Yuca, also known as cassava is a root that is very common throughout Central America. Traditional Costa Rican plates offer yuca as a fried side. In addition, yuca is used in soups and can be mashed. The supermercados (grocery stores) stock yuca chips that are crispy and delicious as well. Yuca prepared as fries and chips are our favorite. They are a great snack while watching the game and compliment bar-b-que perfectly.

The yuca root produces several other products. Cassava flour is one great gluten, grain, and nut free option. Many celiacs and people with nut allergies use cassava flour to prepare their meals. You may not know this but, another product of yuca is tapioca. By drying the yuca into a powdery (or pearly) extract you create tapioca. That's right, the tapioca pudding comes from yuca. There are several ways to consume this amazing root.

Yuca - Cassava ranks third as the largest source of food carbohydrates in the tropics. People in these regions only eat more of the carbohydrates rice and maize (corn). Yuca has the ability to withstand difficult growing conditions, in fact, it's one of the most drought-tolerant crops. Because it is local to Costa Rica, yuca is a great ingredient to stay within budget while adding some great nutrients as well. We make sure to stock a couple of pieces in our kitchen.

Note: Processing yuca by peeling, chopping, and cooking it will significantly reduce its nutrition value. Powdered forms of yuca like tapioca have very limited nutritional value.

Health Benefits of Yuca - Cassava include:
1. Boosts Immunity – Yuca is nutrient dense and has a high Vitamin C concentration, so it may help boost immunity.
2. Helps Protect The Skin – Yuca may help protect the skin because it aids in the production of collagen and helps with skin elasticity. It also contains Vitamin C and antioxidants, which are also beneficial to the skin.
3. Helps With Arthritis Symptoms – Yuca contains anti-inflammatory properties, as well as manganese, which help ease arthritis symptoms.