Tapioca is the starch obtained from cassava or cassava.
Tapioca is a term that has its etymological origin in the Guaraní language: tipiog , a word that refers to the carbohydrate extracted from cassava.
According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), the concept is used to name the starch obtained from cassava (also called cassava , casabe or guacamota ) and which is used to prepare a soup that is also mentioned as tapioca.
The origin as a gastronomic use of tapioca can be said to be found, above all, in the indigenous people of the Amazon since they used it to make a type of cake that became delicacies in different celebrations they organized.
What is tapioca
Cassava is a shrub whose root is a tuber that is used for food . Its cultivation is popular on the American continent, especially in countries such as Bolivia , Peru , Paraguay and Argentina .
Due to certain substances, there are varieties of cassava that are slightly poisonous. Toxicity , however, is eliminated when the tuber is boiled, a practice that also contributes to softening it.
The idea of tapioca refers to the starch or starch obtained from cassava, although sometimes both concepts are used synonymously. It is a white powder that has little flavor and no odor. It is usually used in the preparation of sausages and to thicken different recipes.
Different gastronomic preparations are made with tapioca.
a soup
Tapioca soup is made with this starch, salt and chicken broth. Its preparation requires bringing the broth to a boil, then sprinkling the tapioca and stirring the preparation with a spoon.
About ten minutes later, when the soup became transparent and thickened, salt should be added and served. To provide colors, nutrients and flavors, there are those who also add parsley , pumpkin and carrot to this soup that stands out for having potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and various vitamins .
Benefits that tapioca offers
There are many people in the world who include tapioca in their diets and they do so because they are aware of the set of benefits that it offers, such as the following:
- It provides a large amount of carbohydrates to the body.
- It is capable of reducing and even avoiding problems related to the digestive system such as heartburn, gastritis and feelings of heaviness.
- It is especially recommended for athletes and sportsmen in general since it provides significant amounts of energy to the body.
- In the same way, it is highlighted that it provides little potassium to the body, so it is very useful for it to be taken by people with kidney problems.
- Another of its great advantages is that it provides a low amount of fat.
- It is a great source of fiber, so it will help the person who takes it to have their intestinal transit in perfect condition.
- Thanks to the minerals and vitamins it provides, it is indicated so that children can grow healthy and strong.