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Tapioca Recheada

A gluten-free crepe made from pure tapioca starch, folded around melty cheese or coconut and condensed milk — Brazil’s 5-minute breakfast.

⏱ 5 minPrep time
🔥 10 minCook time
🍽 2Servings
🏷 Brazilian KitchenCategory
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Tapioca Recheada

Tapioca is northeastern Brazil’s daily bread: just hydrated cassava starch cooked on a dry griddle until it sets into a soft, chewy pancake. It is endlessly versatile, and the classic fillings — salty cheese or sweet coconut — turn it into a warm, comforting start to the day.

A gluten-free crepe in five minutes

The tapioca has a uniquely soft, slightly springy texture with a gentle chew, neutral and milky in flavor. Folded around molten cheese, it becomes savory and indulgent; with coconut and condensed milk, it turns into a cozy, caramel-sweet treat.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. In a bowl, mix the tapioca starch with the salt, then sprinkle in the water a little at a time, rubbing with your fingers until the mixture feels like slightly damp sand and holds together when squeezed.
  2. Press the mixture through a fine sieve so it is evenly crumbly with no lumps.
  3. Heat a small nonstick skillet over medium heat with no oil; sprinkle half of the tapioca into the pan and press it flat into an even round.
  4. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the edges set and the top looks dry, then scatter the cheese (or coconut) over one half.
  5. Fold the empty half over the filling like an omelet and cook 1 minute more, until the cheese melts and the bottom is lightly golden.
  6. For the sweet version, spread the coconut-condensed milk filling before folding, and finish with a little butter melted over the top; serve warm.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Never add oil to the pan — tapioca releases on its own once set. The starch-water ratio is key: the mixture must feel like wet sand, not paste, or it will clump.

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Recipe details

Prep5 min
Cook10 min
Servings2
CategoryBrazilian Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →