If you’re an expat living in Costa Rica, you know there’s a lot to love about this beautiful country: friendly people, sunshine almost every morning, lush tropical nature, and, of course, seriously delicious traditional food.

Today, we’re bringing a little Tico flavor to your kitchen with a homemade cassava cake shared by my dear friend Emma Robinson. Emma has put her own spin on this Costa Rican-inspired dish, creating a comforting, cheesy, meat-filled recipe that’s perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a taste of local cuisine.

Originally from Beavercreek, in Greene County, Ohio, Emma is one of those Americans who traded freezing northern winters for sunny mornings and beach life in Tamarindo, Guanacaste. And honestly, who could blame her?

Now, let’s talk about the star of the show: cassava, also known as yuca or yucca. This starchy root vegetable is similar to a potato, naturally gluten-free, and perfect for making a soft, hearty base for this delicious baked dish.

The result? Layers of creamy mashed cassava, savory ground beef, and gooey melted mozzarella. It's comfort food with a Costa Rican twist!

Let’s get cooking!

You can find these ingredients at just about any supermarket in Costa Rica.

• 900 grams of fresh cassava (not cassava flour).

• 2 tablespoons of oil.

• 1 tablespoon of tomato paste.

• 120 grams of sliced mozzarella cheese.

• 200 grams of ground beef (feel free to swap in ground pork or chicken).

• 1 white onion.

• 1 red sweet chili pepper.

• 1 tablespoon of ground oregano.

• 100 grams of butter.

• 1 cup of red wine for cooking.

• Salt and pepper to taste.

First, preheat your oven to 300°F. Grease a baking dish with butter so your cassava cake won’t stick and will be easy to serve.


Peel the cassava and cut it into medium-sized pieces. Place the pieces in a large pot of boiling water with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook until the cassava is soft enough to mash easily.


While the cassava cooks, finely dice the white onion and red sweet chili pepper. Small pieces help spread all that delicious flavor throughout the meat filling.


Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook for about 3 minutes.


Next, toss in the red sweet chili pepper, oregano, tomato paste, a pinch of salt, and a pinch of pepper. Give everything a good stir.


Add the ground beef and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring frequently to keep the meat cooking evenly.


Now comes the fun part. Pour in the cup of red wine. Cover the pan and cook for another 2 minutes to allow the alcohol to evaporate. Remove the pan from the heat and set the filling aside.


Once the cassava is tender, transfer it to a bowl and mash it with a fork until smooth. Mix in 2 teaspoons of butter to make the cassava softer and creamier.


You’re now ready to build those delicious layers!


Spread a layer of mashed cassava across the bottom of your buttered baking dish.


Add a layer of the savory ground beef mixture, followed by a layer of sliced mozzarella cheese.


Repeat the layers: cassava, meat, and cheese.


Here’s an important tip: make sure the final layer of mozzarella completely covers the top. That’s how you get that irresistible blanket of melted cheese!


Bake the cassava cake in the oven for 15 minutes, or until the mozzarella has melted.


The recipe calls for baking at a high temperature, but the oven was initially set to 300°F. Be sure to clarify the intended baking temperature before preparing the dish.


Once it’s done, remove the cake from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. This gives the layers a chance to settle, making it easier to cut and serve.


Time to Dig In!


There you have it: a hearty, cheesy cassava cake with a little Tico flavor and a little Gringo flair!


Serve it warm and enjoy those layers of tender cassava, savory meat, and melted mozzarella. It’s a comforting dish to share with family and friends, whether you’re enjoying a sunny afternoon in Costa Rica or bringing a taste of the tropics to your American kitchen.

Have a pura vida weekend!

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Feel free to share your own recipes by emailing a horizontal photo of your dish to food@amcostarica.com. You can find more tasty Costa Rican recipes over on the AM Costa Rica Food page.

The recipe may contain or come into contact with common allergen ingredients. It is the reader's sole responsibility to review all ingredients and make sure they are suitable for their specific dietary needs and potential adverse reactions.

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