Last weekend included visiting our frame builder friend, Flavio, in Cornwall. When we arrived he was in a tiny wooden shed at the front of the house, building a cargo bike. Flavio, who is the main guy of Tre3e Cycles started by building fixed gear track bikes in São Paulo. Now, in Cornwall, he is also building cargo bike frames.
On Sunday, we spent the day talking bikes, going for a walk on the Cornish beach to spot seals, and also eating tapioca. Now this is the non-bike related thing that i also want to document. Flavio has taught us the secret to an amazing tapioca!
So here's the guide on how to make the most amazing Tapioca (including making your own sieve to pass the flour):
- First, you need a plastic insect/mosquito mesh. A sieve won't do, because the holes are too small. You can buy the mesh from garden stores or those little shops that store everything!
- You need a frame to attach the mesh to create a sieve. I used an embroidery hoop! :-)
- Put some cassava/tapioca flour in a bowl
- Sprinkle with water. (Do not put too much water - if the flour is like paste there's too much water so add more flour. You are aiming to form a stone like dry consistency, by hydrating the flour just a little).
- Grate the stone-like tapioca mixture through the sieve so you end up with what looks like a bigger grain flour (what you get through the sieve should not be wet or paste like)
- Heat a frying pan (gentle low temperature)
- Add coconut oil (just a bit so the tapioca does not stick - you are not using it for frying)
- Put a layer of the tapioca in the pan
- Once it sticks together flip over to cook the other side
- Add your fillings. I suggest banana, cinnamon, and molasses sugar
- Heat a little more (still low temperature)
- Your amazing tapioca is ready!
