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Cuscuz de tapioca
Tapioca and coconut cake
Cuscuz de tapioca: granulated tapioca soaked in coconut milk and sugar until it sets, then sliced
Breakfast stalls in Salvador and the street markets of Recife and Fortaleza sell cuscuz de tapioca by the slice from a big round tray, often with a drizzle of condensed milk on top. It needs no cooking at all: granulated tapioca (tapioca granulada) soaks up hot sweetened milk and coconut milk and swells into a firm, white, bouncy cake with a chewy, pearly texture and a gentle coconut taste. It is eaten cold, at breakfast or as an afternoon sweet with coffee. Granulated tapioca is a Brazilian product made of small irregular crumbs, not pearls; Brazilian shops sell it in bags. Cutting it too early is the usual mistake, and the slices crumble because the granules are still dry at the centre. Chef's tip: pour the liquid in while it is steaming hot and cover the dish straight away; the trapped steam swells the granules evenly.
- Total time
- 20 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 ¾ cups coconut milk
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- 1 pinch salt
To serve
- 3 ½ oz sweetened condensed milk (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 14 oz granulated tapioca (tapioca granulada) and half the 1 ¾ oz grated fresh or desiccated coconut in a 22 cm round or square dish.
Step 2: Heat 2 cups whole milk, 1 ¾ cups coconut milk, 5 ½ oz sugar and 1 pinch salt in a saucepan over a medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, until steaming hot and nearly boiling.
8 minStep 3: Pour the hot liquid over the tapioca and stir well so all the granules are wet. Press it level with the spoon.
Step 4: Cover with a lid or foil at once and leave at room temperature for 30 minutes, then chill for at least 2 hours, until firm and the granules are soft right to the centre.
Step 5: Sprinkle with the rest of the 1 ¾ oz grated fresh or desiccated coconut, cut into squares or wedges, and drizzle with 3 ½ oz sweetened condensed milk if you like.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 390 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cuscuz de tapioca take?
- About 20 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of whole milk?
- Semi-skimmed milk with 1 tbsp cream per 240ml (1 cup).
- What can I use instead of coconut milk?
- Single cream, same amount (not dairy free).
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