Kappa Thoran - Tapioca Snack

There are certain food items that you relate to some other food. For example, when I posted about spicy Mathi curry I related it to Kappa Puzhukku, with which it will go very well. Guess what, not just my request for Monsoon showers was heard by the Gods, but also this silent wish for tapioca. As I am in my hometown, I made a quick visit to one of my properties where we had planted tapioca on last August. As expected all were ready to be taken out and here is a quick snack with tapioca. Will post on Kappa puzhukku later on.

Ingredients

1. Kappa / Tapioca - 4 Medium sized or 2 cups of flesh. 
2. Grated Coconut - Half Cup
3. Coconut Oil - 1 table spoon
   
4. Urad Dal - 1 tea spoon
5. Mustard Seeds - 1 tea spoon
6. Curry Leaves - a Bunch
7. Dry Red Chilly - 4
8. Salt to taste

How to Make?

1. As tapioca is uprooted from ground, there will be a lot of dirt on it, so wash it well. Then peel the skin off. Now cut, it into half and start carving out rectangular medium sized pieces from it. You will find a white root at the center and discard it.
2. Boil Water and drop the tapioca pieces in it. Wait for it to boil and then simmer it for 5 minutes. Do not allow it to stick to the bottom.Need to ensure that tapioca is cooked well , but should not be too soft . What we are looking here is a texture which we can bite , but not swallow as well as cooked.
3. Now add salt and mix well.
4. Add grated coconut and mix well. An option is to add coconut milk instead of grated one.
5. Finally season it. For that heat coconut oil and  add mustard seeds and when it starts spluttering add curry leaves, dry red chilly and urad dal.
6. Add this to the prepared tapioca.

Enjoy this with a hot tea and welcome the Monsoon showers.

Note : Some tapioca turns out to be a bitter in taste. For that boil tapioca pieces in water and strain it out. Then again add water and cook as described here.