21 Sweet & Savory Taro Root Recipes You Need To Try (2024)

This collection of taro root recipes will inspire and delight you with the incredible versatility of the simple root vegetable. Discover cultural and creative ways to cook it that highlight a humble ingredient in delicious ways.

21 Sweet & Savory Taro Root Recipes You Need To Try (1)

Like most roots, taro is an ingredient that can be prepared in such an incredible range of ways that it’s pretty easy to fall in love with. It can become the creamiest mash, deliciously crispy chips, or a sweet dessert the whole family will love.

It’s also an ingredient that makes it easy to bring a little bit of world culture to your kitchen. Whether you’re looking for sweet, savory, traditional Hawaiian, Chinese, or Taiwanese dishes, or something fun and new, this taro recipe collection includes a bit of everything.

How to Choose & Prepare Taro Root

When you’ve been inspired by the huge range of taro recipes here, you’ll want to go buy some immediately. I created whole guides about what taro root is and how to cook it, but I wanted to share some quick tips if you’re eager to get cooking now.

Choose firm, hard roots that show no signs of bruising, mold, or other damage.
Use quickly, or store in a paper bag in a cool dark place for up to 5 days. Avoid the fridge which will make it soften more quickly.
The juices inside the raw root can irritate sensitive skin, so use gloves while peeling.
Taro root must always be peeled and cooked before eating! It can be toxic when consumed raw.

With these quick tips at hand you’ll be able to try out any of these taro root recipes with success. I hope you find a wide variety of sweet and savory cultural flavors to enjoy at home!

1. Taro Soup with Arugula and Turkey Meatballs

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This brothy taro soup recipe includes tender chunks of taro root, arugula, and flavorful turkey meatballs. It’s a warm cozy bowl that you’ll be happy to tuck into for lunch or dinner.

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

2. Crispy Taro Fries (Baked, Fried, or Air Fryer)

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Crispy taro fries highlight the sweet natural nuttiness of root veggies in a delicious, golden brown bite. Herbs and spices season them to perfection, making them ideal for a snack or side dish.

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

3. Taro Milk Tea 2 Ways (with Fresh Taro or Powder)

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You can make the widely popular taro milk tea right at home using either of my two easy methods. Sipping a sweet, refreshing glass is delicious, fun, and a treat the whole family will enjoy.

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

4. Homemade Taro Paste

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Sweet taro paste is a versatile ingredient that can be used to make delicious beverages and desserts. The vegan, gluten free paste is very easy to make and can be stored long term for quick use.

Recipe by: Yummy Addiction

5. Taro Buns

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Easy homemade steamed sweet taro bun with taro paste. This taro bun recipe is authentic, fail-proof, and tastes just like Din Tai Fung.

Recipe by: Rasa Malaysia

6. Taro Ice Cream

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Delicious homemade taro root ice cream is the best treat! Also, taro ice cream is a classic and popular flavored among Asians. Beautiful violet and creamy taro ice cream recipe only has 4 simple ingredients.

Recipe by: Oh My Food Recipes

7. Best Taro and Sweet Potato Balls

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This classic Taiwanese treat is deliciously chewy and only needs a couple of ingredients. If you love boba, you’ll love these colorful “relatives” of boba.

Recipe by: Cooking in Chinglish

8. Cha Gio Chay (Vegetarian Spring Rolls)

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These homemade Cha Gio Chay are wrapped using ingredients like taro and cabbage for a nutty and sweet filling that you won’t find in stores!

Recipe by: Wok and Kin

9. Sago Soup With Taro

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This Sago Soup with Taro is the ultimate dessert fix. Creamy with taro, it’s perfect for cozy nights and uses just six ingredients!

Recipe by: Wok and Kin

10. Instant Pot Kulolo

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Kulolo or taro pudding is a classic Hawaiian dessert. Warm, chewy, rich, dark brown pieces of kulolo made easily in the comfort of your home using an Instant Pot.

11. Sweet & Savory Salted Egg Taro Dumplings

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A taro bun remade into tiny bite sized dumplings filled with buttery salted duck eggs, taro and lightly sweetened with condensed milk.

Recipe by: Pups with Chopsticks

12. Taro Mochi with Taro Paste Filling

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Soft and chewy homemade taro mochi made with taro powder and stuffed with homemade taro paste. Made completely from scratch, this Japanese inspired dessert tastes nutty, earthy and with a hint of vanilla!

Recipe by: SugarYums

13. Taro Chips

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This easy homemade taro chips recipe can be deep fried, baked, or made in the air fryer. Crispy, flavorful, and a healthy alternative to regular potato chips.

Recipe by: Keeping It Relle

14. Deep-Fried Sugared Taro

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This is an addictive taro snack that doesn’t take long to make and so good with a cup of tea!

Recipe by: Cooking with Nart

15. Sweet Taro Buns (Baked)

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Incredibly light sweet taro buns with a creamy taro root filling. Made with real taro root, these soft milk buns are extremely fragrant and have just the right amount of sweetness.

Recipe by: SugarYums

16. Cha Gio (Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls with Taro)

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This recipe features a delicious, savoury ground pork, veggie and taro root mixture wrapped up in thin wheat flour wrappers and deep fried to golden brown perfection.

Recipe by: Sift & Simmer

17. Taro Fritters

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Perfectly crispy fritters made with taro roots, carrots, garlic, and green onions. Served with a sweet chili sauce!

Recipe by: Full of Plants

18. Egyptian Kolkas – Taro Root Stew

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Egyptian kolkas is a delicious taro root stew made with a garlicky cilantro green sauce, taro, and homemade broth.

Recipe by: The Matbakh

19. Easy Pressure Cooker Braised Pork with Yam (Taro)

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Learn how to make this easy version of braised pork with yam (taro) in a pressure cooker. Tender pieces of pork belly and hearty yam in a fraction of the time.

Recipe by: What To Cook Today

20. Taro Coconut Snowy Mooncakes

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These snowy mooncakes are filled with a velvety taro and coconut mixture. The filling is encased in a soft and chewy wrapper that is coloured pink and purple to match.

Recipe by: Constellation Inspiration

21. Simple Arbi Fry

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Arbi (Taro root) cooked with Indian spices makes a simple side dish which is also vegan and gluten-free. Pair with dal, rice for a complete meal.

Recipe by: Cook With Manali

21 Sweet & Savory Taro Root Recipes You Need To Try (2024)

FAQs

Is taro sweet or savory? ›

We're here to advocate for giving taro a chance, because when prepared right, it is delicious: It can have a delightfully soft and custardy texture, a squidgy, springy chew, or a crispy crunch, and different varieties range in flavor from earthy and nutty to lightly sweet to meaty and savory.

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What is taro root good for? ›

Taro root is an excellent source of dietary fiber and good carbohydrates, which both improve the function of your digestive system and can contribute to healthy weight loss. Its high levels of vitamin C, vitamin B6, and vitamin E also help to maintain a healthy immune system and may eliminate free radicals.

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What can you do with taro? ›

Raw taro is toxic, so you must cook it for consumption. You can prepare taro corms like potatoes—steamed, boiled, fried, roasted, or mashed—or you can pound taro down into a paste or powder. You can use processed taro for baking flour, smoothies, soups, stews, and bubble or boba tea.

How long should taro be boiled? ›

Put the diced taro in a large pot and cover with water to fully submerge it. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15-20 minutes or until it is soft. Keep an eye on it, as you don't want to overcook it. It would become too soft and watery.

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Can taro root be eaten raw? ›

Taro roots and leaves are poisonous when eaten raw because they contain calcium oxalate. Some taro varieties produce a slime that can cause irritation (usually itchiness when peeling). These issues are neutralized through cooking. Most cultures use taro as an accompaniment or foundation for proteins.

How long does it take to cook taro root? ›

Scrub the outside of the taro. Place in a pot with enough water to half cover the taro. Cover and boil for about 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. (Make sure the taro is cooked very well, for the starches can irritate and scratch the throat if not cooked through completely).

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How to prepare taro? ›

Boil taro as you would a potato–peeled and cut into chunks then boiled for 15-20 minutes or until tender. Roast taro after parboiling. Roast for 10 minutes at 400ºF (204ºC). Roasted taro will have a light, dry, chewy texture, and sweet flavor.

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Is taro root better than sweet potato? ›

Sweet potatoes are a relatively low in fat low GI, a good source source of vitamin A, as well as fibre, protein, vitamin C, iron and calcium. Taro is High in Dietary Fibre, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, Potassium and Manganese.

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Is taro root a laxative? ›

It has a laxative effect, effectively preventing constipation; Improves immune system: Taro is rich in vitamin C and other antioxidants, which help improve the body's immune system, preventing many dangerous diseases; Support treatment of kidney inflammation: Taro has a large content of vitamins and phosphorus, good ...

Is taro healthier than potato? ›

Taro root contains more than 6 grams of fiber per cup (132 grams) — more than twice the amount found in a comparable 138-gram serving of potatoes — making it an excellent source of fiber (1, 11).

Why is taro so expensive? ›

Not many machines are able to be used in the taro patch. Other than a rice paddy “plower” most other tasks are done by hand. Also taro is dependent on flowing water that keeps the temperature down and also helps to keep pests away. Land in Hawaii is expensive and a free flowing “free” water source is needed.

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Can you cook taro like a potato? ›

Taro can be cooked pretty much any way you would cook potatoes, including steamed, simmered, mashed, boiled, fried, or baked. Its dense, dry texture makes it particularly suited for high-heat cooking such as frying and roasting.

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What do Hawaiians use taro for? ›

In Hawaii, people use wetland taro to make poi. This is the most popular form of eating taro. Poi is an ancient Hawaiian dish made from the paste of baked or steamed taro that has been fermented. You always find this dish at traditional luaus or Hawaiian food restaurants.

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What did Hawaiians use taro for? ›

Medicinal taro varieties were used to treat or cure human ailments. Kalo was the kinolau (body form) of the Hawaiian gods Kane (the great life giver) and Lono (god of peace, planting and fertility). As such, kalo was one of the foods offered to appease these two gods in particular.

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Do you peel taro root before cooking? ›

Peel away the outside skin and chop taro into large cubes. (Cooked taro at this point can be mashed and formed into cakes that are delicious sauteed with butter). Place the coconut milk and the taro cubes into a saucepan and heat thoroughly. There should be enough milk to just cover the taro.

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How long do you have to cook taro root? ›

Place in a pot with enough water to half cover the taro. Cover and boil for about 1 1/2 hours, or until tender. (Make sure the taro is cooked very well, for the starches can irritate and scratch the throat if not cooked through completely).

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How do you prepare or use taro? ›

Taro can be steamed, boiled, fried, stir-fried, baked, and braised. It is often added to stews and soups where it absorbs fatty juices and serves as a nutty thickener. Taro is a starchy root vegetable that has a sweet, nutty flavor—a flavor and texture that seems a combination of chestnuts and potatoes.

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