What Is Cassava, and How Do You Cook With It?

“Cassava,” “yuca,” “manioc,” and “tapioca” are all names for a large, hard root vegetable that is native to Brazil. Cassava is a staple food throughout Latin America, South America, the Caribbean, and West Africa, where it is best known in fufu, a chewy, dough-like side dish made of cooked, kneaded (and sometimes fermented) cassava flesh. The thick-skinned tubers are also used to make two types of flour: tapioca flour (or starch) and cassava flour, which are both gluten-free. 

When you think of cassava as just another starchy root vegetable, there’s no end to the ways you can use it in the kitchen. In fact, cassava can be used interchangeably with potatoes and sweet potatoes in many recipes. (Yuca/cassava shares one important-to-know characteristic with potatoes: Both can be toxic when consumed raw and need to be cooked before eating.) Throughout Latin America, South America, and the Caribbean, yuca/cassava is added to stews, mashed for savory side dishes, and baked or fried to make crunchy fries.

Cooked cassava has the dense, slightly fibrous texture of a baked sweet potato with a mild, slightly nutty flavor that’s closer to that of a white or yellow potato. Its high starch content makes it extra creamy when simmered or steamed, extra fluffy when mashed, and extra crispy when roasted or fried.

At first glance, hard, thick-skinned cassava root can seem a little daunting to prepare, especially since it must be peeled: The root’s thick skin is not only unappetizing; it contains toxic compounds and is often coated in wax so it will stay fresh during transport. 

Prepping cassava is similar to prepping pineapple. Here’s how to tackle the task. 

Yuca fries cook to crunchy perfection without oil, thanks to the veggie’s low moisture content and high starch levels. The same goes for pan-fried fritters made with cassava.

Whole cassava root is available at most well-stocked supermarkets. Look for hard roots with no signs of cracking or discoloration. If it’s possible to see the flesh on one end of the root, check to see that there are no lines or black spots running through it. Store whole roots up to 1 week at room temperature. Or peel, cut into chunks, and freeze for future use. Packages of peeled yuca pieces can be found in the frozen food sections of Caribbean, Latin American, Indian, and Asian groceries.

Cassava root is used to make two types of flour: cassava flour and tapioca flour (also called tapioca starch). Both are fine, mild-flavored, bright white flours with thickening properties that make them good for sauces, desserts, and gluten-free baked goods. Cassava flour is used extensively in South America and is made using the whole root. Tapioca flour is produced using the starch extracted from the cassava root. Boba is made with tapioca flour, as are some vegan cheeses. Cassava flour and tapioca flour are interchangeable in recipes, though cassava flour has more fiber and flavor. Learn how to use cassava flour to make a versatile gluten-free flour blend here.

Whether you’re brand-new to yuca/cassava or you’re just looking for some fresh ways to use it, try one of these easy recipes from Forks Over Knives.

For more guidance in healthy cooking, check out Forks Meal Planner, FOK’s easy weekly meal-planning tool to keep you on a plant-based path. To learn more about a whole-food, plant-based diet, visit our Plant-Based Primer.