Citrus Jicama Salad

June 17, 2011

Raise your hand if you’ve never had jicama.

No one? That’s what I thought.

I’m a little embarrassed to say that until this week, I had never had jicama. Embarrassed because while I’d read about it, recommended it as a new food to others, even saw it in the store, for some reason I never picked one up.

On a whim, about a week ago, I decided to buy one. Then, of course, it sat for several days while I was trying to figure out what to do with. I knew from every description I’d read that I would love it, but what to do, what to do.

Citrus Jicama Salad | Fake Food Free

If, like me, you’ve never had jicama which comes from the legume family, I’ll explain a bit about it. First of all, it is much more like a root vegetable than any legume or bean I’ve had. My research tells me it is native to Mexico and it has spread to Central America, China and Southeast Asia. It has a very high water content and I would equate the texture to a firm, crisp apple. The flavor is only slightly sweet, nothing like an apple to me and although it has a texture also like radishes, there is no spicy radish flavor either.

It seems to be best served as a slaw or salad, but I also read some recommendations to slice it and dip it in salsa. Apparently it can also be used as a substitute for water chestnuts. I did a little searching and combined some different components of several recipes I found, my favorite being from Simply Recipes.

I was right on to expect I would like jicama. I could have eaten an entire bowl of this stuff! I especially liked the sweet jicama with the juices combined with the savory garlic and spicy pepper. My husband thought it was a little too sweet so next time I’ll likely try a version with chili powder as was suggested by some readers via Facebook.

Citrus Jicama Salad | Fake Food Free

 

Citrus Jicama Salad
Adapted from Jicama Salad by Simply Recipes

Serves: 2 to 3

Ingredients

1 medium jicama, peeled and julienned or chopped
1 spring onion, sliced (white and greens)
1 sweet pepper sliced (I used banana)
2 tsp hot pepper, finely diced (I used mariachi)
1 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1 orange, peeled, sliced
Juice of one orange
Juice of ½ lime
1 clove garlic, grated
Salt to taste

Prep

Place the jicama, onion, peppers and cilantro in a medium bowl and stir to mix ingredients.

In a small bowl, mix together the orange juice, lime juice and garlic. Pour the dressing over the vegetables. Toss to coat. Add salt to taste if desired. Refrigerate 15 to 30 minutes before serving. 

Citrus Jicama Salad | Fake Food Free

This recipe has been submitted to Souper Sundays at Kahakai Kitchen.

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  • simplynutritiouskate June 17, 2011 at 12:23 pm

    ooh this dish looks so great & refreshing I love jicama in the summertime, so light and hydrating!

  • TasteHongKong June 17, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    Speaking of jicama, we often associate it with stir-fried dishes. I too enjoy its natural sweetness by eating raw, quality ones in particular : ).

  • Joy June 17, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    My hand was up! But I will be looking out for it now! Thanks for the post!

  • Peggy June 18, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    Oh I love love love jicama! I swear, every time I buy one at the grocery store, the clerk has this puzzled look and eventually asks “what the heck is this?”

    We usually make vegetarian nachos or tacos with it – got the idea from a Top Chef episode. Use a mandolin to cut really thin slices and use as tortilla chips or taco shells!

  • Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook June 19, 2011 at 5:34 pm

    Great looking salad! I love the crunch of jicama in salad.

  • Olga June 19, 2011 at 6:51 pm

    I grew up eating shredded carrot and jicama salads. I really like the combination of jicama and citrus: reminds me of fennel and citrus.

  • Deb in Hawaii June 20, 2011 at 12:32 am

    i am a big jicama fan-I like it sliced thinly in fish tacos too. 😉 Your salad looks so refreshing. Thanks for sharing it with Souper Sundays.

  • Lori June 20, 2011 at 9:26 am

    kate – I have a feeling I’ll be incorporating it all summer!

    TasteHongKong – I would imagine it would be great in stir fry dishes as well!

    Joy – So glad I’m not alone! 🙂

    Peggy – What a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I’ll definitely try that. I think most cashiers hate to see me coming when I check out! 🙂

    Carol – Thank you!

    Olga – Carrot would be a great addition! I’ll have to try that. I also thought about making Thai Green Papaya salad with it, but using the jicama for the papaya.

    Deb – I just have to try it with tacos now. Thanks!

  • Eliana June 23, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    Such a delicious and refresing summer salad 🙂

  • Marianne (frenchfriestoflaxseeds) June 30, 2011 at 1:45 pm

    The way I was taught to eat jicama (from a Mexican coworker) was to simply sprinkle it with lime juice and chili powder – very refreshing snack. I can see how all the flavours in this salad work in a similar way.

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