Maca, a root that belongs to the radish family, is most commonly available in powder form. Grown in the mountains of Peru, it has been called “Peruvian ginseng.” Maca’s benefits have been long valued, and has recently been popularized as a supplement and food ingredient. There are no serious known side effects of maca, but like any other supplement it shouldn’t be taken in large amounts. Five Easy and Tasty Ways to Use Maca Powder in Food : Maca powder, a superfood that’s derived from a root native to Peru, has numerous health benefits. Maca is best used without cooking or baking it. The easiest way to use maca powder is to add anything from a teaspoon to a tablespoon to smoothies or protein shakes. The malty flavor works particularly well with chocolatey flavors, as in this Mocha Maca Banana Smoothie, shown above; but it also goes well with fruitier flavors, as in Strawberry-Vanilla Maca Smoothie. Maca powder is also a good addition to energy balls or no-bake sweets.These No-Bake Vegan Maca-Roons are filled with all manner of nutrient-dense goodies, including maca, nuts, nut better, dates, and coconut. Try adding a couple of tablespoons or so to other no-bake treats like Unbaked Fudgy Brownies or Gena Hamshaw’s Unbaked Fig Bars. If you’re into juicing, maca can be a good addition, as in this Carrot Maca Juice by Julie Morris. It’s a mellow combination of nutritious carrots, energizing maca powder, and tasty cashews. The idea is to blend some maca, about a tablespoon or so, into 16 ounces of fresh juice. Another easy way to use maca is to sprinkle it onto your hot or cold cereals. Use 1 to 2 teaspoons in this case, otherwise the flavor may overwhelm your cereal. When the weather is warmer and you’re making your easy banana-based soft-serve “ice cream” simply add a tablespoon or two to the food processor when you’re blending up the frozen bananas.