Curry Cassava
About two years ago, someone of Guyanese heritage reached out to ask if I had a Curry Cassava recipe, a dish her grandmother used to make for her and her siblings while they were growing up in rural Guyana. I was stumped. I had never heard of the dish before.
- 2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion (sliced)
- 8 cloves garlic (roughly chopped)
- 3/4 tablespoon cumin seeds (geera)
- 1 Scotch Bonnet pepper (sliced)
- 1 tablespoon Caribbean green seasoning
- 2 1/2 tablespoons curry powder
- 3 pounds cassava (fresh or frozen, peeled, deveined, cubed)
- 3/4 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon garam masala (or ancho masala)
- 3-4 cups water
- Optional
- 2 tablespoons chadon beni (culantro) (chopped, or chopped cilantro)
- Peel the cassava (if using fresh), then cut into chunks and remove the fibrous core running through the center. Rinse well and set aside. If using frozen cassava, ensure it's peeled and deveined before use.
- Warm the oil in a deep pot over medium heat, then add the sliced onion, chopped garlic, Scotch Bonnet, and cumin seeds. Reduce to low heat and cook gently.
- After 3 minutes, stir in green seasoning and cook for 2 more minutes.
- Add curry powder and continue cooking on low to bloom spices (approx. 4–5 minutes), adding more oil if needed.
- Add the cassava chunks, stirring thoroughly to coat with the spiced mixture.
- Turn heat to medium-high, add salt, pepper, and garam masala.
- Pour in water and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, partially covered, until cassava is tender and breaking apart, about 25 minutes.
- Monitor liquid and add water if necessary.
- Once the cassava is soft and the gravy has thickened, taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in chopped chadon beni or cilantro if using. Serve hot.
What struck me was how easily these deeply rooted dishes, ones that live on in memory more than in writing, can disappear if not passed on. The more I asked around and connected with elders, the more I realized this was one of those quiet staples of Caribbean life that deserved a place in our kitchens again.
This Curry Cassava recipe is my humble attempt to revive that flavor. It brings together tender cassava simmered in a rich blend of Caribbean curry powder, green seasoning, cumin, and garam masala, ingredients that speak to our shared food heritage.
This dish is deeply satisfying, naturally vegan, and full of heart. Serve it as a side or as the centerpiece of your meal, with roti, rice, or straight from the pot, just like grandma might have done. This one is for anyone holding on to Caribbean food memories and keeping them alive.
