J is for Jicama
Jicama is a starchy root vegetable that grows in the ground, similar to a potato. Another name for it is Mexican potato or yam bean, but it’s actually related to the pea! It has a neutral, slightly sweet taste and can be baked, boiled, mashed or fried. Unlike the potato, you can eat jicama raw! It makes a great addition to salads and slaws, and makes a great snack cut into easy to handle sticks, perfect for dipping into yogurt or hummus!
You can find jicama in your grocery store year round, since most of it is imported from Mexico. Jicama is a good source of vitamin C, which helps to prevent colds and helps cuts to heal. It’s also a great source of fiber! Fiber is important for digestion and can help lower cholesterol levels, so it’s good for your heart!
To prepare your jicama for eating raw or cooking, make sure you wash it well and peel it! The skin is not good to eat. Once peeled, you can slice, dice, cut into sticks or shred. The jicama is a firm vegetable, so it does need to be cut with a sharp knife. Little hands can help to assemble and toss a fruit salad or arrange sticks on a veggie tray, but the cutting should be left to an adult.
Fruit Salad with Jicama (serves 7) recipe from usda.gov
Ingredients
2 cups watermelon (cut into pieces)
1 mango
1 papaya (small)
1 lime
2 kiwi
1 teaspoon lime or orange juice
1⁄4 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 teaspoon chili powder
Directions
1. Wash, peel, and cut the jicama into thin slices.
2. Wash, peel, and cut the rest of the fruit into slices or medium sized pieces.
3. On a large plate, arrange the fruit. Sprinkle the lime or orange juice over the fruit.
4. In a small bowl, mix the salt and chili powder. Sprinkle over the fruit and serve.
5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Jicama Corn Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
- 2 pounds jicama, peeled and diced
- 4 medium mangos – peeled, seeded, and diced
- 1 cup chopped red onion
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup lime juice
- salt and pepper to taste
**Add a boost of protein to this salad with some canned black beans! Drain and rinse well, then just toss together!
Directions
- In a large serving bowl, combine the corn kernels, jicama, mango, red onion and cilantro.
- Pour the lime juice over, and season with salt and pepper.
- Toss until well blended.