Tasty Tapioca

How I managed to live in Rio de Janeiro for nearly two years without sampling the gastronomic joys of tapioca, I do not know. What I do know is that, now I’ve discovered the stuff, I’ve developed a full-blown addiction.

Forget any associations of the word ‘tapioca’ with the lumpy, frog-spawn like dessert so beloved of school caterers in years past, the tapioca you’ll find here is a deliciously crunchy pancake style creation that is filled with anything from cheese, tomato and herbs to chocolate and/or coconut.

There are street vendors selling tapioca across the city, and you’ll typically find them at fruit and vegetable markets and evening street parties. The tapioca flour is tossed into a pan and simply cooked over a flame for a minute or so until it solidifies, at which point the filling of choice is added, the crepe-style base is folded over and you’re presented with a cheap, filling and extremely tasty snack.

My personal favourite is tapioca filled with ricotta cheese, herbs, chopped tomato and olives, but I’ve come across this only once, at the Arte de Portas Abertas event in Santa Teresa. The standard options are grated cheese or coconut, but in Cinelandia, Centro, during weekdays you’ll find a very good, inexpensive street stand offering a choice of different cheeses – including Queijo Minas, a white, salty semi-soft cheese, with tomatoes, along with several sweet-tooth options.

Tapioca typically costs from R$2-3, and is worth every last centavo.