Central American Finds at Maria's Market

By: Julie Blakley | April 25 2010
Posted in Find It - Delray Beach, FL

In an earlier post, I wrote about some stunning radishes I found at Maria’s produce market in Lake Worth, Florida. While farmers markets in my home base of Portland, Oregon are definitely bountiful, the Florida market had a much more abundant array of fruits and veggies in season during the first week of March than in Portland.

Photo: Julie Blakley

But the thing I loved most about Maria’s Market (besides the huge piles of vibrant, locally grown produce) was the Central American flavor of the simple produce stand. Among the standard choices of Florida grown citrus, bright bell peppers, giant stalks of fresh rosemary, bulbous heads of Florida napa cabbage and heaping piles of tomatoes, there was also a variety of produce I had not seen since I’d been in the markets in Panama.

There were bins of yucca, giant cactus leaves, huge Honduran long squash, bright green Central America avocados (which are bigger, smooth skinned and lighter green than the California Hass variety), piles of both ripe and green plantains, and a variety of other chilies, fruits and vegetables.

Since yucca frita (fried yucca) had been a favorite side dish of mine in Central America, I snagged a few of the dark, gangly roots to attempt to re-create the classic on my own. Here's my recipe for yucca frita.

Yucca has a similar texture to a potato, though when fried or oven fried have a lighter, fluffier interior. Yucca also works great in soups and stews. As it turns out, yucca is also loaded with nutrients and vitamins that potatoes lack.

The wide array of exotic choices, mixed with plenty of locally grown, fresh, bright, bountiful and beautiful Florida produce (at good prices), made my visit to Maria’s Market a highlight of my trip to Palm Beach County.

Find Maria’s Market in Lake Worth, Florida:

7595 Military Trail, Lake Worth, Florida

561-963-1137