Alcapurrias de YautĂa y Carne
Crispy, savory fritters made from grated yautĂa (taro root) and a flavorful ground meat filling, a beloved street food and appetizer in Puerto Rico.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 lbs YautĂa (taro root)(peeled and grated)
- 1/2 cup Water(for draining yautĂa)
- 1 lb Ground beef
- 2 tbsp Sofrito
- 1/4 cup Tomato sauce
- 1 tsp Adobo seasoning
- 1 packet SazĂłn con culantro y achiote
- 1/4 cup Green olives(chopped)
- 4 cups Vegetable oil(for frying)
👨‍🍳 Instructions
- 1
Grate the peeled yautĂa. Place grated yautĂa in a cheesecloth or clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible into a bowl. Reserve the liquid.
- 2
In a separate bowl, mix the squeezed yautĂa with a few tablespoons of the reserved yautĂa liquid to bind it. Set aside.
- 3
In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat. Drain off excess fat.
- 4
Add sofrito, tomato sauce, adobo, sazĂłn, and olives to the browned beef. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Let the filling cool.
- 5
Take a portion of the yautĂa mixture and flatten it in your hand. Place about 1-2 tablespoons of the meat filling in the center. Fold the yautĂa mixture over the filling and shape into an oval or football shape, ensuring the filling is completely enclosed.
- 6
Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F (175°C).
- 7
Carefully fry the alcapurrias in batches for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Do not overcrowd the pot.
- 8
Remove alcapurrias from the oil and drain on paper towels. Serve hot.
đź’ˇ Pro Tips
- âś“Ensure the yautĂa is well-drained to prevent the alcapurrias from falling apart during frying.
- âś“The reserved yautĂa liquid can be used to adjust the consistency of the yautĂa dough if it's too dry.
- âś“Fry in batches to maintain the oil temperature for even cooking.
🔄 Variations
- Use a mix of yautĂa and green bananas for the dough.
- Experiment with different fillings, such as shredded chicken or seafood.