10 Products Made From Cassava and How To Prepare Them

Cassava is a woody perennial and branched shrub that can grow up to  5 meters tall. Cassava is one of the most cultivated crops in the world with Nigeria being the world’s largest producer of cassava, producing about 63 million metric tons in 2023. Cassava products are among the most consumed foods in the world; some are consumed while some are used as raw material for some finished goods.

The way cassava is utilized in different countries differs; some parts of the world consume cassava leaves; and have seen people eat the tiny “juvenile” cassava tuber. I have found 10 different cassava products that are consumed across the globe in different forms using different cassava processing techniques.

1. KISANVU

This is one of the indigenous delicacies in Tanzania made from cassava leaf. fresh cassava leaf is a nutritious vegetable with several health benefits.

To make the Kisanvu vegetable…

Firstly, you need to chop or ground the leaves before cooking them. this removes the cyanogens that it contains.

This vegetable is prepared by crushing the leaves with a mortar and pestle to produce a very fine pulp. Boil water, and add the salt and the crushed leaves. Stir continuously until the leaves are cooked. Put aside.

Now fry onions and add coconut milk or peanut butter. When the mixture starts to boil, add the cooked cassava leaves. Stir for a few more minutes and remove from the heat. Serve with rice or another main cereal-based dish and enjoy the yummy cassava leaf meal.

2. KWEM

This Is another meal made from cassava leaves, it is a native of Cameroun. It is prepared by cooking together, palm but pulp and mashed cassava leaf with peeled and cleaned cassava tuber. These are cooked on high heat and stirred intermittently.

After 20 minutes, check the cooking process and adjust the amount of water. For a quarter of an hour, and a half cover the pot to allow the water to evaporate. This vegetable soup is ready once the crushed leaves turn a yellowish color and the liquid has reduced by half.

3. CASSAVA PASTE

Cassava paste is another cassava product made from fresh cassava roots or tubers and water.

This can be made in two ways, either fermented or unfermented.

To make it using the fermented method, the cassava tubers are peeled and washed after which they are soaked for 3 days to soften them. Once fermented, clean them by removing the central section, then take out the cassava. The resulting paste is pressed and crushed to make the fermented cassava paste used in the production of cassava sticks.

Unfermented cassava paste is used in the production of several products such as pastries, couscous, semolina, starch, etc. The cassava roots are peeled and Washed in clean water. Then grated. The grating is either done manually by rubbing the cassava against a grater or mechanically through a mill.

4. DRIED CASSAVA CHIPS 

Cassava chips are made from drying fresh cassava tubers. The tubers are peeled,  washed, and cut into pieces. They are then soaked for 3 to 6 days, depending on the season. This takes less time in the dry season. Then the fibers are removed and the cassava chips are dried in the sun before they are stored in clean bags.

5. CASSAVA FLOUR

Cassava flour production is made either from dried cassava chips or from unfermented cassava paste. In both cases, the product is dried, ground finely, and sifted before being packaged.

From dried cassava chips

• Grind or crush the cassava chips to produce the flour.
• Sift the flour and put it in suitable packaging (i.e. cup, bag, packet).

From cassava paste

The cloth must be put on a raised support and not directly on the ground.

• Press the paste obtained after grating the peeled and carefully cleaned roots.
• Dry in the sun on a clean cloth, positioned on a gentle incline.
• Dry the paste until it is floury. Then grind the dried paste in a mortar or in a mill to produce the flour.
• Sift the flour and transfer it to suitable packaging (i.e. cup, bag, packet).

6. CASSAVA STARCH 

Cassava starch is produced from unfermented cassava paste, the processes involved are:

• Mix the cassava paste in a vat of water, at a ratio of 5 liters of water to 1 kg of paste.
• Sift the mixture and collect the starch milk in a basin. Allow the starch to settle for 1 hour.
• Collect the paste that has been deposited at the bottom and leave it to dry in the sun. This extracts the starch.
• Grind the starch and sift the powder, then package it into bags.

7. FERMENTED AND BAKED SEMOLINA

The fermented and baked meal is made from the fermentation of peeled and crushed cassava. Fermentation is carried out by enzymes known as Magnan. The semolina is obtained after spinning the paste. It is dried, sifted, sized, and steamed to give a sticky and slightly tangy product.

8. GARRI

This is one of the most popular cassava products in Africa, especially in Nigeria. this is one of the uses of cassava in Nigeria. Garri is a dry meal that can be kept for a very long time. It is quite technical and herculean to prepare.

How To Make Garri

• Prepare the cassava paste, pack it into bags, and leave it to ferment for 2 to 3 days.
• Press the paste using blocks of stone or a press, until the water stops dripping. Note that the surface of the bag should remain moist.
• Drain the dry paste using a sieve while removing some of the fibers
• Grill or roast the semolina in a pan or on a hot plate.
• After roasting, sieve the gari to remove the large pieces that remain and size using a bamboo sieve with different mesh sizes, which will give different qualities of garri.
• Keep them in a clean container (bag or packet) for trading.

9. CASSAVA PASTA 

  This is made with cassava flour and egg. This product can be prepared using the following processes;

• Pour the flour onto the work surface. Make a well in the middle, add the eggs, and mix using a fork.
• Once the flour is completely mixed with the eggs, work the pasta by hand for 15 minutes until it is compact, smooth, and elastic.
• Form it into a ball and leave it to rest for 1 hour at room temperature. Add water if it is dry or flour if it is too sticky.
• Then, divide the ball into three equal-sized pieces. Roll each piece of pasta through the rollers at the maximum thickness setting, then a second time on the tightest setting. Roll it through five or six times until a fine band of pasta is produced. If necessary, pour flour on the pasta to stop it sticking. Fold it in half before rolling it through the machine again.
• Use the pasta dryer or rest the pasta on a cloth for at least 10 minutes, then put it into bags.

10. CASSAVA BREAD

As we have other farm produce bread, like wheat, so also exists cassava bread. This is baked using cassava flour, it has been researched to be more nutritious than other types of bread. Most bread bakers are currently experimenting with the inclusion of cassava flour even up to 20 percent depending on each baker’s expertise in the production of bread.

Health Benefits of Casava

Casava has many health benefits. It is a very versatile food that can be used in many different recipes. It can be eaten raw or cooked and it is very healthy for you.

• Raw cassava contains vitamin C, which helps to strengthen your immune system so that you are less likely to get sick. It also contains vitamin B6 and magnesium, which help to reduce stress and anxiety by helping your body produce serotonin.

• Casava contains high levels of fiber which helps to lower cholesterol levels and prevent constipation by keeping your digestive system moving smoothly through your body without any blockages or obstructions from its daily activities.

• Casava has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects that can help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. It’s also been shown to help lower cholesterol levels.

• Casava is a type of root vegetable that’s high in antioxidants and fiber, as well as vitamins A, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6, C and E. It also contains iron, zinc, and vitamin K.

• Cassava contains potassium which helps lower blood pressure by balancing sodium levels in the body. Potassium also helps prevent heart disease by lowering triglycerides and increasing HDL cholesterol levels.

• Cassava is also high in carbohydrates which makes it an excellent source of energy for athletes who are looking for a quick burst before working out or during long periods of physical activity such as climbing mountains or running marathons.

• Cassava is high in fiber and low in fat, making it a great choice for anyone on a diet looking to lose weight. It’s also rich in potassium and magnesium, which are both important for heart health.

• Cassava has been shown to help prevent cancer by inhibiting the growth of tumors. This may be because cassava contains many antioxidants that fight free radicals, the harmful molecules that can damage DNA and cause cell mutations.

Lastly, cassava is a versatile root tuber crop that can be processed into a wide range of products. From chips to flour, cassava can be turned into a variety of products that are useful in everyday life.

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