Yucca?

[matt n]

What is this root called in English, and how availible is it where I live in sunny Arizona?

 

[Natasha]

I've heard people call it yucca, cassava root or even manioc in English. I am sure you might be able to find it in Arizona, perhaps at a Latin grocery store.

I LOVE yuca, even more than potatoes, I just dislike peeling them :-(

Regards,
Natasha

 

[Sylvia]

Yucca is something like the sweetpotato...

 

[hillbilly]

It ain't sweet!!

See Natasha's post. Manioc is "sort of like it" but not exactly. Manioc is more like the yaut?a and pasty.
Probably any good Mexican store there in Phoenix will carry it.

1. Peel it with a fairly dull knife
2. Rince it
3. Grate it and make fritters by adding a little flour, salt and milk.
4. boil it in salted water and eat with eggs and sauteed onions

enjoy!

 

[Keith]

Natasha,

I don't doubt that North American (note the adjective) supermarkets would mislabel yucca as manioc or cassava, since I've seen some bewildering labels put on herbs, greens, vegetables, fruits and even beans sourced from abroad (just try finding the spices listed in many Dominican recipes, and you'll see what I mean! They're often there, but with different names).

Cassava = manioc = tapioca root. They are not the same as yucca.

Yucca is usually labeled as yucca; it's just hard to find in many groceries. We're lucky here in the Washington area because the larger supermarkets carry it and other things from the Caribbean, albeit not always under the name we know it as in the RD. We also have numerous Latin markets, and thankfully they usually have ALL these things.

Me, I'm partial to yuca frita (see my post under "Dominican Republic"). Better than French fries if done properly! Yum!
Regards,
Keith

 

[Natasha]

Keith,

Yes, you're right, usually I just see "yucca" here in the Washington area, but I've been to other places/cities where they have labeled yucca cassava (which makes sense: the Dominican snack casabe is made out of yuca) and manioc. The latter I have seen in Pittsburgh and always wondered why they labeled yucca manioc. Since I know what yuca (and all the root veggies we eat in the DR) looks like, I guess I don't really have to deal with the name confusuion.

Regards,
Natasha