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Payaguá mascada
Cassava and beef patties
Payaguá mascada: Paraguayan fried cassava and beef patties
Payaguá mascada is an Asunción family supper and a favourite for using up boiled cassava: mashed mandioca kneaded with minced beef, onion and garlic, shaped into flat cakes and fried until crusty, then eaten with a tomato salad or with mandioca on the side. Use sweet cassava. A common mistake is using watery, freshly boiled cassava, which makes patties that fall apart in the pan. Chef's tip: let the boiled cassava steam dry in the colander for ten minutes before mashing.
- Total time
- 55 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ lb sweet cassava (mandioca)peeled, core removed
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 14 oz minced beef
- 1 onionvery finely chopped
- 2 spring onionsfinely sliced
- 2 garlic clovescrushed
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 eggbeaten
- 5 tbsp sunflower oilfor frying
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Boil 1 ⅓ lb sweet cassava (mandioca) in water with 1 tsp of 1 tsp salt until very soft, about 25 minutes. Drain and let it steam dry for 10 minutes, then remove fibres and mash smoothly.
25 minStep 2: In a bowl, mix 14 oz minced beef with 1 onion, 2 spring onions, 2 garlic cloves, 1 tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp black pepper, 1 egg and the rest of ½ tsp salt.
3 minStep 3: Knead in the mashed cassava until evenly combined. Shape into 8 flat patties about 1.5 cm thick, wetting your hands so they don't stick.
7 minStep 4: Heat 5 tbsp sunflower oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Fry the patties in batches until deep golden and crisp underneath, about 5 minutes, then turn and fry the other side. The middle must reach 160°F, with no pink meat.
12 minStep 5: Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot with a tomato and onion salad.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 520 kcal
- Protein
- 25 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 27 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does payaguá mascada take?
- About 55 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 35 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 gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of spring onions?
- Chives, or a little finely sliced onion.
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