YUCA FRIES w/CHIPOTLE MAYONNAISE

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  • 4

Ingredients

  • 4 SERVINGS
  • 2 lb fresh yuca, cut crosswise into 2 1/2-inch sections, then peeled with a knife and cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick fries, or 1 1/2 lb frozen yuca pieces (not thawed)
  • 6 About 6 cups vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo, or sauce from can
  • SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: a deep-fat thermometer

Preparation

Step 1

Cook fresh or frozen yuca with 1 tablespoon oil in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water, uncovered, until tender when pierced with a knife and almost translucent, 8 to 12 minutes for fresh or 10 to 15 for frozen.

Transfer with a slotted spoon to several layers of paper towels to drain and let stand 5 minutes.

If using frozen yuca, cut pieces into 1/3-inch-thick fries, discarding any fibrous core.

Preheat oven to 200F.

Heat about 1 1/2 inches oil in a 4- to 5-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until it registers 360F on thermometer.

Meanwhile, stir together mayonnaise, lime juice, and minced chipotles (or sauce) in a small bowl.

Working in 3 batches, fry yuca, turning, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes per batch, then transfer to paper towels to drain briefly and season with salt. (Return oil to 360F between batches.)

Arrange fries in 1 layer in a shallow baking pan and keep warm in oven while frying remaining batches. Serve with chipotle mayonnaise.