Yautía y Yuca en Escabeche with plantains
(Serves 6) – Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free

Yautía (Taro Root) and Yuca (Cassava) en escabeche – are root vegetables in a warm vinaigrette. This was a staple growing up in our Puerto Rican home. Viandas! – a root vegetable dish, including potatoes and ñame (true Yam), served with plantains or guineos (green bananas) topped with avocado and when we were pre-Vegan it was also served with bacalao (salted dried cod fish) or hard-boiled eggs. A simple dish drizzled with olive oil and fresh red onions, sliced thin. Yautía are healthy and low fat, and this taro root is easily digestible. It’s a complex carb with Vitamins A, C and Iron. Yuca should be quartered to expose and remove the woody core. Technically speaking, the core can be toxic uncooked. However, it is not dangerous when cooked and it is easiest to remove the core before cooking. Verduras with Olive Oil is so simple and a favorite of mine. I really do love Yuca fries also. When my husband and I last went to Puerto Rico, we ate at a restaurant in San Juan that had the most delicious yuca fries – they were to die for.

Ingredients:
3 Yautía (red), peeled and chopped
3 Yuca, peeled and chopped
2 Plantains
4 Sm.-Med. Gold Potatoes
1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ Cup White Vinegar
2 cloves Garlic, chopped
½ Red Onion, sliced thin
2-3 Bay Leaves
½ Tbsp Whole Peppercorns (Black or Rainbow)
½ Cup – 1 Cup Green Olives, stuffed with red peppers

Directions:
-Peel and Chop – Yautía, Yuca and Potatoes. Slice ends off Plantains and slice down from end to end.

–

-Bring large pot of water to boil. Boil: Yautia for 25 minutes. Yuca for 15 minutes. Potatoes for 10 minutes. Remove each and set aside after boiling. I cook each separately. Boil Plantains with skin on for 20 minutes. It will be easier to remove the skin once it’s boiled. –Remove skin, cut into 1-inch pieces and set aside.

–

-In a medium saucepan, sauté onions, bay leaves and peppercorns in ½ Cup of the olive oil for about 5 minutes. Add garlic and continue sautéing for another couple minutes.

-Add remaining olive oil, vinegar and olives. Combine root vegetables then pour pickling liquid over top before serving. Serve as a side and Enjoy! – I can eat this without a side.