• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dominican Cooking logo

  • START HERE
  • RECIPES
  • COOKERY
  • COOKBOOKS
  • ❤
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Start here
  • Recipes
  • Cookery
  • Cookbooks
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Appetizers

    Our free content is supported via ads and affiliate links. Thanks!

    Chulitos (Spicy Cassava Rolls)

    Chulitos (spicy cassava rolls) recipe.

    En Español Recipe ↆ

    Chulitos (fried cassava rolls) are humble, but in my opinion, these are one of the best buffet dishes in Dominican cuisine.

    Chulitos recipe.
    Chulitos (spicy cassava rolls).

    JUMP TO: show ↓
    1. Why we ❤️ it
    2. About our recipe
    3. Video
    4. Recipe

    Why we ❤️ it

    Chulitos de Yuca are the quintessential street food: delicious, but not fully appreciated. Chulitos can be made filled with meat (the traditional way) or cheese or just plain.

    Someone gave me a deep-fat-fryer about a month ago and it sat in my kitchen, ignored, until just last week. I was having such a hard time with the notion of sinking foods into so much hot sizzling oil, tightly contained in a bin-like receptacle plugged into the wall. And my arteries collapsing under the weight of it all.

    But then I thought, Oh my God, I can make so many things! Things like Chulitos (Cassava Mini-Rolls).

    Chulito de yuca recipe.
    how to make chulitos.

    Chulitos.

    As an initiation to my deep fat frying experience, I admit, I made chicken wings and potato skins, which were awesome - but hardly típico, you know? The night after that, we did tostones – and they were also awesome. Wow, I realized. Now I can make everything from quipes to pastelitos! Bollitos and chulitos, as well. An endless list of deep-fried delights.

    It’s pretty easy; the food is placed in a basket and into the machine, which has this cool handle and a switch that lifts it up from (and into) the bubbling evil. There’s no splattering, no grease-fire freak-outs, and very little clean-up, de ñapa. Now I’m constantly searching out deep-frying ideas – which is sort of scary, if you consider that I’m in charge of meals, 7 days a week, for a family of four, and too much-fried food might alter their growth patterns or something. So I will try and control myself and make only the occasional fritura.

    About our recipe

    Chulitos de yuca is not something that Dominicans make at home. Aunt Clara's first experience with chulito was the very famous fritura in her childhood neighborhood. People would travel from far to have the spicy chulitos at Doña Dinorah's fritura. This is the recipe that she has recreated to great success.

    Jill

    Our guest: Jill is Canadian, mother of two Dominican-Canadian children. She lived in Sosua, Dominican Republic for many years, so she gives us an unusual insight into our culinary culture.

    Video

    Recipe

    This awesome free recipe contains Amazon affiliate links, we receive a small commission from any purchase you make at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

    Keep screen on while cooking

    [Recipe + Video] Chulitos (The Tastiest Spicy Cassava Rolls)

    By: Clara Gonzalez
    Chulitos Recipe (Cassava Mini-Rolls): Humble, and often looked down upon, these are one of the best buffet dishes in the Dominican cuisine.
    5 from 5 votes
    Save for Later Send by Email Print Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Party
    Cuisine Dominican, Latino
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 294 kcal

    Ingredients

    For the filling

    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 small red onion, [20g], minced
    • 3 garlic cloves, crushed [20g]
    • ¼ pound minced beef, [0.12 kg]
    • 1 cup tomato sauce
    • ½ bell pepper, minced
    • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro, or parsley
    • ½ teaspoon salt, (or more, to taste)
    • ½ teaspoon pepper (freshly-cracked, or ground), (or more, to taste)
    • ¼ Scotch bonnet pepper, chopped (or hot sauce to taste)

    For the rolls

    • 1.5 lbs yuca (cassava), [0.7 kg], peeled and washed
    • ¾ teaspoon salt, (or more, to taste)
    • 2 cups oil for frying, (corn, peanut or soy)

    Instructions
     

    Making the filling for Chulitos (See Video)

    • Heat oil over medium-low heat. Stir in onion and cook and stir until it turns translucent. Add garlic and cook stirring for a minute. Add minced meat and cook and stir, breaking into small clumps until it browns.
    • Pour in tomato sauce, add bell pepper, salt, and pepper. Stir and cover. Simmer for 3 minutes.
    • Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste if needed. Mix in Scotch bonnet pepper or hot sauce to taste. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    How to make Chulitos

    • Grate the cassava with the least coarse side of the grater, or using the grating attachment of the food processor.
    • With a clean cotton cloth squeeze the ground cassava to get rid of excess liquid. Eliminate this liquid.
    • Season the cassava mix with salt and mix well.
    • Put two tablespoons of the mixture in the palm of your hand. Flatten it and put a teaspoon of the cooked meat in the center. Put a 2 more tablespoons of cassava on top and roll the cassava mixture over it forming small rolls, seal the ends. Squeeze to compact.

    • Heat oil in small frying pan (oil should be at least 1 inch [2.5cm]-deep) over medium heat. Deep fry the rolls until they turn golden brown. Be careful with splatters.
    • Serve warm.

    Tips and Notes

    Chulitos can be made with beef filling (the traditional way) or with a cheese filling. This humble dish is rarely found on elegant tables although it is one of our most delicious dishes.
    Watch the video to make the filling here.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2chulitosCalories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 5gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 728mgPotassium: 562mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 815IUVitamin C: 53.5mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1.2mg

    Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.

    READERS SEARCHED FOR alcapurria, cassava roll recipe, chulito dominicano
    More recipes with: beef, meat, yuca

    Published Dec 20, 2002, revised Nov 26, 2022

    More Dominican Appetizers Recipes (Picaderas)

    • Easy Pulled Pork Empanadas with Apple (Empanadas de Cerdo)
    • Chorizo Empanadas - Filling and Dough Ideas
    • Beef Empanada Filling - 4 Meat Filling for Empanadas y Pastelones
    • Pastelón en Hoja al Horno (Easy Pasteles Casserole)
    Edited: Nov 26, 2022 | Publish: Dec 20, 2002

    ¡Hola! I am Tía Clara, your host. Thanks for visiting.
    - Any questions or comments about this?
    - Made our recipe? Follow and tag me on Instagram.
    - Subscribe to receive our recipes by email.

    Recipe Rating




    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    29 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments

    Primary Sidebar

    "Dominican Cooking" is the oldest and largest Dominican cooking website, with Tía Clara's 20-year collection of traditional Dominican recipes, and recipes inspired by the Dominican taste.
    More about us ➜

    • Facebook page
    • Instagram account
    • Youtube channel
    • Pinterest account

    OUR RECIPES IN YOUR INBOX

    Discover hand-picked content and get updates in your inbox, once a week.

    Don't miss

    • Black Beans and Rice Recipe (Moro de Habichuela Negra)
    • Sandwichon de Atun, Camarones o Pollo (Sandwich Cake)
    • Moro-Locrio (Rice with Black Beans and Pork)
    • Habichuelas (Frijoles) Negros (Stewed Black Beans Recipe)

    Most popular Most recent

    Footer

    featured on

    Lee este contenido

    En Español

    SIGN UP and receive emails,
    updates, and surprises!

    Or follow us on

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest

    Made in 🇩🇴 with ❤️

    © 2022 · LUNCH CLUB BOOKS, LLC
    ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    DO NOT reproduce without authorization.

    As Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. READ...


    ↑ BACK TO TOP | ABOUT US | BLOG | CONTACT US | WE GIVE | POLICIES | STORIES | PORTFOLIO

    wpDiscuz
    You are going to send email to

    Move Comment