Banana flour is sometimes called green banana flour and is a grain-free alternative flour. Its main benefits are that it contains no gluten but is full of resistant starch. Resistant starch is starch that your body cannot digest, which means that it passes through your gut without being digested. Resistant …
Kokum is a relative of mangosteen that is used as a souring agent in some parts of India. The outer skin of the fruit is used in Konkani recipes as well as in Assamese cuisine. The skin is dried, which increases its tartness. Because of the relatively unknown nature of …
Salsify is an interesting root vegetable if you want to try your hand at old-world cooking. It fell out of favor at the start of the last century but has been used by European cooks more or less continuously for centuries. The big drawback with salsify is the fact that …
Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable with a unique set of characteristics including the fact that it boosts your energy. The tuber is difficult to find outside of South America’s Andes region. The dried and powdered version is far more common but if you have run out of it or …
Elderberries are a popular foraged berry that is often used to make jams, pies and wine. Elderberry juice sometimes shows up in cocktails as well. The problem with this berry is that it is not always easy to find and when it is, you have to process it properly so …
Witch hazel is best known for its topical applications but it does also have some internal ones. When it’s consumed internally, witch hazel is usually made into a tea. Among the benefits to be gained from witch hazel tea are help with respiratory problems such as coughs, sore throats and …
Aloe vera is a succulent with an array of health benefits and that you can prepare in various ways; however, you won’t always have an easy time finding it. If your local grocery store doesn’t stock it, try one of the aloe vera substitutes below. Your best bet: Aloe ferox …
Matcha powder is such a unique and special product that there is not an ideal substitute for it. That said, matcha is available at different quality levels and it is easier to replace the lower grades. The replacement is easier because lower grade matcha often gets used in dishes with …