Yautia
Description
Yautia is a starchy, edible root vegetable, also known as malanga or cocoyam, that is popular in Caribbean, South American, and African cuisine. It has a rough, hairy, brown skin and crisp white or pinkish flesh with a nutty, earthy flavor. It is prepared by boiling, frying, or stewing and can be mashed or ground into a flour or paste for other dishes.
Characteristics
Appearance: Has a bumpy, shaggy, brown skin and flesh that can be white, yellow, or purplish.
Texture: The raw flesh is crisp but becomes slippery and starchy when cooked.
Flavor: Nutty and earthy with a consistency that is slightly waxy when cooked.
Culinary uses
Soups and stews: Often used in dishes like sancocho and mondongo.
Mashed: Can be prepared as a mashed side dish, called yautÃa majada.
Ground: Used to make dough-like pastes for dishes like pasteles or ground into flour.
Fried: Made into croquettes, like alcapurrias.
Leaves: The young leaves can be cooked like other leafy greens, such as in the Jamaican dish callaloo.
Type
Root Vegetable
