes:

Boiled Yuca Recipe

Yield- About 2 cups boiled yuca

Ingredients:

  • 1 large yuca root, peeled and sliced into 3-4 inch long chunks
  • 4-6 cups water
  • 2-3 tsp salt

Instructions:

Place all ingredients in your pot and bring to a boil on high. Reduce heat to medium-high and boil, covered for 35-45 minutes, or until yucca is tender but not falling apart. The yucca will change in color from white to light yellow.

Drain and serve as desired.

Instant Pot Instructions:

Boiled yuca is super easy to make in your pressure cooker or Instant Pot. Just put about 1/2 cup of water in the bottom of your pot. Place yucca in the pot, then cover and cook on high pressure for 3-4 minutes. Allow pressure to release on its own before draining and serving.

yuca hervida in wood bowl

Serving Suggestions

This recipe is often served as a side dish alongside Costa Rican chicharrones (pork rinds), and chimichurri. It’s also part of the Costa Rican Vegetable Beef Soup (olla carne), and the Costa Rican vigorón salad.  We often make them into Costa Rican yuca fries too!

Many people serve boiled yuca with lime juice or add garlic, olive oil and salt before serving. Even mashing the boiled yuca with some butter is delicious – it’s like an exotic mashed potato dish! Of course, Costa Ricans serve boiled yuca with Salsa Lizano.

Costa Rican boiled yucca is a gluten-free recipe and also vegan food.

FAQ

Where can I buy yuca?

I find yuca, (also called yucca or cassava) at most grocery stores like Walmart or King Soopers. Any Latin grocery will also have it.

How long does boiled yuca keep?

Boiled yuca keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.

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Printable Recipe

Yield: 2 cups

Boiled Yucca Recipe - Costa Rica

Bowl of freshly boiled yuca from Costa Rica.

This boiled yuca recipe (yuca hervida) from Costa Rica is a simple and versatile side dish and a staple ingredient in most Central American and Caribbean cuisine.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • large yuca root, peeled and sliced into 3-4 in long chunks
  • 4-6 cups water
  • 2-3 tsp salt

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients in your pot and bring to boil on high.
  2. Reduce heat to medium-high and boil, covered for 35-45 minutes, or until yucca is tender but not falling apart.
  3. The yucca will change in color from white to a light yellow.
  4. Drain and serve as desired

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 247Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 3567mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 3gSugar: 3gProtein: 2g

Please double-check this information with your favorite nutrition calculator.

Don’t forget to pin it!

5 Comments

  1. Danielle Fountain November 15, 2021 at 7:44 pm - Reply

    Costa Rica food love to cook it.it like soul food

  2. Melinda Nieto April 12, 2022 at 1:18 pm - Reply

    Hi I wanted to learn how to prepare the yucca root before I buy it, thank you.

  3. Ann June 25, 2024 at 11:23 am - Reply

    Yuca and yucca are entirely different plants. Yuca is also known as cassava or manioc. It is much easier to peel after submerging completely in water for a few days.
    Yucca is also known as Spanish bayonet. The edible part of yucca is the cream colored flower, which is found seasonally in farmers markets (ferias) in Costa Rica and other places.

    • Christa Jimenez June 25, 2024 at 6:13 pm - Reply

      I totally learned something here Ann! Thank you so much for commenting! ??
      °Christa

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Meet Christa

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I’m Christa and I help families plan stress-free, culturally immersive trips to Costa Rica. As a home chef, I also share my passion for Costa Rican food through authentic recipes. My mission is to help your family fall in love with Costa Rica through practical advice, unforgettable experiences, and delicious meals.

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