HEALTHIER DAYS AHEAD

Tapioca is a Brazilian dish that is common in the North-East of Brazil. I first discovered it through my boyfriend's family, who are Brazilian, and since then I have been absolutely obsessed! And since living in Brazil, it has become a staple in my diet.

Tapioca is naturally-gluten free, since it's derived from yuca, a common plant-based ingredient in Brazilian cuisine. When tapioca is cooked, it's basically like a Brazilian "flatbread" or a "crepe". It is mostly consumed during breakfast or as a snack. You can add any fillings of your choice, including ingredients like cheese, ham, butter, and tomatoes. You can also make a sweet option with strawberries, bananas, jams, and dolce de leite - making it the perfect versatile dish to fit all of your cravings!

The best part of it all? It takes two minutes to make! Like, literally two minutes. Once you have the tapioca mixture (it should be a fine, starchy mixture), you simply add it to a non-stick pan and it will congeal together to form a flat bread. Then, you can add your fillings and fold it in half, and serve. Easy!

Since this is a Brazilian dish, you can find the right tapioca starch at your local Brazilian market, or you can order it through Amazon (I actually use this brand in Brazil!). You will want to make sure that you are buying the right tapioca starch, and not tapioca flour. This dish will not work with the flour alone, because the added starch is what holds the mixture together!

Tapioca Filling Options

These are the best (and most traditional) filling combinations, but feel free to experiment with your own!

• Ham, cheese, and tomatoes

• Scrambled eggs and avocado

• Shredded chicken and cheese

• Goat cheese and jam

• Cheese only or ham only

• Dolce de leite and bananas

• Nutella and strawberries

Tapioca Pairings

While tapioca can be a great snack on it's own, I love to have the below pairings if I'm eating it for breakfast (got to get that high-protein breakfast in somehow!). I would also recommend that you serve the tapioca right away, or else it will harden and be more difficult to eat. So, if you're pairing it with another dish, I would prepare the below first.

• Scrambled/sunny-side up eggs

• Sliced avocado with hemp hearts

• Protein Smoothie

• Greek yogurt with fresh berries and granola

  
  

I hope you enjoy this dish more than I do (although that may be hard) and let know your favorite way to make your tapioca below!