What Is Cassava Flour?
Cassava flour is a nut-, gluten- and grain-free flour made from the root of the cassava plant (also known as yuca, manioc, or manihot esculenta). The whole root is peeled, dried, and ground to make flour. Tapioca starch (aka tapioca flour) is also made from cassava root, but just the extracted cassava starch is used, not the whole root vegetable.
Otto’s Naturals Cassava Flour, $15.14 at Amazon
Make your favorite recipes grain-, gluten- and nut-free easily with this flour, which has the most neutral taste of the brands we’ve tried.
Is Cassava Good for You?
Yes, and no. “Cassava flour is both gluten-free and grain-free. While these two attributes don’t automatically equal a healthy food item, they do make this flour a great option for those with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or wheat allergy,” says registered dietician Summer Yule.
People who have poor digestion or autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s also may benefit from reducing or eliminating grains, and cassava can be a convenient substitute. But even if it’s better for you, you still have to be mindful of how much you eat.
View this post on InstagramAnd because we made our
banana chocolate chip muffins yesterday morning and got to enjoy them for breakfast ~~ we thought we’d share a pic and link to them on the blog so you can make/enjoy them too!! – This is fast becoming such a huge blog favorite!! Simple recipe & bakes up perfect every time! And as always, this grain, gluten, dairy and refined sugar free goodness can only begin with wonderful ingredients
banana chocolate chip muffins yesterday morning and got to enjoy them for breakfast ~~ we thought we’d share a pic and link to them on the blog so you can make/enjoy them too!! – This is fast becoming such a huge blog favorite!! Simple recipe & bakes up perfect every time! And as always, this grain, gluten, dairy and refined sugar free goodness can only begin with wonderful ingredients 
@ottos_cassava_flour @redmondrealsalt @tinstarfoods ~~~ clickable link in our profile 
“Grain-based desserts like cakes, cookies, pies, and doughnuts are the largest source of calories in the American diet. Using an alternative flour in recipes for these desserts can create a ‘health halo’ around these items, and a person may feel it is OK to indulge in larger portions,” Yule warns. “The truth is that these desserts are still generally very high in calories, so the portion size should still be kept small. Desserts made with cassava flour are still desserts.”
Cassava is also a source of gut-friendly prebiotic resistant starch. The fact that it’s grain-free makes it paleo-friendly too.
How to Use Cassava Flour
Cassava makes a good substitute for wheat flour in baking and other recipes. Though the common wisdom is that you can swap cassava for all-purpose flour 1:1, in practice you may need to play around a bit with your favorite recipes to adapt them. Though cassava is lightweight and powdery like all-purpose flour, it absorbs more liquid, so you may need a bit less cassava than you’re used to using with all-purpose.
Though it’s fairly neutral, cassava does have a slight sour taste (different brands vary on how pronounced it is), so that’s something else to consider when swapping it.
Tip: Cassava flour is generally very light in texture, but different brands vary in weight. When making a recipe, it’s best to weigh the cassava flour instead of measuring it by cup to ensure that you get the amount you need.
Try these cassava flour recipes for starters: cassava pizza crust, cassava flour crepes, and cassava waffles and pancakes.
How to Store Cassava Flour
Store cassava flour in an airtight container in a cool, dry pantry. You can refrigerate or freeze it, but it isn’t necessary.
Other Cassava Products
With cassava hitting trend status, no wonder companies have jumped in and created products featuring it. Here are a few of our favorites:
Siete Foods Cassava Tortillas, $17.99 on Amazon
Amazon
Grain-free, gluten free, vegan, soy free—get everything you want and nothing you don’t with these tortillas. They toast and fold like regular tortillas and taste somewhere between flour and corn.Buy Now
Artisan Tropic Cassava Strips, 10.99 on Amazon
Amazon
If potato chips are your jam, you’ll love this paleo, non-GMO alternative. With just three ingredients—cassava, sustainable palm oil, and sea salt—they scratch the chip itch but with more nutrients and fiber than potato.Buy Now
Simple Mills Sprouted Seed Crackers, $14.97 on Amazon
Amazon
Choose from Original, Everything, Garlic & Herb, and Jalapeno—all are nutrient dense, grain- and gluten-free, non-GMO and paleo-friendly.Buy Now
Bottom line, if you have food allergies or need to stick to a grain- and gluten-free diet, you might want to try incorporating cassava flour and other cassava products into your rotation, but everything in moderation.
Read More: A Beginner’s Guide to Gluten-Free Flours
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