Cassava is a long tuberous starchy root that is an essential ingredient in many Latin American and Caribbean cuisines. As a food ingredient, cassava root is somewhat similar to the potato, in that, like the potato, it is starchy, inedible when raw, and bland in flavor when cooked. Indeed, cassava can replace the potato in many dishes and can be prepared in similar ways . it can be boiled, mashed, fried or baked.