Kappa puzhukku/Mashed tapioca aka Cassava

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I know I don't have to explain to a Mallu what kappapuzhukku (cooked tapioca) is. I guess most of us from Kerala love this simple and delicious dish and to me and my family, it's a favorite. One of the best vivid memories from my childhood is a plate of this with mulakuchammanthi(chilli chutney) and a black coffee with sugar.  Have you ever tried this combo, believe me it's divine :-) The puzhukku and the spicy hot chutney along with the sweet boiling hot coffee...aha..Can't explain it ! Kappapuzhukku and meencurry (Fish curry) is one of the famous combinations in Kerala Cuisine.

It was a friend who shared the history of how Tapioca was introduced in Travancore (South Kerala).  The king of Travancore; Vysakham Thirunal Maharaja, who was also a botanist, introduced this quintessential laborer's food in the 1860s.  Later, in the beginning of 19th century, when people from central Travancore started to migrate to the Malabar region they took tapioca with them introducing it to the locals.  The cultivar was not very popular until the break of world war.  Now, tapioca has a special place in the hearts of most Keralites.  Maybe its due to social conscienseness and in an effort to break stereotyping but whatever the case I am into it solely because of it tastes.



There are so many names in Malayalam itself for Tapioca, kolli,kappa, cheenikkizhangu, maracheeni etc to name a few.  I made some fish fry to go with this the recipe of which I will post soon.

Ingredients:

Tapioca/Cassava/Yuca- 2lbs
Coconut grated-2/3 cup
Green chillies- 3-4
Shallots-3-4
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Salt

Method:

1.Peel off the skin from Tapioca and clean and cut it coarsely to get medium sized pieces.
2.Boil water enough to cover the tapioca in a deep pan.Cook with salt and a pinch of turmeric until it is done. The time varies from 5 minutes to 20 minutes once it starts boiling.So keep checking.
3.Meanwhile grind the coconut, chillies,turmeric and shallots coarsely.
4.Drain all the water once tapioca is cooked.
5.Throw in the ground ingredients and salt and mix well.Mash the tapioca pieces well while mixing.
6.Heat on medium with lid for 3-4 minutes or until steam starts coming.
7.Switch off the heat and serve hot with Fish curry, fish fry or mulaku chutney (Grind green chillies with salt, add oil or yogurt and mix well )



Contributor :Namitha