Panecico (cassava and pork crackling bread) is an obscure dish of our cuisine, known better as roadside fare. Our recipe is a slightly modernized version of this Tierra Adentro dish in which grated cassava (yuca) and crispy chicharrones are combined in a very flavorful snack.
Why we ❤️ it
While not a common recipe at all, if you love the texture of yuca, and the flavors of chicharrones, then you'll absolutely love trying this unique Dominican recipe.
I've adapted the recipe so you can make it with common modern cooking methods.
Origins
Panecicos are not something people make at home, if you've ever encountered it "in the wild" it was almost certainly at a roadside stand. It is also known as bobote, or chola [1], depending on the region of the country.
While I would love to think of myself as an intrepid investigative writer, traveling the Dominican countryside in search of hidden treasures of our culinary culture, the fact is that I am not that. We just travel aimlessly around the country from time to time, sampling the local foods and befriending perfect strangers on local colmados.
That is even easier to do if you realize how amazingly friendly and talkative we Dominicans are.
Panecicos de yuca (cassava and pork crackling rolls).
Top tips
- You can also bake the panecicos in an oven preheated at 400º F [200 ºC] for 30 minutes. Check one for doneness and bake for ten more minutes if needed.
About this recipe
I originally learned from my readers about this dish. It was Dominicans' friendliness and openness that led me to find out how to make it. This is a pretty obscure dish. I have only tried it from one vendor on the road from Dajabon to Loma de Cabrera, although I have heard of at least two other vendors in the country.
Thanks to Doña Nena and Elba Rosa from Partido, Dajabón, for confirming some recipe details.
If you are looking for a version that is a little easier, try this pan de yuca based on the same concept and recipe.
Video
Recipe
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Panecicos [Recipe + Video] Cassava and Pork Crackling Rolls
Ingredients
- 1½ pound yuca, (cassava) [0.7 kg] peeled, washed
- 1 cup chicken broth, , unsalted
- 1½ teaspoon salt, (or to taste)
- 3 tablespoons butter , (salted) at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon aniseed
- 1 egg, (medium) whisked
- 1 pound pork cracklings, (chicharrones) minced
- 8 plantain leave squares, or parchment paper, cut into 5"x5" [13 x 13 cm] squares.
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil, to grease the skillet
Instructions
Grating yuca
Grate using the least coarse side of the grater, or using the grater attachment of your food processor (which I did).Place the grated cassava on a clean cotton cloth and squeeze as much liquid as you can. Catch the liquid into another container and measure the amount released.
Measuring broth
- Measure that same amount of chicken broth (I used 1 cup of broth, the amount may vary depending on the cassava you use). You may discard the liquid extracted from the cassava.
Softening the leaves
- Boil a pot full of water, and dip the leaves until they are pliable (about a minute). Remove from the water and set aside.
Making the buns
- Mix broth, with salt to taste. Add butter and aniseed. Combine with the yuca and mix well. Add whisked egg. Mix well.Add the cracklings to the cassava mixture and mix well. Place ¼ cup of the batter onto a piece of plantain leaf, or parchment paper and wrap. It should have a thickness of less than ½ an inch [about 0.75 cm].Make more bundles with the rest of the batter.
Cooking
- Heat a greased skillet over medium heat. Place 2 to three of the wraps on the skillet, cover with the lid, and cook for 15 minutes. Flip, cover, and cook for 10 more minutes.Unwrap one and check for doneness, if needed, rewrap and cook more as needed.Repeat with the rest of the wraps.
Serving
- Serve wrapped to prevent them from drying out, and unwrap just before eating.
Tips and Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
More yuca recipes
Yuca is the most popular Dominican tuber, and yuca recipes are part of our frequent meals. Some of my favorites are arepitas de yuca (yuca fritters), yuca hervida encebollada (cassava with onions), yuca al mojo de ajo (yuca with garlic sauce), yuca fries, and mofongo de yuca.
