Kerala Kappa Masala: learn how to make this Kerala-Style Tapioca Masala or Kappa Masala which is different from the usual Kappa or tapioca recipes that are prepared in Kerala homes.
I am fortunate enough to live in a place where fresh tapioca (kappa in Malayalam, maravalli kizhangu in Tamil) is always available. While in most Kerala homes Kappa Puzhukku is the common dish made with tapioca, this Kappa Masala has been a regular in my home ever since I can remember. It’s not mushy like Kappa Puzhukku, but the tapioca pieces are boiled until soft and spiced mildly with red chillies and a good amount of garlic. It’s delicious on its own as a quick snack in the evenings with tea or an accompaniment to your breakfast.
I hope you have fun cooking up this Kappa Masala Recipe.
Love Kerala recipes? Check out some of my favourites:
Ulli vada
Kerala egg roast recipe
Stir-fried jackfruit seeds
Kerala chicken roast
Kerala Kappa Masala
Ingredients
- 5 cups of kappa or tapicoa cubed (about 500 gm)
- 5 cloves of garlic crushed
- 5 dry red chillies adjust to taste
- 2 tbsp of coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp of black mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp of split urad dal
- 1 strand of curry leaves torn into pieces
- 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Peel the tapioca and wash it thoroughly to remove any dirt and sand.
- Cut into rough cubes by driving the knife in and splitting it off the centre of the tapioca.
- Cook the tapioca in a pan with enough water to cover it by an inch, until the pieces are soft (about 10-15 mins).
- Crush or coarsely grind 5 cloves of garlic and 5 red chillies together in a pestle and mortar.
- Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil and add 1/2 tsp mustard seeds.
- When they pop, add the garlic-chilli paste along with 1/4 tsp turmeric powder and fry for 10 seconds or until fragrant.
- Add the cooked tapioca, salt, and the curry leaves.
- Mix well and continue to stir until the spices coat the tapioca.
- Taste to ensure all spices are to your taste and remove from heat
- Serve hot with tea
Step by Step Kerala Kappa Masala Recipe:
Peel the tapioca and wash it thoroughly. Cut into rough cubes by driving the knife in and splitting it off the centre of the tapioca.
Cook the tapioca in a pan with enough water to cover it by an inch, until the pieces are soft (about 10-15 mins).
Drain the remaining water and discard.
Crush or coarsely grind the garlic and red chillies together in a pestle and Mortar.
Heat oil and add the mustard seeds following by the split urad dal.
When the mustard seeds pop, add the garlic-chilli paste along with the turmeric powder and fry for 10 seconds so that the paste turns fragrant.
Add the cooked tapioca, salt, and the curry leaves.
Mix well and continue to stir until the spices coat the tapioca.
That’s it! Hot and delicious Kappa Masala is ready. Wasn’t that easy?
Love the serving dish? Check out more details of where I buy my food photo props from!
Notes:
– Use fresh garlic please. None of that minced bottled stuff.
– You can use red chilli powder if you don’t have whole chillies.
– The kappa must be cooked soft before you proceed with the rest of the cooking process.
For Kerala kappa masala recipe in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Urdu, etc please use the Google translate button in the sidebar.
Latha Madhusudhan
Perfectly made and looks so tempting.
Jeyashrisuresh
Though i have never tasted this before, i am sure this will taste yum, loved the clicks too
hiroxy
Wow! This looks delicious! I wonder if I can get fresh tapioca anywhere in Tokyo…:)
Rafeeda A. Raheem
We do make this,but without the flavorings,to go along with mathi mulakittathu. Wud definitly try 2 b a part of this event!!! 🙂
Sona S
looks delicious..
Priya
I can have this kappa masala for snacks, loving that bowl.
Manju
Wow Nags, havent had kappa for a while now, I'm definitely taking part in this…
what's good is, I get to take part and eat it too 😉
Regards,
Manju
http://manjuseatingdelights.blogspot.com/
divya
Simply droolworthy and yummy masala. Wonderful recipe.
Spandana
Masala looks so good. I never made Tapioca though.
I guess we need some experience in the peeling and cutting.
Swapna
We always used to make kappa with coconut and this was something new to me! Had some frozen kappa and made it in the afternoon and it came out perfect! Will post mine soon…