Overkill53 · CC BY-SA 4.0Pastel mandi'o
pastel mandi'o («empanada de mandioca»)
A fried cassava-dough empanada filled with beef: the star of the San Juan fairs.
What it is
The dough is made from boiled, mashed cassava, sometimes with a little starch or flour, filled with chopped beef, onion, egg and seasonings, and fried. The result is an empanada with a thin, crisp crust, heartier than the wheat kind, with the mellow flavor of cassava. Eat it hot, straight from the fryer; it is one of the first things to sell out at any kermés (parish fair).
Ingredients
History
It combines cassava, the pillar of the Guaraní diet, with the empanada format brought by the Spanish. It is one of the most common foods at San Juan festivities, alongside mbeju, chipa and payagua mascada.
Did you know…?
Mandi'o is Guaraní for cassava; in Paraguay, “pastel” refers to this fried empanada.
When
San Juan festivities (June), patron-saint festivals and afternoon snacks.
Where
Fairs and kermeses; cafés, chiperías and copetines nationwide.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.