Arrowroot is a natural thickener and good for baking and frying. It is gluten-free, grain-free, paleo-friendly and vegan friendly. It’s a pretty amazing root crop that is often sold in powder form in the western grocery stores. However, what happens if this beloved powder is unavailable? We’ve put together a list of the top 4 substitutes for arrowroot with options like cornstarch, all-purpose flour, and many more.
Arrowroot is a tropical root crop found in Asia, most specifically, Indonesia. In its native country, it is used as a component for some dishes with meats, vegetables, and even fruits. Arrowroot is a fibrous tubular that is high in fiber, potassium, iron, and vitamin b.
In the western world, arrowroot is gaining popularity because of its paleo, gluten-free and vegan-friendly characteristics. Arrowroot is typically presented as a powder in the west and is typically used as a thickening agent, used for baking, and is even used to make the batter.
The way the arrowroot starch is extracted from the body requires less processing, GMO, and high heat substances. It is usually sought out by our vegan friends, friends with starch or grain intolerance, and paleo friends.
However, what happens if you can’t find arrowroot? What could you possibly use to replace that?
We’ve put together a list of substitutes for arrowroot that you can use.
Table of Contents
1. Cornstarch
The best substitute for arrowroot powder is cornstarch. If your recipes call for arrowroot, it’s most likely because it’s substituting cornstarch in the first place. Cornstarch comes from corn and quite a number of people can be intolerant of grains and prefer a “healthier” and more organic option for cooking. If you’re using arrowroot for the first time, it is highly suggested to first use it with some of the cornstarch required in the recipe. Arrowroot tends to have nuances in cooking and that means that it sometimes needs to be accompanied by other kinds of flour.
2. All-Purpose Flour
All-purpose flour is another option to use as a thickening agent like you would with arrowroot. However, it’s not the first choice. All-purpose flour is used more for baking and making batters. However, in the absence of cornstarch, it is a viable substitute. We mentioned earlier that arrowroot is typically mixed with other kinds of flour. All-purpose flour is one of the base flours that you can mix arrowroot flour with. When substituting all-purpose flour with arrowroot powder, it’ll create that nice thick sauce with double the amount of arrowroot needed. However, it won’t be as shiny as with arrowroot.
3. Tapioca Flour
Tapioca flour is another possible substitute for arrowroot. It’s a little sweeter in flavor but it can get clumps more than arrowroot does when turning it into a slurry. Tapioca flour is easily found in healthy grocery stores and Asian stores together with arrowroot flour. For every one teaspoon of arrowroot, you could use one teaspoon of tapioca flour.
4. Cassava Flour
Cassava is another fibrous root crop that could sometimes serve as a thickening agent. It’s not the top choice to replace arrowroot but it’s a possibility. Cassava flour is mostly used for baking and batter for deep frying. It is also gluten-free and vegan-friendly. This makes a perfect option for those who want a more high fiber and grain-free flour option.
