Ever wondered what to make with taro? Read on to get some inspiration with these 13 tasty Taro Recipes!
Pronounced taa-row, taro (Colocasia esculenta) is a starchy root vegetable that comes from the herbaceous plant of the arum family (Araceae).
It features brown and somewhat hairy skin with a creamy-white flesh flecked with purple color.
And when cooked, taro turns into a purple-ish hue with a soft, dry, and a bit grainy texture.
The root crop is a staple ingredient in Africa and Asian countries, but adored throughout—and beyond—many regions.
It’s often mistaken for a purple yam, a root vegetable from the Dioscorea family.
Thanks to its earthy and nutty flavor profile, taro can be added to both savory and sweet dishes.
Check out our taro root recipes in this compilation, from the beloved Taro Cake and Taro Coconut Ice Cream to the addicting Taro Fries and more.
Whether you’re planning to experiment with the ingredient or add more taro dishes to your recipe arsenal, these various recipes should give you the taro inspiration you need.
You’ll love recipe #13!
1. Taro Cake
Complete your Chinese New Year feast with this popular Taro Cake!
The Chinese dessert is full of Asian flavor as well as fried shallots and chopped scallions toppings.
The reason behind its umami-packed taste lies in the addition of Chinese sausage, cured meat, dried shiitake mushrooms, and dried shrimps.
Oh-la-la!
For future consumption, store the breakfast food item in the refrigerator or freeze it.
2. Sukhi Arbi
If you’re looking for a more straightforward taro recipe as your main course, these Sukhi Arbi or stir-fried taro roots are a great place to start.
The blend of coriander, red chili powder, and dry mango powder complements beautifully with the taro’s earthiness and nuttiness.
Play around with the recipe and add your favorite herbs and seasonings.
Serve the spiced taro roots with Phulkas (Indian bread) or just as a plain snack.
This ice cream is made with three ingredients and is loaded with a mild sweetness and creaminess from the delicious taro and coconut.
As per its texture, it’s slightly grainy due to the potato-like texture of the taro.
If this bothers you, it’s best to use grass-fed cream products instead of coconut milk.
The recipe only serves five so double the recipe in case you’re feeding a huge crowd.
You don’t have to visit any Chinese Dim Sum restaurant just to enjoy their steamed pork ribs.
With a steamer, you can make this traditional Cantonese dish at home with ease!
In this recipe, you’ll fall in love with how tender and juicy these pork ribs are.
Plus, the nutty taste of the taro root makes this dish even more hearty.
You won’t believe how delicious this taro root stew is!
Popularly known as Egyptian Kolkas, this flavorful stew mixes a garlicky-cilantro
-green sauce, taro, and homemade broth.
It’s best served with a hot bowl of rice and a squeeze of lime.
This recipe combines steamed taro and pork then topped with a flavorful sauce mixture with oyster sauce, soy sauce, and aromatic Asian spices.
This crowd-pleasing Chinese comfort food is glorious when served with a bowl of white rice, trust me.
Don’t forget to finish the dish off with some chopped scallions!
7. Taro Rice
This tasty one-pot meal is deliciously so satisfying!
The main ingredients are long-grain rice, fluffy taro, chicken, and Chinese sausage.
Fit for busy weeknights or lazy weekends, this taro recipe is laden with flavors coming from soy sauce, five-spice powder, and sesame oil.
And when you finish it off with some sliced green onions, shallots, and red chilies, it is perfection!
If you’re still wondering what to do with taro root, how about turning it into a smoothie recipe to brighten up your mornings?
Whole milk, taro powder, condensed milk, and taro boba are mixed to make this summer-inspired Taro Smoothie.
All you need is to blend everything until smooth. Pour the blend into a tall glass with boba then serve.
The best part?
It tastes like the ones you purchase at your favorite cafe!
Cooking with taro root is surprisingly easy and this vegan-friendly dish is no exception!
Perfect for family gatherings, these crave-worthy spring rolls are filled with large taro shreds cooked with light soy sauce, garlic cloves, salt, and sugar.
They’re fried in oil until crispy on the outside.
Enjoy the rolls as is or dunk them into your favorite sauce.
Tonjiru is a savory miso soup recipe featuring pork and fresh vegetables such as taro, daikon radish, and gobo (burdock root).
The dish is truly comforting and soul-fulfilling!
The comfort food has a nice umami-packed taste from toasted sesame oil, dashi (Japanese soup stock), and miso.
Though it’s optional, adding Japanese seven-spice adds a bit of spicy kick to the soup.
Pro tip: Don’t let this miso soup boil because the miso ingredient will lose its flavor.
11. Baked Taro Chips
If you’re confused about what to make with taro, then these Baked Taro Chips will get you started.
This recipe calls for taro root, olive oil, and sea salt. That’s it!
Want to spice things up? Add cayenne!
Make sure to thinly slice the root using a vegetable slicer to achieve that crunchy goodness you always desire.
These taro chips are crunchy when served fresh.
However, if you want to keep them for about a week, store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
12. Taro Fries
This show-stopping taro dish is made easy, thanks to the power of the air fryer!
In this recipe, the taro roots are peeled and cut into strips.
After that, it’s combined with oil and spices such as salt, cayenne or red chili, turmeric, and some chaat masala or dry mango powder to get a tangy taste.
You can keep it simple with salt and pepper. Toss to coat evenly then air-fry until crispy.
Pro tip: Never wash your taro after peeling as this can make it slimy. If needed, feel free to wipe the root clean with a paper towel.
This delectable Indonesian-style snack is made with shredded taro fried to golden brown perfection then served with yummy chili sauce.
With every bite, these Taro Fritters are bursting with an umami flavor profile.
The recipe starts by mixing taro strips with ground soybean and grated fresh ginger.
Add the cornstarch, then form the mixture into bite-sized balls, and fry them one by one until golden brown.
Easy peasy!
The bottom line
These recipes prove that taro is a super versatile ingredient, and you can make pretty much anything with it.
If your looking for savory or sweet dishes, we’ve got you covered.
After reading through our list, you’ve opened up your culinary horizon about taro and now have the inspiration of how to eat taro for your next meal.
Want more interesting facts about taro? Check out this FAQ guide!
13 BEST Ways To Cook A Taro Recipe
These delicious taro recipes will widen your culinary horizon and give you the taro inspiration you need.
Ingredients
- Taro Cake
- Sukhi Arbi
- Taro Coconut Ice Cream
- Dim Sum-Style Steamed Pork Ribs With Taro Root
- Egyptian Kolkas
- Steamed Pork Belly With Taro
- Taro Rice
- Taro Smoothie
- Vegan Spring Rolls With Shredded Taro
- Tonjiru
- Baked Taro Chips
- Taro Fries
- Fried Taro Fritters
Instructions
- Skim through our Taro Recipes.
- Choose two or more options.
- Prepare the ingredients as instructed.
- Share your thoughts on our official Facebook page.