Arrowroot plant also known as Maranta arundinacea makes Arrowroot powder that is used for cooking as a thickener. It was indigenous to the natives of the West Indies, the Arawak tribe, and was used as an antidote for arrow poisoning. It was concluded that the term was taken from that. The arrowroot plant is now predominantly grown in Brazil, Thailand, Bengal, Philippines, Mauritius and West Africa. The arrowroot plant is abundant in countries like Brazil, Thailand, Bengal, Philippines, Maritius and West Africa.
Arrowroot tubers go through cleaning, washing and draining. It then turns into a pulp and crushed in a wooden mortar until it forms into liquid milk. The liquid substance passes through a sieve and the pure starch derived is allowed to settle at the bottom and drained. After thorough cleansing, it is placed in a drying house or under the sun to dry. After all that processing, arrowroot powder is ready to be packed in an air tight containers or packages.
The characteristics of bulk arrowroot powder are similar to that of a cornstarch. Like any common starch or flour, it is bland, odorless and dry. It is chiefly used to give food a concentrated mixture like pie, pudding, jellies, and gravies or sauces. A thickener is a group of additives that solidifies liquid to make a gelatinous mixture. Unlike many starches, arrowroot turns clear as it sets and will not disrupt the color of dishes it is included in.
It thickens in the presence of acidic preparations and works under low heat. Thickened sauces with arrowroot powder can stand up through thawing and freezing. However, it does not blend well when integrated with dairy products as it produces a slimy mixture.
Tapioca Starch, Instant Clear Gel, Kudzu Powder, Potato Starch, Rice Starch and Flour are the commonly used substitute for Arrowroot. Some of these starches, however, may not produce the exact results as when the Arrowroot is used as an ingredient in a recipe.
Bulk herbs like this are not only useful as a food additive, but also as an alternate to wheat flour in baking. Arrowroot is devoid of proteins as its basic composition is carbohydrates. This is the reason why food products made from arrowroot powder/flour is recommended for consumption by elders or infants with chronic stomach problems. Furthermore, the calcium content in arrowroot powder is sufficient to help the body in the regulation of acid and alkali balances.
Because of its lack of protein, it is greatly used by vegetarians and by individuals with dietary restrictions who require less or no protein in the diet. The specific foods usually included in the diet are biscuits, pudding, jellies and cakes. In Korea, arrowroot powder is incorporated in beef tea, milk, veal broth and noodles.
Arrowroot has little protein making it popular among vegetarians and people with special diet needs. The specific foods usually included in the diet are biscuits, pudding, jellies and cakes. In Korean cuisine, arrowroot powder is added in beef tea, milk, veal broth and noodles. To find out more about this and other bulk herbs, visit More Than Alive.
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Arrowroot has little protein making it popular among vegetarians and people with special diet needs. Food commonly containing arrowroot as ingredient would be biscuits, pudding, jellies and cakes. In Korea, bulk arrowroot powder is incorporated in beef tea, milk, veal broth and noodles. http://www.morethanalive.com/Arrowroot-powder
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