Casabe

Casabe, commonly known as Cassava Bread, is an ancient yucca-based meal from the Taino diet's culinary heritage. This 500-year-old crispy flatbread was so important to indigenous culture that it was given its own god, Yocahu Vagua Maorocoti (Our Great Lord of Yuca)

If you want to produce your own casabe, the yuca must first be moulded into circular molds, which is a time-consuming operation. Then you'll need a stone hotplate to bake it on.

Don't worry if this seems excessive and you chance to be visiting the Dominican Republic. Cassava is available in abundance at every supermarket and convenience store.

Casabe is most usually eaten with mambá, a savory Dominican peanut butter, or habichuelas with sugar, a traditional Dominican dessert. It can be consumed at any time of day and in a number of ways, much like traditional bread. It's most typically served with coffee for morning, but it's also good with soups and stews. Soaking the casabe in water and eating it with fried eggs or avocado are two other options. It can also be cooked and served with a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt. Serve with a mug of hot chocolate for a light meal. It, like tortilla chips and crackers, can be served as a buffet snack with dips.

Ingredients:

• Yuca (cassava)
• Freshly grated parmesan
• Salt
• Garlic cloves
• Olive oil