Arrowroot powder is a starch thickener derived from the dried roots of the arrowroot plant, Maranta arundinacea. It was used as a remedy for arrow poisoning which started with the natives of the Arawak tribe in the West Indies. It is believed that this is how its name was derived. Brazil, Thailand, Bengal, Philippines, Mauritius and West Africa are teeming with arrowroot plants.
Arrowroot tubers are cleaned, washed twice and drained. It is reduced to a pulp by pounding them in wooden mortars thus, producing a milky liquid. The liquid substance passes through a sieve and the pure starch derived is allowed to settle at the bottom and drained. Mixed with the starch is clean water, drained and made to dry under the sun. Arrowroot powder is then set for packaging in an air-tight container.
The characteristics of bulk arrowroot powder are similar to that of a cornstarch. Like any common starch or flour, it is bland, odorless and dry. It gives dishes that jell-like consistency like pie, pudding, and gravies or sauces. A thickener is a food additive that stabilizes or produces the desired consistency to any food product when dissolved at a specific proportion. In contrast to other additives, the arrowroot does not modify the color of the food where it is mixed with.
It is less likely to burn because it works under low temperature and can tolerate acidic ingredients or prolonged cooking. Thickened sauces with arrowroot powder can stand up through thawing and freezing. Refrain from combining it with dairy-based sauces because it tends to turn slimy.
Other starches commonly used as substitutes or interchangeably with Arrowroot are: Tapioca Starch, Instant Clear Gel, Kudzu Powder, Potato Starch, Rice Starch and Flour. However, it should be noted that some of these starches may produce undesirable appearances or flavor compared to the use of Arrowroot in a recipe.
Arrowroot is the appropriate stabilizer in cooking and a suitable component in baking, as a herbal alternative to wheat flour. Arrowroot, lacking in essential proteins, is basically pure carbohydrates. This characteristic makes it esculent for elderly individuals or infants who have irregularities in bowel movement. Furthermore, the calcium content in arrowroot powder is sufficient to help the body in the regulation of acid and alkali balances.
Arrowroot provides minimal protein so it is widely used by vegetarians and people with special food requirements. It is specifically used as an article of diet in the form of biscuits, pudding, jellies, and cakes. In Korean cuisine, arrowroot powder is added in beef tea, milk, veal broth and noodles.
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