These Arañitas and arepitas de yuca fritters are wonderful, flavorful very crispy little fried yuca cakes that are infused with the taste of aromatic aniseed. Easy to make, and ready to serve in not time, it is one of our favorites recipes. Surprise and delight your guests with it!
Why we ❤️ it
If you've read our books or browsed through our recipes in this blog, you'll notice that we often credit the person who gave us the idea, first told us about it, or even gave us their recipe. They can be a friend, a reader, a friend's grandmother, or a stranger we gave a ride home in an isolated part of the country – just to name a few.
This is the case with these arañitas and arepitas de yuca (cassava fritters), one of two traditional arepitas. While I have been enjoying arepitas since... forever, and they have always been one of my favorite Dominican foods, I was taught about arañitas by a friend, and I am so grateful for that because they are another great way to make these tasty, crispy beautifully-golden yuca fritters.
What are arepitas de yuca?
Arepitas de yuca are yuca fritters (frituras) made in the Dominican Republic to serve as a side dish with our lunch meal.
Arañitas and arepitas de yuca fritters
Arepitas vs. arañitas de yuca
The difference between these two side dishes is what side of the grater you use. The arañitas should have lots of fried yuca threads sticking out in all directions, thus the "spidery" look!
It's amazing what a slight change in the process can yield.
Serving suggestions
Arepitas is typically served as part of our lunch meals, and go great with a moro rice, and any of the other suggestions therein. But you can also serve them an appetizer, perhaps with our mayo-ketchup dip, or our avocado dip.
About this recipe
With these recipes or ideas, there is still a long process of testing and getting them ready for publication. But it's easier with that to start with, and we're grateful for the people who share their knowledge with us and the world.
This yuca fritters recipe is an example of this. Without our dear amigo Professor Midence, from Santiago, I may have not found out that, besides my beloved arepas de yuca, there was another version: arañitas, ("little spiders" in Spanish).
Cassava arepas and arañitas are a treat for every special meal. The combination of salt, sugar, and the aromatic flavors of aniseed in a crispy, gently sweet, and savory fritter will make your eyes pop.
Tell me, do you make arepita de yuca at home? Do you make it differently? Let me know in the comments!
Video
Recipe
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[Recipe + Video] Arepitas de Yuca and Arañitas (Cassava Fritters)
Ingredients
- ½ pound yuca (cassava), [0.23 kg] peeled and washed
- 1 teaspoon sugar (white, granulated)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons of aniseed, (anise seeds)
- 1 egg (medium), medium
- 1½ cup vegetable oil, for frying
Instructions
Grate the yuca with the fine side of the grater to make arepitas, or the coarse side to make arañitas. The following steps are the same for both.- In a large bowl combine grated yuca, sugar, salt, egg, and aniseed. Mix the batter until it is well combined.
- Heat oil over medium heat in a small skillet (oil should be at least 1 inch [2.5 cm] high).Add 2 tablespoons of the yuca mixture to the hot oil and fry until golden brown on one side (watch out for oil splatters), flip and repeat. Once browned, place on a paper towel to remove excess oil.Continue with the rest of the mixture.
- Once they are all fried, serve per suggestions above the recipe.
Tips and Notes
How to make arepitas de yuca
To make arepitas use the least coarse side of the grater.How to make arañitas de yuca
To make arañitas use the coarsest side of the grater.Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutritional information.
FAQs
Arepitas are made by grating yuca, mixing with eggs, other ingredients, and – very importantly – a healthy amount of aniseed. They are then deep-fried until they turn golden brown.
Cut the yuca, and if the flesh is firm and bright white, it should be fine. Discard the yuca if it has any foul odor, has mushy spots, or discolorations when cut.
You can make yuca into arepitas, or serve it chulito style, as yuca fries, or as yuca empanadas made with homemade yuca flour. Another favorite way to make yuca is boiled with a garlic sauce, or encebollada (with onions), pan de yuca dominicano, or garlicky yuca mofongo served in a pestle.
Published Dec 21, 2003, revised
