Kappa Kuzhachathu (Kerala Style)

- Submitted by Dahlia

(Kerala Style Mashed Tapioca, Kappa Puzhukku, Boiled and Mashed Cassava Root)

Kappa Kuzhachathu is a comfort food for malayalees, where boiled tapioca is mashed and spiced up. The creamy mashed tapioca is traditionally served with spicy fish curry or beef curry.

In olden days, kappa used to be part of everyday meal. In those days, poor people would have just boiled tapioca with some chammandhi. Others used to have this as part of their meal. I have heard that this is an item in high demand in ‘kallu shoppu’ (Toddy shops) in Kerala. These days, this dish is found in all big restaurants. It is a signature Kerala dish. Well, what I can guarantee is that it is a perfect spicy dish for cold winter or rainy days. The creamy buttery tapioca tastes heavenly with the fiery fish curry. Yummy!! Don’t miss it out.

Recipe For Kappa Kuzhachathu

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• Kappa (Tapioca) - 1 kg
• Salt – to taste
• Coconut oil – 1 tbsp

For Grinding

• Coconut - 1 cup
• Sambar onion (Shallots) - 2
• Green chili – 1
• Dry Red Chili - 1
• Garlic – 3 cloves
• Cumin seeds - a pinch
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
• Curry leaves – 5-6 leaves

Method

1. Wash the tapioca in running water to remove all the mud from the skin. Cut into big pieces. Peel the skin with a sharp knife and then cut the tapioca into small cubes.
2. Wash the cut tapioca pieces in cold water to remove any dirt from it.
3. Take these pieces in a big pot or pressure cooker with plenty of water. The water level should be at least 3 inches above the kappa pieces.
4. Add some salt and let it cook till the pieces are soft. You can prick one piece with a knife to check if it is cooked. If using a pressure cooker, cook for 2 whistles and let the pressure go down by itself.
5. Drain the excess water and mash it up partially using a potato masher or a thick ladle. 
6. Grind together grated coconut, shallots, garlic cloves, cumin seeds, green chili, dry red chili, turmeric powder and curry leaves. Grind it coarsely without adding any water.
7. Add the coarsely ground mixture to the mashed tapioca and mix well. Check for salt and add if needed.
8. Return this mixture to the stove top over low flame. Add 1 tbsp of oil and cook for 4-5 minutes till the raw flavor disappears.

Serving Suggestion

• Serve this tasty mashed and spiced tapioca with some spicy fish curry or beef curry.

Variations

• Some people like to add a seasoning to the final product. I usually add few curry leaves while grinding, so I do not add a separate seasoning. If you want a beautiful presentation or the aroma of the seasoning, heat 1 tbsp of oil in a small pan, pop some mustard seeds. Chop 3 shallots finely and fry it in the oil. Add dry red chilies and curry leaves to the oil and switch off. Pour this seasoning over the mashed tapioca.
• The leftover can be stored in the refrigerator for couple of days. If you plan to do so, it is recommended to add 2-3 drops of tamarind to the mashed tapioca along with the ground mixture while cooking. This will keep it fresh longer.

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