''Xanthosoma sagittifolium'', the arrowleaf elephant ear, arrowleaf elephant's ear, malanga or American taro,
is a species of tropical
flowering plant in the genus ''
Xanthosoma'', which produces an edible, starchy
corm. Cultivars with purple stems or leaves are also variously called blue taro, purplestem taro, purplestem tannia, and purple elephant's ear among others.
Taro is a different species that belongs to the genus
Colocasia.
Uses
In
Bolivia
, image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg
, flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center
, flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...
, it is called ''walusa'', in
Colombia
Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...
''bore'', in
Costa Rica
Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...
''tiquizque'' or ''macal'', in
Cuba , in
Mexico , in
Nicaragua , in
Panama and in
Venezuela. In Brazil, the leaves are sold as . The tuber (called or ) is also used in the cuisine of these countries. The plant is often interplanted within
reforestation areas to control weeds and provide shade during the early stages of growth.
In
Puerto Rican cuisine and
Dominican cuisine, the plant and its corm are called ''yautía''. In Puerto Rican ''
pasteles'', ''yautía'' is ground with squash, potato, green bananas and plantains into a dough-like fluid paste containing pork and ham, and boiled in a banana leaf or paper wrapper. The ''yautía'' corm is used in stews, soups, or simply served boiled much like a
potato. It is used in local dishes such as ''
guanime'', ''
alcapurrias'', ''
sancocho'', and ''
mondongo
''Sopa de mondongo'' is a soup made from diced tripe (the stomach of a cow or pig) slow-cooked with vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, cilantro, garlic or root vegetables. The dish is generally prepare ...
''. In ''alcapurrias'', it is also ground with green bananas and made into fried
croquette
A croquette is a deep-fried roll consisting of a thick binder combined with a filling, which is breaded and deep-fried; it is served as a side dish, a snack, or fast food worldwide.
The binder is typically a thick béchamel or brown sauce, m ...
s containing ''
picadillo'' or sea food. ''Yautía majada'' is also prepared and consumed when mashed in some instances. ''Yauíta'' puree is usually served with fish or shell fish cooked in coconut milk.
In
Suriname
Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...
and the
Netherlands, the plant is called ''tayer''. The shredded root is baked with chicken, fruit juices, salted meat, and spices in the popular Surinamese dish,
''pom''. Eaten over rice or on bread, ''pom'' is commonly eaten in Suriname at family gatherings and on special occasions, and is also popular throughout the Netherlands. In Surinamese cuisine the leaves are also often baked with a
Maggi-cube (chicken boullion cube) and eaten alongside rice and chicken or salted beef.
References
External links
FAO Species Profile: Xanthosoma sagittifolium*
sagittifolium
Root vegetables
Flora of South America
Flora of the Atlantic Forest
Crops originating from Mexico
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