If you are not familiar with this ingredient, Yuca (pronounced YOU-ka) is a starchy root vegetable or tuber with a waxy outer skin and a starchy center. It is native to South, Central America, and the Caribbean and is often used in Latin dishes. It is dense and full of carbs and fiber. When dried into a powder form, it can be turned into tapioca! Yuca root is packed with vitamin C, protein, and carbs. Compared to potatoes, yuca is a resistant starch that is slower to digest, meaning less chance of a blood sugar spike. It also goes by another name: Cassava. Yuca and cassava are the same vegetables.