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OK, you bought a jicama at the store and don't know what to do with it. This popular root vegetable can be eaten many different ways, and it's delicious, tasting something like a cross between an apple and a potato. Give it a try!
Steps
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Find jicama. You may or may not find jicama at your local grocery store or farmer’s market -- it depends upon your location. General grocery stores are more likely to carry jicama in areas with sizable Hispanic or South Asian populations.
- If your local grocery store doesn't carry jicama, your best bet is specialty produce shops or Mexican, Asian, and Latin American grocery stores.
- You are most likely to find jicama in the spring and summer, as they are often imported from Central American countries at that time. Avoid tubers that are soft, shriveled, or have dark spots.
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Peel the jicama’s skin. You need to peel the skin of the jicama before you eat it. It might be hard to peel with a regular vegetable peeler. Do not eat the peel.
- Instead, try using a chef’s knife. First, cut a thin slice from both the top and the bottom to create a flat top and flat bottom on each end. Before you peel the jicama, though, wash it in cool running water and then dry it off like you would a potato.
- Set the jicama down on its broadest cut end. Work from top to bottom, and slide your knife beneath the jicama’s skin. Peel it while following the jicama’s natural lines.
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Cut the jicama . After you peel the jicama, place it down on its widest cut end, and make even, vertical cuts in it. Then cut these pieces into sticks. Dice the sticks by cutting across them. [1] X Research source Dicing means you cut the jicama into small cubes.
- You can also shave the jicama on a mandolin slicer and roll them with fillings. First, cut the vegetable in half or in quarters, then use the mandolin to slice off thin shavings. [2] X Research source
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Eat the jicama raw. You can eat jicama without cooking it. In fact, it tastes very good this way. You can eat it like a carrot stick, putting it in dip or just eating it plain.
- People also use jicama to make salsa, by mixing diced jicama with corn or diced tomato, black beans, red onion, minced jalapeño, lime juice, and cilantro.
- Turn the jicama into slaw by adding thin strips of it to shredded red cabbage and shredded carrots.
- Put jicama in spring rolls or stir fry it. Cooking it briefly will add a crunchy texture to your stir fry. You could cook it with broccoli, garlic, ginger, scallions, cashews or toasted sesame seeds.
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Saute the jicama. You can also saute the jicama with other vegetables, like broccoli, zucchini, onions, and sweet peppers. Jicama works well with other vegetables because it resembles the crunchy texture of water chestnuts.
- First, brown the jicama in a little bit of olive oil. Add a small sliced onion and ½ of a red pepper cut into strips. Cook until tender. [3] X Trustworthy Source Produce for Better Health Foundation Nonprofit organization focused on promoting plant-based diet information to help consumers live healthier lives. Go to source
- You can also roast jicama by cutting it into cubes and putting it in a baking pan. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, sprinkle the jicama with olive oil, rosemary, parsley, and ½ teaspoon minced garlic, and roast it for an hour.
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Eat jicama chips. Jicama chips make a healthy snack. To make them, you should peel 1 pound of the jicama.
- Slice the jicama with a mandolin slicer to about 2 mm. Brush olive oil on both sides of the jicama slices, and add salt and pepper. Put the slices on parchment lined baking sheets. Make sure they are in single layers.
- Bake them at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 100 minutes. You will want to make sure they are crisp, and you should turn them every 20 minutes.
- You can also make raw jicama chips. Simply peel the jicama and thinly slice it. Squeeze one half of a lime onto the chips, and sprinkle them with salt, sugar, and chili powder. Chill for 20 minutes before serving.
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Make creative dishes with jicama. One way to eat jicama is to put it in fruit salad. This is common in Mexico, where street vendors will combine it with fruit.
- Mix diced jicama with chunks of mango, pineapple, watermelon, and cucumbers, and add lime juice and chili powder. [4] X Research source
- Add jicama to canapes for a cocktail party. Or use it instead of papayas in a shrimp salad. In a large bowl, mix jicama, sprouts, herbs and scallions. Whisk chili-garlic paste, lime juice, fish sauce and sugar, as well as salt and pepper. Mix together. Add shrimp and peanuts. [5] X Research source
- Consider adding jicama to salads, or use it to replace the cucumber in sushi rolls. It works best in quick-cooking recipes where it retains its crispness.
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Get the facts on jicama. Jicama is a vegetable, not a fruit. This round, fleshy vegetable can grow to be quite large, and its skin has a bark-like texture. [6] X Research source
- The jicama’s taste has been described as similar to an apple. Sometimes called a Mexican turnip, jicama is a starchy, slightly sweet root vegetable popular in Mexico. It has the texture of a firm pear or raw potato.
- Jícama is a species in the genus Pachyrhizus in the bean family. Plants in this genus are referred to as yam bean, although that term can be another name for the jicama root itself. It grows in Central America, South Asia, and the Caribbean. [7] X Research source
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Know the health benefits of jicama. There are many reasons to eat jicama. For one, it has very few calories, only 35 per 100g. Jicama also is good for lowering cholesterol and has very low sodium. [8] X Research source
- It is a great source of dietary fiber. It is considered a good snack for people with diabetes, or people who are on diets. However, you should also know that jicama contains an organic toxin called rotenone that has been linked to Parkinson’s disease in some studies. The toxin is mostly found in the leaf tops, stems, and seed pods, so don't eat those. The peeled roots are considered safe for human consumption.
- Jicama is rich in vitamin C. Jicama also contains important minerals like magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese. [9] X Research source
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Recipe Ideas
Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I know when it is ripe or if it is past its prime?Community AnswerI always look at its color. In my experience, a ripe one is a deep, green-ish golden color. The jicama is firm without any brown-ish indented areas. One that shows these defects is probably past its prime. If I am unsure about this, I ask the produce guy or girl. Also, in some of the large grocery stores, the produce departments have vegetable/fruit referral "books" available that will tell you what seasons they are available and what to look for.
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QuestionWhat would happen if I ate the skin?Community AnswerThe skin contains a toxic compound intended to stop animals from eating it. While probably not deadly, it would likely cause indigestion and other uncomfortable effects. Also, the skin is papery and fibrous, and not a pleasant texture for eating.
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QuestionCan it be kept in the freezer?Community AnswerNo, if you freeze it, it will lose its crunchiness once its thawed. But you can store it at room temperature for weeks if it's not peeled. If it is, then it will stay fresh in the fridge for about 3 - 5 days. Keep it in a sealed plastic bag.
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Tips
- To eat jicama Mexican style, you can add some chili powder, lime, and salt.Thanks
- Be sure to wash the jicama thoroughly once peeled.Thanks
- Store leftovers in plastic wrap or a plastic bag in the refrigerator.Thanks
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Warnings
- Don't eat the skin.Thanks
- Always be careful with knives.Thanks
- Lime juice in the eye stings a whole bunch. Be careful.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- jicama
- knife
- cutting board
- limes
- salt
- chili powder
- an appetite for new things
References
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/jicama-most-exciting-vegetable-youre-not-eating-the-vegetable-butcher-220006
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/jicama-most-exciting-vegetable-youre-not-eating-the-vegetable-butcher-220006
- ↑ https://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/top-10-ways-to-enjoy-jicama
- ↑ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/five-ways-to-eat-jicama-77526473/?no-ist
- ↑ https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/10567-green-papaya-salad-with-shrimp
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/jicama-most-exciting-vegetable-youre-not-eating-the-vegetable-butcher-220006
- ↑ https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/jicama.html
- ↑ https://naturalsociety.com/7-benefits-of-the-root-vegetable-jicama/
- ↑ https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/jicama.html
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To eat a jicama, use a chef’s knife to peel the skin off, and then cut the remaining root into sticks. Once it is sliced, you can eat it raw and plain, or put it in dip, or stir fry it. If you want to sauté jicama, brown it in a little olive oil and then add a sliced onion and 1/2 of a red bell pepper. Cook until tender. You can also slice the jicama 2 mm thick to make jicama chips. Just brush the slices with olive oil, add salt and pepper, and bake them at 200°F for 100 minutes, turning frequently. For more cooking ideas and health information, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Heard the name "jicama" every now and then and was told I probably have had it in a few dishes but didn't realize it. Reading the list of possible ways to prepare it, I am pretty sure that I have consumed it previously. The directions/suggestions on how to prepare this "vegetable" have me ready to enjoy it and ponder the many dishes to create. Thanks." ..." more
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"Heard the name "jicama" every now and then and was told I probably have had it in a few dishes but didn't realize it. Reading the list of possible ways to prepare it, I am pretty sure that I have consumed it previously. The directions/suggestions on how to prepare this "vegetable" have me ready to enjoy it and ponder the many dishes to create. Thanks."
..."
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"I'm always looking for ways to reduce inflammation, because I have arthritis in my hands. So when I was given this plant I was looking for ways to use it. I will be adding it to my smoothies and my salads and many of the other ways that I have learned today in your article. Thank you!"
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"I knew nothing about it, now I know it all. I'm curious and finding out what nutritional values it has, I must try it. Thank you for your great info! Especially the many ways to prepare it for myself and family. "
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"I had never eaten a jimaca, so I needed info when I bought one. I found it here. Good, simple instructions even a child could understand.I even learned how to pronounce it! Best tip was the warning on the parts of the plant not to eat and why. As a result, I will avoid eating this vegetable."
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"I bought my first jicama today with no idea what to do with it. Thanks for your article. Very helpful! I can't get the "How helpful was this article" thing to work. tried to click 5 stars."
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