Chic African Culture Africa Factbook

Cassava Facts and Nutrition

Cassava and cassava flour, everything you ever wanted to know.

Cutting cassava

Cassava is known by various names, manioc, yucca, yuca, mandioca, and tapioca. Cassava originated from tropical America and was first introduced into Africa in the Congo basin by the Portuguese around 1558.

Adding cassava and cassava flour to your diet can easily lead to weight gain since cassava flour has double the carbohydrate and calorie content of sweet potatoes. Cassava flour is great if you are looking for high-calorie food but not so great when trying to lose weight. Cassava flour maybe a gluten-free, wheat flour alternative, however, cassava root is essentially a rich carbohydrate source.

Cassava grows well in poor soils with little attention needed to grow the crop. However, it requires considerable postharvest labor because the roots are highly perishable and must be processed into a storable form soon after harvest. Roots can be harvested between six months and three years after planting.

Cassava is a major staple food in the developing world, providing a basic diet for over half a billion people. Nigeria is the world's largest producer of cassava, while Thailand is the largest exporter of dried cassava however, Africa exports only one ton of cassava annually.

Nearly every person in Africa eats around 176 pounds or 80 kilograms of cassava per year. It is estimated that 37% of dietary energy comes from cassava. The Democratic Republic of Congo is the largest consumer of cassava in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by Nigeria.

Many varieties of cassava contain a substance called cyanide that can make the crop toxic if inadequately processed. Various processing methods, such as grating, sun drying, and fermenting, are used to reduce the cyanide content.

Apart from food, cassava is very versatile and its derivatives and starch are applicable in many types of products such as foods, confectionery, sweeteners, glues, plywood, textiles, paper, biodegradable products, monosodium glutamate, and drugs. Cassava chips and pellets are used in animal feed and alcohol production.

Best Fritters Recipe

Best Fritters Recipe

Best Fritters Recipe

Fritters are best served with homemade soups and stews recipes. Golden brown Garri Fritters are a favorite recipe of Western Africa made with ground cassava flour and spices fried into delicious snacks.

 

Serves 8

Prep time: 10 min

Cook time: 10

Total time: 20 min

Best Cassava Fritters Recipe Ever

Ingredients

2 cups cassava flour

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 tablespoon white sugar

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 - 1/3 cups water

1-2 cups oil for frying

 

Directions

In a large frying pan heat vegetable oil. Add all ingredients, mix well and form small fritters, fry until golden brown about 3 minutes on each side. Sprinkle with extra salt or curry powder before serving.

Cassava Fact. 
Nearly every person in Africa eats around 176 pounds or 80 kilograms of cassava per year.
Recipes for the heart, mind, and soul.


More economical easy lunch and dinner recipes to make right now so you never have to eat or prepare a boring meal again.

  1. Curried Tanzanian Coconut Okra Recipe
  2. Yedoro Stir Fried Ethiopian Chicken Dinner
  3. Senegalese Chicken Vermicelli
  4. Caldo Verde Portuguese Kale Soup
  5. Air Fryer Black Eyed Pea Dumpling Stew

Chic African Culture and The African Gourmet=

More Articles to Read from Chic African Culture

Show more

This Week’s Best Posts and Pages

Cuban Military Presence in Angola

Image
The Cuban military had a long-lasting presence in Angola, with thousands of troops stationed there during a political conflict. The Cuban intervention in Angola had significant international implications and was seen as part of the broader Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union.  Angola, a former Portuguese colony in southern Africa, was in the midst of a struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. This war for independence lasted from the early 1960s until 1974, when the Portuguese Carnation Revolution led to the decolonization of Portuguese Africa. When Portugal withdrew from Angola in 1975, it left a significant hole in the political landscape in the country. This withdrawal marked the end of decades of colonial rule and set the stage for the country's transition to independence. However, it also created a political void, as there was no clear, unified government to take control. In the absence of Portuguese colonial rule, many Angolan polit
Read the Article

Sand Traveling from the Shores of Ghana to New England

Image
The journey of a grain of sand from the shores of Ghana to New England, USA, is an important reminder of the interconnectedness of all existence.  It serves as a reminder that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant elements of our world are subject to the grand tapestry of natural processes and the relentless passage of time.  It also invites us to reflect on the intricate web of relationships that underlie our existence and the profound implications of our actions on the global scale. The journey of a grain of sand from the shores of Ghana to New England, USA, shows how interconnected our world is despite vast distances. Sand grains on the shores of Ghana, like those on coastlines worldwide, are constantly subject to natural processes such as erosion. Waves, tides, and weathering gradually break down rocks and minerals, producing sand. The Atlantic Ocean separates Ghana from the eastern United States. Ocean currents, including the North Atlantic Drift and the Gulf Stream, are c
Read the Article

Sofala: A Key Stop on Covilhã's African Odyssey

Image
Sofala, historically known as a significant trading town, holds a special place in the history of Eastern Africa. Located on the eastern coast of Africa, in what is modern-day Mozambique, Sofala was a bustling and strategic port during the late medieval period and the Age of Exploration. Navigating the waters around Sofala was no small feat. The Indian Ocean currents and shifting sandbars made the approach to the Sofala coast treacherous. Pêro de Covilhã's successful navigation of these waters demonstrated his seafaring prowess and furthered Portugal's ambitions to dominate maritime trade routes. To Portuguese explorers, Sofala was not merely a geographical destination but a vibrant crossroads of cultures and trade during the late 15th century. The Age of Exploration in the late 15th century was a transformative era in African human history. It was a time when intrepid European explorers set out on perilous journeys to chart unknown territories, establish trade routes, and unco
Read the Article

How Water Shapes Borders

Image
African rivers shape land, borders, create cultures, and history. Rivers are pathways; 30% of all borders in Africa are rivers. African rivers shaped countries, cultures, and civilizations with natural liquid borders. The continent of Africa is home to numerous rivers that have played significant roles in shaping its landscape and political boundaries. These water bodies have acted as natural barriers, demarcating borders between countries and sometimes influencing the development of cultures and civilizations. For instance, the Nile River, one of the world's longest rivers, flows through several African nations, including Egypt and Sudan. Its fertile banks have historically supported advanced civilizations and shaped the region's history. The Nile's course has also defined borders and influenced interactions between these countries. In West Africa, the Niger River has played a similar role. It traverses several countries, such as Nigeria, Mali, and Niger, serving as a cruc
Read the Article