Malanga-Yam Pancakes

Maricel Presilla, whose knowledge of cooking tropical roots and tubers is considerable, shared a version of this traditional recipe with me. Untraditional is the way her husband, Alejandro, likes the cakes—for breakfast with maple syrup. They are chewy-crisp and as versatile as potato pancakes, which they resemble. For variety, add onion, garlic, caraway, poppy seeds, chilies, or curry to the mixture.