Konnyaku (cone-yah-ku) hails from Japan and is a wonderfully buoyant and gelatin-like food made from a tropical potato. It is nearly 97% water and the rest of the 3% constituents are fiber and minerals. Because it has very little calories and actually expands in your stomach, it has been touted as a wonder diet food. The Japanese actually call konnyaku the “stomach broom” because it has a natural way of sweeping through the intestines and cleaning them out!

To be perfectly honest, konnyaku doesn’t actually have that much of a taste. Rather, it is a true texture food that absorbs flavor from whatever ingredients accompany it, and it is used in sweet and savory dishes alike. But we should really take some time to pay homage to konnyaku’s unique texture. As mentioned before, it is a bouncy and buoyant food, much like tapioca pearl, that has a rubbery sensation and is very, very chewy. It’s really quite fun and entertaining for your mouth, and if you like chewy foods, chances are you’ll love konnyaku.

Konnyaku also has some pretty serious health benefits. Beyond being a really great diet food that promotes a feeling of satiety, it has also shown an ability to stabilize both blood sugar and cholesterol levels as well as prevent high blood pressure. If you’re interested in giving konnyaku a try, make your local Japanese or Asian grocery store your first stop. You can buy it in block form and use as you wish, or opt for the shiritaki (noodle-like) version. With this food’s texture and mild taste, it was truly made for experimenting in the kitchen. Enjoy!