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Escondidinho de Carne

Name: Escondidinho de Carne
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 lb cassava (yuca), peeled and cut into chunks, or 4 cups frozen cassava; 1/4 cup butter; 1/2 cup whole milk; 1 lb ground beef; 1 large onion, chopped; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 ripe tomatoes, chopped; 1 tbsp tomato paste; 3 oz grated mozzarella or Parmesan cheese; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper, plus more to taste

A bubbling casserole of creamy cassava mash hiding a saucy, savory meat filling — Brazil’s ultimate ‘hidden little one’.

⏱ 30 minPrep time

🔥 45 minCook time

🍽 6Servings

🏷 Brazilian KitchenCategory

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Escondidinho, the ‘little hidden one’, is Brazilian comfort food at its most generous: a layer of well-seasoned beef hidden under a blanket of velvety cassava purée. It is the kind of dish that feeds a crowd and makes everyone feel taken care of.

A hidden treasure under creamy cassava

The mashed cassava is silky and buttery, golden and crisp at the edges, while underneath sits a rich, tomatoey beef filling. Each spoonful cuts through creamy, savory, and comforting layers.

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Step by stepInstructions

Boil the cassava in salted water for 20 to 25 minutes until very tender, then drain well.
Mash the cassava with the butter and milk until smooth and creamy; season with salt and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet and cook the ground beef over medium-high heat for 8 minutes, breaking it up, until browned.
Add the onion and garlic and cook 4 minutes, then stir in the tomatoes and tomato paste and simmer 5 minutes until saucy; season with salt and pepper.
Preheat the oven to 400°F and spread the beef filling evenly in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Spread the cassava purée over the filling, smoothing the top, and scatter the grated cheese over it.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until bubbling and golden on top; rest 10 minutes before serving.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Frozen cassava is a great shortcut — just boil until fork-tender before mashing. The dish is endlessly adaptable: swap the beef for shredded chicken, dried salted beef, or shrimp.

Recipe details

Prep30 min

Cook45 min

Servings6

CategoryBrazilian Kitchen

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Escondidinho de Carne

A hidden treasure under creamy cassava

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

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Escondidinho de Carne

A hidden treasure under creamy cassava

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

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Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

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