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5.0 from 15 votes

[Recipe + Video] Chulitos (The Tastiest Spicy Cassava Rolls)

Chulitos Recipe (Cassava Mini-Rolls): Humble, and often looked down upon, these are one of the best buffet dishes in the Dominican cuisine.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 294 kcal
Course: Snacks
Cuisine: South American , Dominican

Ingredients

For the filling
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small red onion [20g], minced
  • 3 garlic cloves crushed [20g]
  • ¼ pound minced beef [0.12 kg]
  • 1 cup tomato sauce
  • ½ bell pepper minced
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro or parsley
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or more, to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon pepper (freshly-cracked, or ground) (or more, to taste)
  • ¼ scotch bonnet pepper chopped (or hot sauce to taste)
For the rolls
  • 1.5 lbs yuca (cassava) [0.7 kg], peeled and washed
  • ¾ teaspoon salt (or more, to taste)
  • 2 cups oil for frying (corn, peanut or soy)

Instructions

Making the filling for Chulitos (See Video)
1. Cook meat
    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat oil over medium-low heat. Stir in onion and cook and stir until it turns translucent. Add garlic and cook stirring for a minute. Add minced meat and cook and stir, breaking into small clumps until it browns.
2. Add
  1. Pour in tomato sauce, add bell pepper, salt, and pepper. Stir and cover. Simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Seasoning
  1. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste if needed. Mix in Scotch bonnet pepper or hot sauce to taste. Remove from the heat and set aside.
How to make Chulitos
1. Grate
  1. Grate the cassava with the least coarse side of the grater, or using the grating attachment of the food processor.With a clean cotton cloth squeeze the ground cassava to get rid of excess liquid. Eliminate this liquid.
2. Mix
  1. Season the cassava mix with salt and mix well.
3. Making rolls
  1. Put two tablespoons of the mixture in the palm of your hand. Flatten it and put a teaspoon of the cooked meat in the center. Put a 2 more tablespoons of cassava on top and roll the cassava mixture over it forming small rolls, seal the ends. Squeeze to compact.
4. Fry
  1. Heat oil in small frying pan (oil should be at least 1 inch [2.5cm]-deep) over medium heat. Deep fry the rolls until they turn golden brown. Be careful with splatters.
5. Serve
  1. Serve warm.

Notes

  • Chulitos can be made with beef filling (the traditional way) or with a cheese filling. This humble dish is rarely found on elegant tables although it is one of our most delicious dishes.
  • Watch the video to make the filling here.

Nutrition Information

Serving 2chulitos Calories 294kcal (15%) Carbohydrates 48g (16%) Protein 5g (10%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 13mg (4%) Sodium 728mg (30%) Potassium 562mg (16%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 815IU (16%) Vitamin C 53.5mg (59%) Calcium 31mg (3%) Iron 1.2mg (7%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 294

% Daily Value*

Serving 2chulitos
Calories 294kcal 15%
Carbohydrates 48g 16%
Protein 5g 10%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 728mg 30%
Potassium 562mg 12%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 815IU 16%
Vitamin C 53.5mg 59%
Calcium 31mg 3%
Iron 1.2mg 7%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.