What Is Tapioca

 

Tapioca may be the base for sweet puddings however, this gluten-free starch that is extracted by the cassava plant is a great choice to thicken the texture of both savory and sweet dishes.

The cultivation of the plant, which is a native of Brazil often referred to as yucca, has spread across South America and Africa, and the tapioca is becoming well-known throughout the world.

What Is Tapioca?

Tapioca is a neutral tasting food with a mild flavor and a strong gelling capacity, making it an effective thickening agent for sweet and savory dishes. In contrast to cornstarch and tapioca, tapioca is able to withstand freezing and thawing with no loss of gel or break-down, which makes it a perfect thickener for the creation of ice cream recipes.

Varieties

Tapioca starch is available as instant flakes or flour It's translucent prior to cooking, but it becomes translucent after hydration. Tapioca pearls and powders are typically white or off-white but the pearls, often used in desserts, could be dyed almost any shade. Tapioca pearls are available in large and smaller sizes. Boba are sweet, large pearls, which are often dyed black, and used to make bubble tea.

Tapioca Uses

Tapioca is used in traditional recipes for tapioca pudding bubble tea or Boba tea and other candy and desserts. Both tapioca pudding and tea are made from pearled tapioca. They are tiny pieces of tapioca starch which transform into a chewy gummi-like ball after being cooked.

Additionally, tapioca provides body to soups, sauces and gravies. It also can be used to thicken soups, sauces, and gravies and is generally less expensive than other thickeners like flour. Tapioca is a great addition to meals made from ground beef, including chicken nuggets and burger patties to act as a binder as well as an ingredient stabilizer. It holds moisture in gels, and is often used in baked goods to keep the pastry from becoming too wet when it is stored. Tapioca is a frequent element used in the gluten-free food products as it aids in lightening the texture and retain the moistness in the absence gluten.

How to Cook With Tapioca

Tapioca pearls should be left to soak for at least 12 hours before being simmered in boiling liquid to create gel. Instant or quick-cooking tapioca with more of a granular texture can be blended into gravies, soups jams and jellies pie fillings, and various other creamy concoctions that act as an thickener. Tapioca flour can be used in lieu of other flours to replace cornstarch.

What Does It Taste Like?

Tapioca isn't a great source of flavor by itself but when it's sweetened and added to desserts like pudding, it provides the appearance and texture. The absence of flavor can be a plus when it is used to thicken dishes that are savory like soups and gravies.

Tapioca Substitutes

Arrowroot along with potato starch can be used as alternatives to tapioca starch because they share a number of characteristics such as being gluten-free. In the event of a need you could make use of wheat flour to thicken the sauce in place of tapioca, however it can create gluten in the recipe. Cornstarch can be useful in certain applications too, especially dairy-based sauces. However, be aware that it creates cloudiness in the liquid, whereas tapioca gives it shiny sheen, which is an attractive feature in the pie filling.

Tapioca Recipes

Alongside its ability to thicken tapioca is a popular ingredient in desserts that are sweet or savory.

• Brazilian Tapioca Pancakes
• Tropical Thai Coconut Tapioca Pudding
• Tapioca Flour Crepes

Where to Buy Tapioca

Tapioca is typically sold in pearls, which vary in size between 1 millimeter and 8 millimeters wide. Tapioca pearls smaller in size are generally used for puddings, and larger pearls are typically utilized in the boba tea. It's also available in powders and flakes, which are typically used to thicken soups, sauces or gravies.

Tapioca pearls are available in the majority of major supermarkets within the bakery aisle. Powders and flakes are typically found at health food or natural food stores. It is possible to search on the internet for boba, which is larger pearls of tapioca.

Storage

Tapioca starch can be described as a non-liquid product that is able to be stored indefinitely so long as it's tightly sealed to protect it from the risk of exposure to moisture, heat and bugs. Avoid storing any form of tapioca in the fridge or in the freezer.