TAPIOCA VADAI

by - May 21, 2017

SNACKS
TAPIOCA VADAI
    
    If there is one eating time quite magnanimous between Breakfast, Lunch, Supper/Dinner, then it should surely be the 'Glorious Tea Time' - as the name suggests, the time is literally for a quick tea/coffee to add a bit of energy in between your meals.  But it has become so important, creative and elaborate with a wide array of snacks, sweets and savouries.  Even local delicacies add special accolades to favour the list. Name it as any baked, fried, steamed item, even new recipes pop out from leftovers.
     When I was a kid I used to anticipate this tea time, which was literally not tea time for me and my brother, as we were not allowed to drink tea or coffee.  What builds up to the anticipation is the thought what MOM would prepare for a snack.  She always comes up with something for tea time and if time never permits, we will stock up eateries from our nearby Krishna/Sunstar Bakery.  So it is always more heart filling and a happy time, all because of the brain contending and satisfying - SUGAR & FATS in it. I feel that is the reason we run behind fat filled or sugar loaded food items to celebrate an occasion and pamper our mood when stressed out. Two extremities, but soothes our senses.  If you can keep your limits then it is always fine to treat yourself, at times.
     Tapioca Vadai is an easy snack to go along with evening tea/coffee.  Even it suits to be served along with rice and curry.  This crispy & spicy Vadai tastes great as such or accompanied by condiments of your choice. Usually, Tapioca Vadai is prepared with raw tapioca.  Grated Tapioca is ground along with rice, seasoned and then deep-fried.  But this is an accidental but fantastic recipe prepared with steamed tapiocas, season it up with some onions, green chillies, ginger etc., to add a note of flavour and taste to it.

Cuisine : South Indian
Recipe Type : Snacks
Spice Level  : Low
Difficulty : Easy
Yields : 15 - 20 Vadais
Author : SM

Preparation Time : 20-30 Minutes
Cooking Time : 15 - 20 Minutes

 

INGREDIENTS :

Tapioca - 250 Gms
Rice Flour - 2 Tbspn
Gram Flour - 100 Gms
Onion - 1 No.
Green Chillies - 6-8 Nos.
Curry Leaves - 2 Sprigs
Coriander Leaves - Few
Fennel Seeds - 1/2 Tspn
Asafoetida - 1/2 Tspn
Salt - To Taste

To Deep Fry :

Vegetable Oil

METHOD  :

To Boil Tapioca :

  • Peel the tapioca and wash it.
  • Then cut it into pieces of the desired size.
  • Wash it well until the water is clear.
  • Boil tapioca in water by adding salt and turmeric powder.
  • Cook until the pieces are soft.
  • Drain and discard the water.

For Tapioca Vadai :

  • Mash the steamed Tapiocas, remove the veins if any and make sure there are no lumps.
  • Add the flours and finely chopped Onions, Green Chillies, Ginger and Fennel Seeds to the mashed Tapioca.
  • Finally, add chopped Curry Leaves and Coriander Leaves.
  • Heat Oil in a pan.
  • Take lemon sized Vadai mix and flatten them with your hands.
  • Make a hole in the centre of the flatted Vadai with your finger.
  • Drop the shaped Vadai mix into the hot oil and deep fry them until they turn into golden brown colour.
  • Drain them on paper towels.
  • Serve them hot with Coconut Chutney or any condiments of your choice.
  • Goes well along with hot-hot Coffee or Tea. 
  • Can also be served along with Steamed rice, Curry and Rasam.

NOTES :

  • Making the hole in the centre of the Vadai ensures that it is evenly cooked even at the centre.
  • Adding Asafoetida and Fennel Seeds helps to cut down the gastric nature in Tapioca, and also helps in easy digestion.
  • If you want crispier Vadais, add a pinch of Soda-bi-Carbonate.
  • Deep fry the Vadais on a medium flame on both the sides until it turns golden brown and the sizzling of oil stops.
  • Do not add water to the mix.

 

Important : Food Safety 

  • Tapioca naturally produces cyanide*, which is poisonous to humans; however, the cyanide may be removed during processing.
  • So peel and wash it thoroughly with enough water.
  • Also, can soak them in water overnight and then discard the water and wash them again before cooking.
  • Cook Tapioca with enough water to cover them, and then discard the water once it is cooked.
  • These steps ensure that the little amount of toxin present in it are removed.

      *Cyanogenic glycosides present in tapioca,  releases hydrogen cyanide during enzymatic hydrolysis by beta-glucosidase. These are transformed within humans and animals after the plant tissue has been macerated. Above steps can cut down the effects of the toxin.

You May Also Like

1 comments

POPULAR POSTS

Blog Archive