While in Costa Rica, Boston chef Steve Johnson was inspired to make fish cakes from leftover red snapper and boiled yuca. The combination takes clever advantage of the vegetable's starchy character, which binds the cakes together while allowing the flavor of the snapper to come through cleanly. We prefer to use frozen yuca, which has a better consistency and is easier to prepare.
Ā Ā·Formed cakes (not sautĆ©ed) and mojo can be chilled up to 1 day.
Ā Ā·frozen, wrapped well, 2 weeks. Thaw in refrigerator before cooking.
Recipe information
Yield
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
For red snapper yuca cakes
For mojo de ajo
Preparation
Make cakes:
Step 1
Simmer yuca in boiling salted water until fork-tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Drain yuca and transfer to a large bowl, then cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
Step 2
While yuca is cooling, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sautƩ onion with cumin and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Sprinkle salt and remaining 1/4 teaspoon cayenne over fish and add to onion in skillet, then sautƩ, turning fish over once, until just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer fish with onion to a plate and cool to room temperature.
Step 3
Remove thin, fibrous core from yuca if necessary, then coarsely mash yuca with a wooden spoon. Flake fish and add to yuca along with onion and herbs, tossing to combine (mixture will be coarse). Form into 12 (2 1/2-inch) cakes (1 inch thick) and transfer to a wax-paper-lined tray. Cover cakes with plastic wrap and chill 30 minutes.
Make mojo while cakes chill:
Step 4
Cook garlic in oil in a small skillet over low heat, stirring, until just softened, about 3 minutes. Transfer garlic with oil to a small bowl and stir in remaining mojo ingredients. Chill mojo, covered, until serving.
SautƩ cakes:
Step 5
Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat in a 12-inch heavy skillet (preferably nonstick) until hot but not smoking, then sautƩ half of cakes, turning over once, until browned and heated through, about 8 minutes total. SautƩ remaining cakes in remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil. Serve with mojo and lime wedges.
Step 6
*Available at Latino markets and some supermarkets.
