Tacu Tacu (Peruvian Crispy Rice and Beans Cake)
In short: Leftover rice and beans seasoned with ají amarillo and pan-fried into a crusty cake, topped with a fried egg, plantain and onion salad. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 515 kcal
Tacu tacu is a Peruvian way of turning yesterday's rice and beans into a crisp-crusted golden cake. The rice and beans are mashed together with sautéed onion, garlic and ají amarillo, shaped into patties and pan-fried until the outside crunches while the inside stays soft. It is topped with a fried egg and sweet fried plantain, and served with a sharp onion salad on the side.
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet and cook the onion for 5 minutes. Add the garlic, ají paste and cumin and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the beans and water and mash roughly with a fork or potato masher, leaving some beans whole. Cook for 3 minutes until thick.
- Stir in the rice, salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes, mashing so the mixture holds together, then fold in the cilantro. Let it cool slightly.
- Divide the mixture into 4 portions. With wet hands, shape each into an oval patty about 2 cm (3/4 in) thick.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Fry 2 patties for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until deeply golden and crusty. Repeat with another tablespoon of oil and the other 2 patties.
- Fry the plantain slices in the last tablespoon of oil for 2 minutes per side until golden, then set aside. In the same pan, fry the eggs until the whites are set.
- Top each tacu tacu with an egg and plantain slices, and serve with the onion salad.
Tips
- Use cold, day-old rice. Freshly cooked rice is too wet and the patties will not hold together or crisp.
- Leave each patty undisturbed for the first few minutes of frying so a crust forms before you flip it.
Questions and answers
What is tacu tacu?
A crisp-crusted cake of rice and beans fried in oil. It is a Peruvian way of using leftovers, often served with a fried egg and fried plantain.
Can I make tacu tacu vegan?
Yes. Skip the egg and serve it with extra fried plantain, avocado slices and the onion salad.
Can I freeze the patties?
Yes. Shape them, freeze on a tray, then bag for up to 2 months. Fry from frozen over medium heat, covered, for about 6 minutes per side.
How long does it take to make Tacu Tacu (Peruvian Crispy Rice and Beans Cake)?
About 1 h in total: 20 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Tacu Tacu (Peruvian Crispy Rice and Beans Cake)?
About 515 kcal per serving, with 17 g of protein, 76 g of carbohydrates and 16 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 515 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 17 g |
| Carbohydrates | 76 g |
| Fat | 16 g |
| Fiber | 11 g |
| Sugar | 17 g |
| Sodium | 750 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
