Recipe for Bolivian cuñape, this naturally gluten-free Bolivian cheese bread is made from tapioca starch (also known as yuca or cassava starch), cheese, eggs, milk, and butter.
Servings 12to 15 medium cuñape breads or 18-20 small ones
Ingredients
300gramsor 3 cups of tapioca starch (also known as cassava starch
250gmozzarella cheesegrated, 250 grams=2 cups
30gramsor 2 tablespoons buttermelted or softened
1large egg
120mlor ½ cup milkadd 1-2 tbs additional if needed
1teaspoonbaking powder
A pinch of salt
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or directly grease the pan with a thin layer of butter and flour. You can also bake them in a mold for small muffins or cupcakes.
Grate the mozzarella cheese. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, add the softened or melted butter, egg, milk, and a pinch of salt into it (adjust the salt based on the saltiness of the cheese). Mix the liquid ingredients with a spoon or fork.
Next, add the tapioca starch and baking powder. Add it in batches, little by little, to prevent lumps from forming. Stir with a spatula until all the starch particles are properly hydrated.
Pour the cheese on top and knead.
Knead until you have a smooth and even dough. The dough should easily come away from your hands and the bowl. If you find the dough too dry, add a tablespoon of milk. If it’s too sticky, sprinkle it with a little extra tapioca starch until you get the desired consistency.
Form balls with the cuñape dough, for medium size breads, each ball should weigh about 55-60 grams, if you prefer smaller breads then they should be ~40 grams. Place them on the baking sheet, leaving about three centimeters of space between each one because they will rise slightly.
Bake them in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 190°C/375°F or until they start to get golden brown speckles on top.
Remove from the oven and enjoy them warm. You can add a little jam or butter. You can also enjoy them plain with a cup of coffee because they're delicious on their own.