When you were enjoying your Panama vacation package, there were probably many things you enjoyed. Surely, one of those things was the cuisine. Some of the traditional dishes there include sancocho, ropa vieja, hojaldras, and patacones. One thing that people usually try and can’t get out of their head, however, are carimanolas. As you probably know, carimanolas are yucca fritters stuffed with ground meat and cheese. For those of you that have a craving for this dish after your Panama vacation package, we’re here to let you know how to make them.
Ingredients: 3 pounds yucca root, peeled and cubed, 3 1/4 teaspoons salt, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 5 large eggs, 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup yellow onions, finely chopped, 2 teaspoons garlic, minced, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, 1/4 teaspoon chili powder, 8 ounces ground beef, 4 teaspoons tomato paste, 2 teaspoons vinegar, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, 6 teaspoons Essence, plus more for dusting, 1 cup bread crumbs
How To Make Carimonolas
- First, bring the yucca and 1 teaspoon of salt to a boil. Once it’s boiling, lower the heat and simmer until the yucca is tender.
- Next, drain the yucca and mash it with butter. Once it’s smooth, mix two of the eggs with the mixture.
- Now, add ¼ cup flour and 1 ½ teaspoons of salt. Stir until the dough is somewhat tough. If it’s too soft, add more flour.
- While the dough is cooling, start cooking the beef. First, sautee the seasonings for 30 seconds and then add the ground beef. Cook until the meat is no longer pink.
- When the meat is thoroughly cooked, mix in the tomato paste, vinegar, and sugar.
- Now form the dough into balls (roughly ¼ cup each) and use your finger to press a deep hole into the dough. Fill this hole with the meat mixture and enclose it with the yucca dough.
- Next, beat the remaining 3 eggs and put aside. In separate bowls, add the remaining flour and breadcrumbs. Dip the carimanolas into the flour, then the egg mixture, and then the breadcrumbs.
- The last step is to fry the carimanolas. To do so, preheat oil to 330 degrees Fahrenheit and cook until golden brown. This will take about 2 minutes.
With this recipe, you’ll be able to remember your Panama vacation package forever. If you’re ready for your next travel vacation, contact us at Arik Travel.
