CASSAVA

To supercharge baked goods with more healthful ingredients, Meghan Telpner turns to this grain-free, nut-free, and exceptionally-easy-to-bake-with flour.

- Meghan Telpner

HAVE YOU HEARD of cassava yet? If you’ve hopped on the paleo train you likely have, as it falls into the grain-free paleo-party category. Cassava, a fibrous woody shrub native to South America, also goes by yuca and manioc. If you’re thinking, cassava smassava, I’ve never eaten that and don’t plan to, I’m guessing you have and didn’t know it. If you’ve eaten any glutenfree bread or crackers, or indulged in bubble tea, you probably have. So let’s dig in to why this is a root worth knowing.

What is it?