Now if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary for tempting your taste buds, try yucca.

Yucca, also known as “manioc” or “cassava,” is a white, starchy tropical vegetable popular in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In many countries, yucca is eaten boiled, steamed, and in flour form as thickeners or additional ingredients for noodles, cakes, and pastries.

In the United States, yucca root has grown in Florida since the late 1800s and is available throughout the year. Store whole yucca as you would potatoes, in a cool, dark, dry place for up to one week. Peeled yucca covered with water and refrigerated or wrapped tightly and frozen for several months.

With high amounts of vitamin C, fiber, and carbohydrates, yucca is an easy sub for potatoes in soups and stews and it contains a high amount of vitamin C and carbohydrates.

Oven-Fried Yucca

Makes 6 servings.

1 pound fresh yucca (cassava), cut into 3-inch sections and peeled
(or 1 pound peeled frozen yucca)
Nonstick cooking oil spray

In a kettle, combine the yucca with enough cold water to cover it by 1 inch. Bring the water to a boil, and slowly simmer the yucca for 20 to 30 minutes, or until it is tender.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Transfer the yucca with a slotted spoon to a cutting board, let it cool, and cut it lengthwise into 3/4-inch-wide wedges, discarding the thin woody core.

Spray cookie sheet with the nonstick cooking oil spray. Spread yucca wedges on cookie sheet, and spray wedges with cooking oil spray.

Cover with foil paper and bake for 8 minutes. Uncover and return to oven to bake for an additional 7 minutes.

Nutrition information, per one, 2 ½-inch piece: calories, 91; total fat, less than 1 g; saturated fat, less than 1 g; cholesterol, 0 mg; sodium, 3 mg; calcium, 66 mg; iron, 3 mg.

Check these out!

•  Nubella’s Recipe Database and Healthy Cooking Center—find plenty of delicious dishes made with cholesterol-lowering foods.

•  Nubella Recipe Message Board—share your secrets and get tips.

•  Balanced Eating Blog—Nubella’s registered dietitian Theresa Stahl keeps you up to date with the latest healthy eating tips and recipes.

Recipe courtesy of U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Nubella News, a division of Marketing Technology Solutions, Inc., offers content intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We encourage our readers to seek prompt medical care for health issues and consult their physicians before starting a new diet, fitness regimen, or medical treatment.