10 Best Cassava Flour Substitutes You Can Try

Cassava flour is a great ingredient that can be used for different dishes. If you love cooking healthy foods, you must have seen cassava flour in many recipes. Therefore today, we are going to discuss cassava flour substitutes.

If you are someone who loves cassava flour in bread and tortillas, the chances are high that you’ll use it often and will run out of it eventually. What to do then? Look for some convenient cassava flour substitutes.

Are you confused about what to use instead of cassava flour? Tapioca powder, arrowroot powder, potato starch, corn starch, rice flour, and all-purpose flour are some of the best cassava flour substitutes.

Cassava flour is a common ingredient. However, it could be new to someone. Therefore, before exploring its substitute, let’s understand the key ingredient: cassava flour.

Quick Peek: Cassava Flour

Cassava flour isn’t just flour; it has many purposes. In this section, we are trying to cover everything one needs to know about cassava flour.

What Is Cassava Flour?

Cassava is a tuber crop, and cassava flour is obtained from this root vegetable. It is often sourced by drying the cassava root and then drying and grinding it. There are different varieties of cassava. However, sweet cassava is one of the most used forms of cassava flour.

Cassava flour is often known by the name Yuca or Brazilian arrowroot. It is gluten-free and often used in baking and cooking as a thickening agent. Nigeria and Thailand are some of the largest cassava-producing nations in the world.

Even though cassava flour is one of the most widely used ingredients in Asia and other third world countries, it is often hard to find in US and European markets. However, nowadays, it is gaining wide popularity all over the world.

Describing Cassava Flour: Flavor And Texture

Even though cassava has a nutty flavor, cassava flour doesn’t have any nutty flavor of its own. It has a neutral or bland flavor and can be used in various dishes as it won’t affect the dish’s overall taste.

It is white and has a powder form similar to rice flour and cornstarch. Cassava flour is the best choice if you are looking for gluten-free, grain-free flour.

Uses Of Cassava Flour

Cassava flour is used for many purposes. It is a gluten-free alternative. Therefore it is often used to make cakes and truffles. More than that, it is also used as a thickening agent in soups and stews.

It can also be used for making a flour coat before frying. Cassava flour is now being used widely for making bread and other cookies. Nowadays, many people are following a gluten-free diet it has become a cult favorite.

Cassava Flour On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope

Cassava flour is very nutrient-rich. It is a great source of resistant starch. Resistant starch has properties similar to fiber; thus, it helps in better digestion and provides good gut health.

Cassava flour aids in weight loss. Cassava flour creates a feeling of fullness and helps us eat less food. Therefore we can say cassava flour helps in reducing the chance of obesity.

It also has vitamin C and antioxidants, which help improve immunity. It also helps in protecting skin and hair by producing collagen.

Even though there are many more health benefits, cassava flour has some downsides. First and foremost, cassava flour is high in calories. It is, in fact, higher in calories than any other root vegetable.

If not properly cooked, cassava flour can be poisonous to health. However, store-bought cassava flour is mostly processed and contains no harmful chemicals.

Why Use A Substitute For Cassava Flour?

This is a question that some of us may have considered. While there are numerous advantages to utilizing cassava flour in cooking, there are also a few reasons to consider substituting it.

To begin with, cassava flour is mostly utilized in baked goods as a binder and thickening. It can be used in bread, cakes, or pancakes. 

Second, you’re out of cassava flour for some reason and desperately want to use it in your bread, but you don’t have time to run to the store. This is where the cassava flour substitute comes into play.

I think I’ve covered everything there is to know about cassava flour. Let’s go right to the point of this article’s major attraction: the best alternatives. So, let’s look into the best cassava flour substitutes together.

Other Food Substitutes You Can Try

• Best Cake Flour Substitutes That Are Easily Available
• Best Corn Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Pastry Flour Substitutes That Work
• Best Buckwheat Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Rice Flour Substitutes That Are Easily Available
• Best Coconut Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Spelt Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Chickpea Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Potato Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Millet Substitutes | Grains and Flour

10 Best Cassava Flour Substitutes 

This section lists all the best substitutes you can use in place of cassava flour. Moreover, you will also get to understand how to use each substitute in your recipes. 

1. Tapioca Starch

Tapioca starch is obtained from the cassava plant, one of the best cassava flour substitutes.

Tapioca starch is made from the juice of the cassava root. The juice is then evaporated to get the starch. Often tapioca starch is less nutritious when compared to cassava flour.

However, when used as a culinary ingredient, tapioca starch can be a good cassava flour replacement as it can be used in all dishes that demand cassava flour.

2. Arrowroot Starch

Arrowroot starch is obtained from the root of the arrowroot plant. It is gluten-free, just like cassava flour, and can be used as a cassava flour substitute.

Arrowroot scratch is one of the most easily available cassava flour substitutes. It can be used in baking as well as a thickening agent. Moreover, it also reduces the acidity of the food and gives it a glossy texture.

3. Potato Starch

Potato starch is obtained from potatoes. It is gluten-free and can be used as a thickening agent. Thus it can be considered a cassava flour substitute.

Potato starch, however, has a higher density than that cassava flour. Therefore, when used as a thickening agent, use a much smaller quantity than cassava flour to get the desired texture.

Even though it is a gluten-free alternative, potato starch is high in carbs and lacks any other nutrients in it. Therefore, considering the health part, it is not the best cassava flour substitute.

4. Cornstarch

Cornstarch is obtained from corn and is one of the healthiest cassava flour substitutes you can try. It has a neutral taste and works well as a binding and thickening agent.

Another fact about corn starch is that it is one of the most easily available cassava flour substitutes. Not only that, but it is also very nutrient-dense and can be used in baking and deep-frying.

Corn starch, just like arrowroot powder, is a strong thickening agent. Hence when used as a cassava flour substitute, use less amount.

5. Rice Flour

Rice flour is one of the cheapest cassava flour substitutes. It comes in different varieties. However, the best cassava flour substitute is the most commonly available white rice flour.

It can be used in place of cassava flour, from baking to frying. It doesn’t have much of a thickening property. However, when used in frying, it gives crispness to the outer part.

Rice flour, just like cassava flour, is nutrient-rich. It contains many vital minerals and nutrients like magnesium and vitamin B. Just like cassava flour, its mild flavor won’t affect the dish’s overall taste.

6. All-Purpose Flour

All-purpose flour is nothing but refined wheat flour. It is one of the easily obtainable cassava flour substitutes. It can be in all dishes that need cassava flour.

Cassava flour is a very versatile ingredient. It can be used in baking (as we all know) and as a thickening agent in soups and stews. However, all-purpose flour is not gluten-free.

Cassava flour absorbs more water than all-purpose flour. Therefore when we use all-purpose flour in its place, we use less water to get a perfect consistency.

7. Almond Flour

Almond flour is made from almonds. This is one of the most popular keto-friendly cassava flour substitutes.

It is ideal for baking purposes. It has a sweet taste and imparts a delicious flavor to the baked items. However, it is not good if you are looking for a thickening agent.

Almond flours are low in carbs and high in protein. So if you are someone who is concerned about their health, try almond flour.

8. Coconut Flour

Coconut flour is made from grinding dry coconut into a powdered form. It is an ideal cassava flour substitute if you follow a keto or paleo diet.

Coconut flour is ideal for making bread and cookies. It is another good choice of healthy flour in place of cassava flour. However, coconut flour has a strong nutty flavor and can affect the overall taste of the food.

9. Chickpea Flour

Chickpea flour is made from dried chickpea. It is high in protein and can be used for baking as well as thickening purposes. Hence chickpea flour can be considered a cassava flour substitute.

However, chickpea flour has a strong nutty aroma and will affect the dish’s overall flavor. Moreover, chickpea flour is denser, and it will thicken the stew or gravy faster. 

Therefore while using as a cassava flour substitute in thickening, use in minimal amounts.

10. Oats Flour

Oats flour is another cassava flour substitute that you can try. It can be a good cassava flour substitute, especially in baking. 

Oats flour is a vegan alternative to cassava flour. Oats flour is something we can easily find in our pantry. However, oats flour cannot be used as a thickening agent.

Oats flour is highly nutrient-dense and has a very low amount of carbs; therefore, if you are following a low-carb diet, use some oats flour next time instead of cassava flour.

A Short Recap For Best Cassava Flour Substitutes

That was an extensive read on cassava and its substitutes. The following points will make things easy for you to remember about cassava flour and its substitutes:

Best Cassava Flour Substitutes In Terms Of Flavor and Texture-

Tapioca starch is the only substitute that’s exactly similar to cassava flour in terms of texture and flavor.

Best Cassava Flour Substitutes That Are Easily Available –

1. Corn Starch
2. All-Purpose Flour

Cassava Flour Substitutes Should Be Least Considered –

Potato starch should be the least considered substitute for cassava flour.

Cassava Flour Substitutes That Are Gluten-Free –

Arrowroot powder is the best gluten-free substitution for cassava flour.

How To Substitute Cassava Flour

Cassava Flour Substitutes

Cassava flour is the flour for you if you're seeking for anything without gluten. It is perfect for all baking needs. Additionally, it can be utilized as a thickening agent.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!

Ingredients

  

• Tapioca Starch
• Arrowroot Starch
• Potato Starch
•  Cornstarch
• Rice Flour
• All-Purpose Flour
• Almond Flour
•  Coconut Flour
•  Chickpea Flour
• Oats Flour

Instructions

 

• Select the best suitable substitute for green onion.
• Purchase your substitutes in the required amount.
• Add the substitue according to recipe requirement.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Final Thoughts

As we near the end of this article, I hope it has aided you in determining the best cassava flour substitute. While you can use all of these substitutes in baking, you can also use them in savory and sweet dishes.

Now that you have various options to pick from, we hope you will enjoy preparing beautiful bread, soups, and stews.

You now know what other ingredients you can use in your cooking if you run out of cassava flour the next time. As a result, you can enjoy cooking while also being satisfied with the result. So, are you all set to start baking your cakes?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)