AI-generated image
Mbejú
Paraguayan cassava starch and cheese griddle cake, crisp outside and chewy within
Mbejú (say 'mbeh-JOO') is a Guaraní breakfast and merienda: cassava starch rubbed with butter, cheese and a little milk into damp crumbs, then pressed into a hot pan where it fuses into a thick, chewy, crisp-edged cake. It's eaten in the countryside with cocido (sweet toasted yerba tea with milk) on cool mornings, cut into wedges. It's naturally gluten free and very quick. Chef's tip: the mix should look like damp sand, not a dough; if you can squeeze a handful and it just holds, it's right.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rub 9 oz cassava (tapioca) starch, ½ tsp salt and 2 ⅛ oz butter together with your fingertips until even.
Step 2: Mix in 1 egg and 7 oz fresh cheese or mozzarella, then sprinkle in ¼ cup milk a little at a time, rubbing between your palms, until it forms damp crumbs that hold together when squeezed. Common mistake: adding too much milk; a wet dough becomes gummy instead of crisp.
Step 3: Melt ⅓ oz butter in a 20–22 cm non-stick frying pan over a medium-low heat. Tip in half the crumbs and press them firmly into an even 1.5 cm layer.
1 minStep 4: Cook for 5–6 minutes until the bottom is golden and the cheese has fused the crumbs. Slide onto a plate, invert back into the pan and cook the other side for 4 minutes.
10 minStep 5: Repeat with the rest. Cut into wedges and eat warm.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 14 g
- Carbs
- 52 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mbejú take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of egg?
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water per egg, left for 5 minutes (baking only; vegan).
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Berry overnight oats
Stir everything together before bed and breakfast is ready when you wake up. Chia seeds make it thick and creamy, and frozen berries thaw overnight into a jammy layer.
Muesli
A soaked, Bircher-style muesli you stir together the night before. The oats soften in the yogurt overnight and the grated apple keeps it fresh and juicy. In the morning, add the strawberries and breakfast is ready. Any berries work in place of the strawberries.
Shakshuka
A one-pan breakfast that works just as well for dinner. Peppers and onions are cooked down with cumin and smoked paprika, then eggs are nestled in and poached until the whites set and the yolks stay runny. Bring the pan to the table with plenty of bread for dipping.
