Here’s a list of popular culinary uses of cassava in the Philippines.There are two kinds of cassava; the bitter and the sweet. Bitter cassava are used as source of flour that are use to make tapioca, bread, cakes and pasta. It is also the source of ethanol for fuel and animal feeds. It has some medicinal uses too.
Cassava is the
third largest source of carbohydrates for human food in the world. This article will focus on the culinary uses of sweet cassava. Especially now that the price of rice had gone so high and some countries are experiencing rice crisis, like the Philippines. Cassava is the best alternative. Cassava is much cheaper than rice and can be prepared in several ways as a food.
Cassava
CakeGrated cassava are mixed with condensed milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk, sugar, eggs and grated coconut and then baked for about 25 minutes. Toppings are added consist of egg yolks, condensed milk, coconut milk and coconut cream and then baked again for another 25 minutes. This is a Filipino favorite desert.
Cassava BibingkaIt is cook by mixing the eggs, sugar, evaporated milk, grated cassava, butter then pour into a greased pan lined with banana leaves or cookie
sheet. Coconut milk with flour and condensed milk are then added. Followed by egg yolks pour over baked bibingka and sprinkled with grated cheese and broil till golden brown.
Cassava PuddingPackets of cassava is mixed with evaporated milk, sweetened young string coconut, condensed milk, and butter and baked for an hour.
Cassava ChipsCassava chips are prepared by slicing thinly the cassava in uniform manner and deep fried and then soaked into a mixture of water and sugar, drained and fried again. There you have it, fresh and nutritious cassava chips.
Sweetened Cassava (Minatamis na Kamoteng Kahoy)Sweetened cassava is so easy to prepare. Peel and slice the cassava according to your style, caramelized sugar in the pan then pour sliced cassava and wait until all liquid evaporated. It’s done, so easy.
Boiled CassavaSimply peel the cassava and cut them according to your desired size and boil it and serve it with your favorite dish or dishes. It can also serve as a snack by dipping it in sugar.
Fried Grated CassavaThis is one of the easiest and affordable ways of cooking cassava. Peel and grate the cassava add sugar and mix well. Pour some cooking oil in the pan, put one cup of grated cassava and flattened it after a few minutes turn the other side until golden brown.
Cassava Balls (Bola-Bolang Kamoteng Kahoy)Just mix grated cassava, salt, flour, chopped spring onions and dice carrots (optional) and deep fry. Serve with sauce, it’s done.
Mashed Cassava (Nilupak Na Kamoteng Kahoy)Cassava For EnergyChina imports 98% of cassava production from Thailand to produce biofuel, the US uses 16% of the world's corn supply - enough to feed 350 million people - to produce ethanol only to be burned in its SUVs. Al Gore , who once supported the policy of ethanol production, now calls it a mistake because the rush for biofuel is driving the food prices . The Food and Agriculture Organization ( FAO )) has asserted that food prices have gone up by 15% during October 2010-January 2011 alone, bringing additional 45 million people below poverty line. The soaring food prices are the cause of political turmoil in Algeria, Egypt and Bangladesh. My intention is not to make a case against production of nukes and biofuel.
This is about 0.2% of the world's total GDP and is well within the capability of G20 nations that account for about 90% of world's GDP. If rich nations are really serious in saving the planet, some sacrifice needs to be made by them. This is the only way to reduce our dependence on fossil-based energy. The last four Conference of Parties - Bali (2007), Poznan (2008), Copenhagen (2009) and the latest at Cancun (2010) - have not achieved anything worthwhile .
- The Philippine Energy Plan. The President's Energy Plan aims to make the country 60% energy independent by 2010. Promotion of alternative fuels, including biodiesel and bioethanol, is one of the five components of the plan
- The Biofuel Act of 2006 (THE PHILPPINE)
a) Mandates a minimum 1% biodiesel blend into all diesel engine fuels, which increases to 2% after two years.
b) Mandates a minimum 5% bioethanol blend into all gasoline fuel distributed and sold in the country within two years, going up to 10% after 4 years. (source: Philippine DOE)
c) Investments will go into land for marginalized landless farmers who are supposed to benefit from the opportunity to grow biodiesel feedstocks including sugar cane, cassava, maize, soybeans and jatropha.
