What Are Root Vegetables? | MIC Food (2024)

13 Dec What Are Root Vegetables?

Posted at 16:07hin Green PlantainsbyKatie Alexander

We all know a well-balanced diet includes a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables. But do you know which vegetables are considered root vegetables? What are root vegetables anyway?

ROOT VEGETABLES: 101

Root vegetables, also known as bulbs, roots, and tubers, grow underground at the base of a plant. While they may not all be actual roots, most have large growths that store nutrients to feed the plant in colder months. Because root vegetables grow underground, they absorb a great amount of nutrients from the soil.

They are packed with a high concentration of natural antioxidants, such as Vitamins C, B, A, and iron, which help cleanse your system. They also contain certain amounts of carbohydrates and fiber, which make you feel full, and help regulate your blood sugar as well as your digestive system.

EXAMPLES OF ROOT VEGETABLES

Some familiar examples of root vegetables include bulbs, such as fennel and onions; corms, like celery root and water chestnuts; rhizomes like ginger or turmeric; and finally, our favorite: tuberous roots such as sweet potatoes, boniato, malanga, and yuca.

What Are Root Vegetables? | MIC Food (1)

BONIATO
A boniato is known as a white sweet potato. It has a dry, white flesh and pinkish purple skin. Boniatos aren’t as sweet as other sweet potatoes, and have a gentle, chestnut-like flavor. It is like a cross between white potatoes and the sweet potatoes that are known in the U.S.

MALANGA
Malanga is sometimes confused with other root vegetables, such as taro. The flesh of the malanga root is a light tan color and the thin skin is often covered in patchy areas. Malanga’s flavor is similar to that of a nut, versus that of a potato or yam, once prepared.

YUCA
Yuca, commonly known as cassava or manioc, is a nutty-flavored starch tuber native to South America that is also found in Asia and parts of Africa. Together with other tropical root vegetables like yam, taro, and most notably the potato, it is an indispensable part of the carbohydrate diet for many.

HOW TO PREPARE

Traditionally, root vegetables like yuca can take up to half an hour to prepare and cook. Here at MIC Food® we are helping chefs, restaurants, industrial kitchens, retail brands, delis, and others in the food industry rethink their menus and increase appeal among ethnic and mainstream consumers alike. We provide variety of yuca products that come peeled and cut, ready-to-heat and serve saving you hours of prep time so you can focus on what matters the most: making every meal memorable.

What Are Root Vegetables? | MIC Food (2)

Hungry for more? Check out our recipe library which highlights how versatile yuca really is! OrAsk Our Chef about how you can incorporate yuca, boniato, or malanga into your menu!

Related Articles: Yuca 101: What is Yuca?

Sources:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-pros-and-cons-of-root-vegetables
https://ohmyveggies.com/a-guide-to-root-vegetables/
https://www.thespruceeats.com/about-boniato-2137947
https://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/boniato-nutrition-selection-storage
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319662.php
https://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Malanga_20201.php

What Are Root Vegetables? | MIC Food (2024)

FAQs

What Are Root Vegetables? | MIC Food? ›

Some familiar examples of root vegetables include bulbs, such as fennel and onions; corms, like celery root and water chestnuts; rhizomes like ginger or turmeric; and finally, our favorite: tuberous roots such as sweet potatoes, boniato, malanga, and yuca. A boniato is known as a white sweet potato.

What are examples of root vegetables food? ›

Examples include bulbs (fennel, onions), corms (celery root, water chestnut), rhizomes (ginger, turmeric), tap roots (beets, carrots, parsnips), tuberous roots (sweet potatoes, yucca), and tubers (potatoes, yams). The bulbs, roots, and tubers absorb water and nutrients to feed the rest of the plant.

What are 15 types of root vegetables? ›

Yams, beets, parsnips, turnips, rutabagas, carrots, yuca, kohlrabi, onions, garlic, celery root (or celeriac), horseradish, daikon, turmeric, jicama, Jerusalem artichokes, radishes, and ginger are all considered roots. Because root vegetables grow underground, they absorb a great amount of nutrients from the soil.

What are 8 root vegetables? ›

Vegetables like onion, radish, carrot, turnip and sweet potato all come under the category of root vegetables, which are delicious and super healthy. Following are the health benefits that they have to offer. Root vegetables like onions, radishes, carrots, turnips, and sweet potatoes, are both delicious and nutritious.

Is A Cucumber A root vegetable? ›

Botanically, Cucumbers Are Fruits

Because cucumbers have seeds in the middle and grow from the flower of a cucumber plant, they are botanically a fruit. Botanical vegetables may be other edible structures of a plant, such as the leaves, stems and roots, and they do not have seeds.

What are the anti inflammatory root vegetables? ›

For example, the orange pigmented vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes and yams offer high levels of vitamin A. The white root vegetables such as garlic and onions have great anti-inflammatory benefits.

Which root vegetables are high in protein? ›

Sweet potato

Sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and several minerals, including potassium and iron. Q1. Sweet potatoes are a protein-rich starchy root vegetable. About 2 grams of protein can be found in one medium sweet potato.

Are beans a root vegetable? ›

There are root vegetables, stem vegetables, edible tubers (underground stems), leaf and leafstalk vegetables, bulb vegetables, head or flower vegetables, fruits commonly considered vegetables by virtue of their use (cucumbers, eggplants, sweet corn), and seed vegetables (peas, beans).

Which is the king of vegetables? ›

The brinjal was given the title of King of Vegetables because of its astonishingly awesome purple covering, and also the juicy and rich nutritional values in them. Eggplant, aubergine, and brinjal are members of the Solanaceae family.

Is broccoli a root vegetable? ›

Vegetables can be grouped according to the edible part of each plant: leaves (lettuce), stalks (celery), roots (carrot), tubers (potato), bulbs (onion), and flowers (broccoli).

What is the largest root vegetable? ›

Although this giant cabbage cited in the Guinness Book seems unbeatable for the title of "World's Largest Vegetable," there are tropical yams belonging to the genus Dioscorea that may be 6 to 9 feet long (2-3 m) and weigh 150 pounds (68 kg) or more, although they are usually harvested at about 2-6 pounds.

What is the sweetest root vegetable? ›

Beets are one of the sweetest vegetables around, and a good source of fiber. A single beet only contains around 35 calories. Beware of pickled beets which can have a lot of added sugar.

What are 3 root vegetables? ›

Root vegetables include commodities, such as carrot, radish, horseradish, sweet potato, turnip, and beetroot (Table 3.6). They are characterized by a low rate of metabolism and therefore their postharvest life is relatively long.

Is lettuce a root vegetable? ›

The root vegetables include beets, carrots, radishes, sweet potatoes, and turnips. Stem vegetables include asparagus and kohlrabi. Among the edible tubers, or underground stems, are potatoes. The leaf and leafstalk vegetables include brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, lettuce, rhubarb, and spinach.

What are root type foods? ›

The different types of root systems are: Taproots. Fibrous roots. Adventitious roots.

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