Boiled Yuca Indian Kerala Style Cassava Roottapioca Food

BOILED YUCA INDIAN KERALA STYLE (CASSAVA ROOT/TAPIOCA)

Steps:

• Wash and peel the pearl onions.
• Slice the pearl onions in half, keep aside.
• Wash the yuca/tapioca tubers and remove the skin of the tubers using a knife.
• To boil the yuca, in a large pot of pan, add enough water to cover the yuca, add salt and bring the water to a boil.
• Let the water boil for about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Now drain the water and add fresh water to the pot to cover the yuca roots.
• Add more salt and bring the water to a boil again.
• Cook the yuca in boiling water for about 10 to 12 minutes or until the yuca roots are cooked and soft.
• Once the yuca is cooked, drain the water and wait for the cooked yuca to cool down.
• Once the yuca is cooled enough, slice lengthwise first, so you can easily remove the long string that pass through the middle of the tubers.
• Remove the strings and cut it in small to medium sized cubes and keep aside.
• To make the seasoning, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a very large pan and add mustard seeds.
• When the mustard seeds splutter, add the curry leaves and broken dried red chilies, fry for a few seconds.
• Add the chopped pearl onions to the pan, saute for about 2 minutes.
• Add salt to the onions and stir fry the onions for another 4 to 5 minutes until the onions are softened and lightly browned on sides.
• To make the coconut mixture, grind the coconut coarsely in a food processor (without adding any water or sprinkle a little water if necessaralong with enough salt, cumin seeds and green chilies, keep this mixture aside.
• To prepare the dish, add the cooked yuca to the same large pan with pearl onions, stir everything well. You can gently mash the tapioca using a spoon or spatula at this point just enough according to the consistency you prefer.
• Add the coconut mixture to the pan, add the turmeric powder and red chili powder to the pan and stir well to combine.
• Sprinkle little water (about 1/4 cup), close the pan with lid and cook in low heat for about 3 to 4 minutes.
• After 3 to 4 minutes of cooking, open the pan, and check the salt, if needed you may add more salt at this point. If adding more salt, stir well everything.
• Add garlic powder to the cooked yuca coconut mixture (if using fresh garlic, add it early along with the pearl onionand also the remaining 2 tablespoons of coconut oil to the tapioca coconut mixture, stir everything well. Cover and cook the contents for another 1 to 2 minutes in very low heat.
• Open the pan after 2 minutes, stir everything well. Switch off the stove and keep the pan away from heat.
• Cover the pan with lid and keep it closed for another few more minutes, which will make the kappa puzhukku or mashed yuca coconut dish more delicious. Serve the mashed yuca hot with rice and curries or serve it as it is for lunch or dinner!

MY TRINI STYLE BOILED AND FRIED CASSAVA (YUCCA)

Steps:

• Place the cassava/yucca pieces in a large pot and cover completely with water.
• Place pot over medium heat and boil cassava/yucca pieces till they are a little more than fork tender (this may take 30 minutes or more - depending on the cassava pieces. Some take longer than others).
• NOTE: Check the cassava while it is boiling during the 30 minutes. If it isn't soft enough but needs more water, feel free to add more.
• While the cassava/yucca is boiling, prep other ingredients.
• Chop one medium onion into strips, chop 4-5 garlic cloves and de-seed the roma tomatoes and chop into 8 pieces each. Place all into a bowl.
• When cassava/yucca is soft enough, drain in a colander and place an iron pot on the heat and add in 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.
• When the oil is heated a bit, throw in the chopped onions, garlic and tomatoes. Stir these regularly for the next 3-5 minutes.
• The onions should become soft and translucent, the garlic should be slightly soft and the tomatoes should be almost disintegrated except for the skin.
• Add in the boiled cassava/yucca and stir well to incorporate all ingredients.
• While incorporating, try breaking apart the cassava/yucca even more with your spoon. The end product should be semi-smooth, semi-chunky.
• If it seems a bit dry, add in more oil - but this should not be necessary.
• Add in salt (to your taste) and stir well to incorporate evenly.
• Turn off heat and now you are ready eat!

ROASTED CASSAVA (YUCA ASADO)

Steps:

• In a large pot of salted water, cook yuca until almost tender, about 15 minutes; drain and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, combine olive oil, cilantro or oregano, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, ground cumin, salt and pepper.
• Add yuca and toss to coat.
• Arrange yuca in a single layer in a lightly greased baking dish until yuca is tender and starts to brown, about 30 to 40 minutes.
• Sprinkle with lime juice, toss, and serve.