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Yuca Bread: A Delicious Treat in Cuenca Ecuador

One of the yummy treats we like to pick up when we are on the go is called yuca bread. We hadn’t heard of yuca bread until we moved to Cuenca and we were hooked from the first time we tried it.

We usually stop into our favorite yogurt/yuca bread shop and get a dozen of the soft (and warm) little buns to take with us as we walk into the city center.

yuca-bread-in-hand-cuenca

What Is Yuca Bread Made From?

Yuca bread is made from the Cassava or Yuca root. The yuca root can not be eaten raw (not that you would want to :)) it has to be cooked properly to detoxify it. It must be soaked and/or boiled before being consumed.

If it is not properly detoxified, it can cause serious health problems. Here in Ecuador it is a common food and is often eaten much like a potato. It’s also sold in bags as a snack food and tastes a lot like potato chips.

yuca-bread-soft-and-chewy-cuenca-ecuador
We didn’t think we had ever eaten yuca before moving to Ecuador. But we were actually eating it regularly – and just didn’t know it.

Bryan and Drew are allergic to corn, so I used tapioca starch in place of cornstarch. Turns out that tapioca starch comes from the yuca root.

Although the yuca root is starchy, the bread isn’t. It’s light and fluffy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Yuca bread is made with cheese and has a salty taste. Whenever we eat it, we pick up a bottle of water.

Many of the places we see yuca bread being sold also sell yogurt. I think the cheesy-salty flavor of the yuca bread would go well with some nice cool yogurt.


Our Favorite Place For Yuca Bread

We have tried yuca bread from a number of different locations and while we liked all of it (except the frozen kind from the grocery store that we baked ourselves = SALTY!) our favorite is definitely from a little shop called Deleyt on Luis Cordero y Juan Jaramillo 5-92.

Enma (the shop owner) is so sweet and her yuca bread is always wonderful. Each bun costs $0.15.

yuca-bread-cuenca-enma-saldana
Four or five of the little buns make a nice snack, and they are easy to eat while walking because they are small and not flaky.

I always feel a little silly eating a flaky pastry while on the go because it usually ends up sprinkled on my sweater with a little crumb or two sitting precariously somewhere on my face. I don’t have to worry about that with yuca bread.

yuca-bread-cuenca
Have you tried yuca bread? Where did you eat it and what did you think of it? Please share with us by commenting on this post.

Tom

Friday 22nd of March 2019

I tried yuca bread for the first time while living in Cuenca as well. Really enjoyed it and will have to find it somewhere to buy it or make it back home. For some reason it reminds me a little of sour dough. I never guessed it had cheese in it until I read the recipe. I can't remember what shops I picked it up at in Cuenca, but I would get it either with a yogurt or hot chocolate.

Maria Estrada

Tuesday 16th of October 2018

Ecuadorian food is an endless array of possibilities for the native as well as for the tourist. Three regions and The Galapagos offering constant delights, to what we most add the street food to tempt us. Thank you for taking the opportunity to help us enjoy your article.

Cheryl

Friday 29th of December 2017

Had my first cassava roll onboard the National Geographic ship Endeavor II on a cruise around the Galapagos Islands. My daughter and I are gluten sensitive and they made them for those on gluten free diets. They also made us a nut bread from cassava flour and unsweetened cocoa powder that was wonderful. You wouldn't have a recipe for that would you?

Sim

Monday 17th of October 2016

Nice! Very similar product in Uganda, called "Mandoes".... because it's apparently what the man does. Goes great with 'poshu' ... a corn pasty thing which sounds better than it really is.

Ashley

Friday 28th of August 2015

Your blog has been a huge help for planning our activities in Cuenca. We tried these today and they are soooo delicious. We can't wait to go back for more! Thank you!