🍟 Side Dishes

Vegan Torresmo com Mandioca

Torresmo com Mandioca is a beloved Brazilian staple — traditionally made with crispy pork belly, paired with golden fried cassava and a rich dipping sauce. This fully vegan version captures all the same satisfying crunch, savoury flavour, and comforting appeal, using seasoned seitan, king oyster mushrooms, or marinated tofu to mimic the texture of crispy cracklings. Served alongside tender‑inside, crispy‑outside fried cassava and a creamy plant‑based dip, it tastes just as indulgent and authentic — with zero animal products at all.

Shared by vera

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Time

50 min

Serves

Difficulty

medium

🛒 Ingredients

#Vegan “Torresmo” (Crispy Plant‑Based Cracklings);
250g seitan, king oyster mushrooms, or extra‑firm tofu (pressed well), cut into small bite‑sized cubes
2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari,, 1 tbsp lime juice,, 1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp garlic powder,, ½ tsp onion powder,, Pinch of black pepper and salt
3–4 tbsp cornstarch or cassava flour,, Neutral oil for frying
#Fried Cassava (Mandioca);
500g fresh cassava (yuca), peeled, cut into chunks, and tough central fibre removed
Salt for boiling water
Neutral oil for deep‑frying
#Creamy Dipping Sauce;
¼ cup vegan mayonnaise,, 2 tbsp unsweetened plant milk,, 1 tsp lime juice
½ tsp garlic powder,, Pinch of smoked paprika and salt

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1
Cook the cassava first: Boil cassava in salted water for 15–20 minutes until just tender but not falling apart. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels — moisture stops it crisping up.
2
Marinate the “torresmo”: Toss your chosen plant protein with soy sauce, lime juice, spices, salt, and pepper. Leave for 10–15 minutes to absorb flavour. Toss well in cornstarch or cassava flour until every piece is lightly coated.
3
Fry the cassava: Heat oil to medium‑high heat. Fry cassava chunks in batches until golden and crispy all over. Remove and drain on paper towels.
4
Fry the “torresmo”: In the same oil, fry the coated plant pieces until deeply golden, very crispy, and firm to the touch. Drain well.
5
Make the sauce: Whisk all sauce ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Adjust seasoning to taste.
6
Serve: Arrange crispy “torresmo” and fried cassava on a plate, with the dipping sauce in the centre. Enjoy hot and crunchy!