If you have been to Asia, then you most likely have drunk a Tapioca Asian bubble tea.
If you do not know what tapioca is, then you’ll be happy to know it is a small and chewy pearl and usually, you find them in a bowl full of pudding.
Many of us are aware of what these little pearls are about.
But don’t worry if that is not the case with you! We are going to let you know about this fantastic pearl in this post! So keep on reading to the end and you’ll be amazed of what this little white pearl can do.
Let us start with the benefits. We’ll tell you about the downside of Tapioca after the benefits and then we’ll give you some recipes for you to try at home.
Tapioca Benefits:
1. Provide a boost to grow your muscles:
Sabudana is fabricated from Tapioca roots and is important to support the growth of your muscles. It is a great source of protein. Because it is free of any meat and a high source of protein, Tapioca is a must for vegans.
This Pearl is also great at healing your body (this is due to the protein in the pearl).
2. Very good for the bones, the heart and blood pressure:
Tapioca contains a lot of calcium. It can maintain your blood pressure and can also improve your blood cholesterol level. As it has a high content of potassium, eating or drinking tapioca will boost your blood circulation. It was also found that Sabudana help reduces the strain on your cardiovascular system, hence benefiting key vital areas of your body system.
3. Your energy levels are low? Tapioca can help you:
Tapioca is known to be a good source of energy. We all experience one day or another running out of energy and that even before the day comes to an end. Usually, it is because we do not eat enough carbohydrates.
A healthy solution to the drop in energy levels would be to drink tapioca tea or simply eat it. Know for being a strong source of energy, Tapioca tea or dish is easy to make, it is a very quick solution, and on top of it a healthy way to build your energy requirement for day and keep you going no matter what stress you’re under.
4. An interesting factor is that helps in gaining weight:
We understand that we are all watching and monitoring our weight carefully. But there is good news for people who are underweight or for the ones you know who are in this situation, try suggesting to try tapioca.
First, it is a healthy way to gain weight, but it can also build muscles (see above point 1). Why depriving yourselves of something that can help you do two things at once – weight gain and muscle building?
How does tapioca help in this? Well, it contains plenty of carbohydrates, so that is why tapioca leads to quick weight gain. The other good news is that it is easily available in the market, it is not expensive and finally it takes no time to prepare.
5. Tapioca improves your digestion:
If you have some form of digestion disorder, you should try and have some tapioca. It is known to help in reducing dramatically the symptoms of gas problems, bloating and flatulence.
And by doing all of the above, tapioca also reduces your cholesterol levels, so it keeps your body healthy.
6. A bit controversial statement – Tapioca can stop birth defects:
Though not really supported by scientific research (at the moment) tapioca has been associated with reducing and controlling birth defects.
Why such statements have been made? Sabudana contains both folic acid and Vitamin B complex. These have been proven to allow healthy and steady growth of the foetus and as tapioca is full of these, then you can understand that babies from people eating tapioca are less prone to birth defects.
7. Tapioca is great for your nerve health:
If you did not know it, tapioca is really for your nerve health. Vitamin K is at the essence of this benefit. This vitamin can promote osteotropic activity and is beneficial for your mind and the brain. Vitamin K makes you less prone to diseases like Alzheimer’s. In other words, eating sabudana will help you fight Alzheimer. K vitamins are also responsible to support an active mind, which is engaged at all times.
The downside of tapioca – side effects:
- Be careful not to eat natural tapioca as it is quite poisonous. So if do not know how to cook it or process it you may end up being poisoned through cyanide. Best for you to buy it already processed. If you don’t and still attempt to collect it naturally and cook it, then you may end up contracting some of the symptoms falling under this category including dizziness and headaches.
- For some, tapioca may cause some allergic responses. Usually, this happens if you take it in large doses at one go. So if you do not know, try the tapioca, but in a very small dose and then increase intake to your appropriate level. If not sure, it is best to speak to your doctor before trying – Better be safe than sorry!
Some use of sabudana / tapioca:
Sabudana or Tapioca is in so many dishes that we could not list them all. But some of the most well known edible dishes are sabudana khichdi, pakodas and kheer.
These are very easy to prepare. They are quickly consumed by the family and it should leave no room for complaint from any member of the family (the young and the not less so young).
Below you’ll find some of the best tapioca recipes listed just for you and your family. Let’s get to it!
1. Sabudana Khichdi:
Sabudana khichdi is a highly popular choice among Indians. It is usually consumed at dinner time. Of course, because this dish use tapioca, it is very healthy, contains carbohydrates, proteins and many other essential vitamins that are good for your body. Here is the recipe for you to try it at home!
List of ingredients:
- One cup of sabudana (if you want you can use sago – same thing really)
- Half a cup of nicely roasted peanuts (get them crushed)
- Two medium-sized potatoes, finely and evenly chopped (if possible)
- Half a teaspoon of cumin seeds
- 2 green chillis – If you cannot handle chillis, then don’t use them; but it is always better with a little bit of spice
- 2 tablespoons of oil – trying to keep healthy here. Some put more but try to stick to the minimum for best results
- Salt for extra taste – try to keep it minimum too; too much salt is bad for your health
Khichdi recipe steps:
- Make sure you wash the sabudana. Then drain it and let it dry for a couple of hours. If you can, sprinkle some water over it and allow it to moisten – it is better but takes longer.
- Take another bowl (I prefer the glass type) and add some oil (the two spoon), cumin seeds (half a spoon), the 2 green chillies and nicely chopped potatoes.
- Cover the bowl with a lid and let it stay inside a microwave for 2 minutes (better use another means of cooking as the microwave is not what we use – usually put it for five mn on a gas fire). Wait till the potatoes have become soft enough (eatable really).
- Add some of the soaked sago. Stir a bit. Then add the peanuts and salt. Mix everything properly but do not crush your sago. Cover using a lid and onto the fire for a couple of minutes (about 5 to 8 mns).
- If you want an extra taste, serve the khichdi with some green chutney and seeds.
2. Nice sabudana pakoda:
We have to say that Sabudana Pakodas are absolutely delicious and not for the ones who usually stop eating after the first plate is finished. If you try it, you’d want more!
Pakoda is very well known and served during festivals such as Navratri in India. It is also cooked during other occasions and people are now more and more than happy to try this dish outside festivals. Our advice is to never underestimate the taste of sabudana pakodas!
List of ingredients:
- Sabudana (of course)
- Water
- Potatoes
- Lime juice
- Rajigira flour
- Green chillies
- Ginger paste
- Coriander leaves
Steps to cook pakodas:
- Grab a cup of sabudana and let it soak in water – any cup will. Use your judgement to decide how many of you will eat it. If it is the first time you are making this dish, then try a small cup. Let it soak for the whole night or for at least 4 to 5 hours.
- Once it has soaked, you will notice the sabudana pearls have increased in size (of course)
- Next, boil the potatoes and peel off the skin.
- Mash them and add some coriander leaves, green chillies and ginger paste.
- Add this to the sabudana mixture.
- Don’t forget to add the lemon juice during this time.
- Add the rajgira flour next.
- Season the mixture and roll them into tiny lime sized balls.
- Fry in hot oil for two to three minutes.
- Serve with hot chutney.
Have you tried tapioca and sabudana khichdi before? Let us know by simply leaving a comment below. We are eager to hear your experience and expertise at omigy!