How To Make Crispy Yuca Fries In The Air Fryer

Nothing is quite as satisfying as biting into crispy air fryer yuca fries.

Although typically deep-fried, this yuca fries recipe has been air-fried to perfection. You wouldn’t even know that they weren’t deep-fried because they’re still super crispy, golden brown on the outside, and tender on the inside, and the best part is they require very little oil, which eliminates all that excess oil.

However, if you like deep frying and a more traditional recipe, try this easy, crispy yuca fries recipe. It’s delicious!

overhead view of air fryer yuca fries on a plate

Olga’s Notes

Yuca fries are the perfect side dish and a great snack, all with simple ingredients.
In South American and Latin American countries, Colombia, yuca fries are served with fried chicken chunks, pork belly (chicharron), and many other pairings because they go well with just about any dish.
Go with frozen yuca to cut the preparation time in half. You’ll enjoy yuca frita so much faster.

How Are Yuca Fries Made In The AirFryer Different Than Deep Fried?

Both air-fried yuca fries and deep-fried cassava fries are insanely good. They’re both crispy and tender on the inside because they’re boiled and cooked thoroughly.

However, deep-fried are oilier than air-fried; on the other hand, when they’re submerged in oil, they tend to cook a bit more evenly, turning them a light golden brown color throughout.

But it’s not an enormous difference. Clearly, yuca fries in the air fryer really carry much less oil.

Many also wonder what the difference is between yuca and potato and why cassava has to be boiled if it’s so similar to yuca. I break it down here: cassava vs potato (yuca vs papa): What’s the difference?

Equipment Needed For This Recipe

Air Fryer
Large Pot
Slotted Spoon
Cutting Board
Sharp Knife or Forks

Ingredients and Substitutions For The Easiest Recipe

Ingredients you’ll need to make these super crispy air fryer yuca fries

Frozen Yuca
Avocado Oil – or your favorite mild flavor oil. Remember that you want to use an oil with a high smoke point, making avocado oil perfect for anything in the air fryer. Olive oil isn’t ideal for high temperatures.
Filtered Water
Salt
Optional: add onion, garlic powder, or salt to the boiling water for more flavor.

Instructions For The Easiest Air Fryer Yuca Fries Recipe

I’ve said this before: I go straight from the freezer; I don’t bother thawing the yuca. Fill a stockpot or Dutch oven with filtered water, enough water to cover the yuca. Then add the yuca and salt and boil. You’ll want the yuca to be fork-tender before air frying. Otherwise, you’ll end up with tough yuca.
Remove the fork-tender yuca with a slotted spoon from the pot of water and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.Tip: Once you have the tender yuca, remove the tough thread. You’ll find the thread in the middle of the yuca. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a tough center.As you’re removing. the tough thread, you can use a fork to pull the yuca apart into chunky fries. Then, pat them with paper towels to remove some of that water. Don’t worry about having imperfect yuca pieces. Those are the best!
Lightly coat the yuca with avocado oil and place them in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd and place them in a single layer. Set the air fryer to 390 degrees for 20 minutes. Halfway through, flip the yuca.
Remove these crispy cassava fries and serve! Enjoy! This is such a delicious and healthier way to enjoy yuca.

Top Tips For Tender Yuca Fries

I love using frozen yuca for this recipe because it cuts down on preparation and cooking time!
Boil in extra salty water and add flavors like onion or garlic to incorporate flavor before frying.
Remove the tough thread found in the core of the yuca before frying.
Pat the yuca dry before adding to the oil and air frying.

overhead of Yuca on parchment paper for yuca fries

overhead view of boiled yuca pointing out thread

What To Serve With Yuca Fries?

If you’re like me, you probably enjoy a good sauce. Since cassava fries have a mild nutty flavor, I dip it into a tangy and salty sauce.

I also enjoy creating an aioli tasting. As someone who loves sauces, my favorite dipping sauce is cherry pepper aioli, and some of my other go-to dipping sauces to pair with air fryer yuca fries are chimichurri aioli and ancho aioli.

An authentic Cuban mojo sauce is also incredible with yuca. Although it’s traditionally paired with boiled yuca, you can easily turn the mojo sauce into mojo aioli.

How To Store Yuca Fries?

Place the cassava in an airtight container, and store them in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Keep in mind that the yuca will lose its crisp.

FAQs

What is Yuca?

Yuca is a starchy root vegetable that has a mild nutty flavor. It’s popular in Latin American countries.

Why Frozen Yuca vs Fresh Yuca?

Frozen yuca has been peeled and cleaned; fresh yuca has a thick outer skin that must be carefully cleaned, saving time.

Why do air fryer cassava fries require boiling before air frying?

Cassava is a starchy tuberous root vegetable that is different from potatoes. Going from frozen yuca to air fryer, you’ll end up with tough yuca.