This Instagram Post Makes Me Want a Dinner Invite to Matthew McConaughey’s House SO Badly

Rochelle Bilow
Rochelle Bilow
Rochelle Bilow is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, and the former social media manager at Bon Appétit and Cooking Light magazines. She has also worked as a cook on a small farm in Central New York and a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City. Her first book, a…read more
published Apr 28, 2022
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Camila Alves and Matthew McConaughey attend the 2018 Samsung Charity Gala at The Manhattan Center on September 27, 2018 in New York City.
Credit: Getty Images/Roy Rochlin / Stringer

All right, all right, all right! Let’s talk about Matthew McConaughey. And his wife, Camila Alves. And, most importantly, her recipe for yuca fries.

In an Instagram post shared earlier this week, Alves posted a fun glimpse into their family dinners. She speaks into the camera mid-meal prep, and explains that a plate of yuca fries she whipped up is nearly gone. With only one left on the plate, her husband (you know, Matthew) grabs it and while off-screen, delivers various words of praise including “Om nom nom nom.”

Yuca, which is also known as cassava, is a starchy tuber — so it makes perfect sense to swap it in for potatoes. Alves keeps this side dish simple with just three ingredients. In a comment on the post, she noted you’ll need 1-2 whole yuca, high-heat oil for frying, and salt for seasoning.

Yuca is commonly found in Brazilian cuisine, so by cooking with this nutrient-dense ingredient, Alves is paying homage to her heritage and helping boost the nutritional value of her family’s meals. (She hashtagged the post #kidhealthyweek and is the author of the New York Times bestselling children’s book, Just Try One Bite.) It definitely seems like these fries satisfy, judging from McConaughey’s request for another batch, and her son Levi’s enthusiastic response — he literally wipes the plate clean.

If you’re interested in making this dish at home, Alves shared the recipe over at the website Women of Today. Women of Today is Alves’ brainchild, an online community created for sharing inspiration and recipes.

Yuca fries are sure to be a hit at your household, although an appearance by Matthew McConaughey is not guaranteed. 

Do you cook with yuca? What’s your favorite way to prepare it?