Jicama?

[Shmoopie]

I have never seen or had jicama before. I just googled an image of it, and it looks like a potato. Then I read something that said it's a nut? What is it?
Also, I don't recall ever seeing it in the grocery store or the health food store, so where would I buy it?

Thanks all :)

[karenbeel]

Hi Shmoopie, Jucama is similar to a potatoe it taste like a cross between a potatoe and an apple, i really like it I just cut it up and put it in salads or eat it by itself it's soooooo good. As far as where to buy it, I am able to get it in my regular grocery store but it seems you may have to do a little bit of a search in your local stores for it. Good luck and I hope you find one so you can try it. Take Care
Blessings Karen

[James Smith]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%ADcama

http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-B00001-01c20hz.html

[vgloveforlife]

I get mine right at the grocery store too. It is with the exotic foods.

[Bechtel]

Jicama indeed taste pleasant. But just like potato it is full of starch. Empty calories. High glycemic index. Good for gaining weight ,-)))))

[Nature Mom]

I love jicama! A refreshing, clean, juicy taste . . . yum! :)

Shawna

[luckitri]

A little starch can't be bad as our bodies fight the cold weather - certainly not as bad as SAD! Personally I don't care for jicama very often. Also it seems to go bad quickly. I have only seen it shredded onto salads so could use some other ideas what to do with it. The flavor is very light.

Here in AZ I see this item in all stores. Chain supermarkets and HFS's.

[Rastadawta]

u can make"mashed" potatoes with it.it's very good, with some walnut gravy..had it at a the Plant in Brooklyn.

[juliebove]

I think it depends on where you live. You need to live in an area that caters to Latino people, since it is common in their diet. Here on the west coast it is in all the grocery stores. I never saw it once on the east coast, although I didn't try the stores in the part of town where they might have had it, mainly because it was a rough part of town and there was only street parking and tiny grocery stores.

[nachchba]

when i lived in merida, mexico, at lunch time, there would be a man on my high school campus selling various treats, the one that i loved was freshly sliced jicama sticks. it was just jicama with lime juice squeezed on top. delicious! jicama can be hard to find at your normal grocery store unless you live in a ethnically diverse area but i can usually find it at a co-op, health market, or ethnic market.

[Joyful Mary]

Jicama is delicious as fries. Simply slice like French fries. Mix with a bit of oil and seasonings of choice. I like onion powder, salt, and a touch of cumin. Enjoy!

[vgloveforlife]

I think it depends on where you live. You need to live in an area that caters to Latino people, since it is common in their diet. Here on the west coast it is in all the grocery stores. I never saw it once on the east coast,

I live on the east coast in a town with barely no latino population but my grocery store does have it. So there is hope for others like me :)

[Denise Nicole]

I've looked around here for it in the past to no avail. Perhaps and some point the stores will bring it in.

[Vegan Princess]

I love jicama. It doesn't taste like much plain, but i slice it up and put on lime juice, salt and paprika. I like to flavor it like french fries. Mmmm.

[trinity082482]

I saw jicama sold at our grocery store called "The great canadian super store"
I wanted to buy one but was affraid it would taste like a turnip. I dont care much for turnip :o

[Ariannah]

Jicama indeed taste pleasant. But just like potato it is full of starch. Empty calories. High glycemic index. Good for gaining weight ,-)))))

One man's trash is another man's treasure, I suppose:

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/whatveg.htm
http://diabeticgourmet.com/faq/entry/2/62/
http://www.healingfoodreference.com/jicama.html
http://www.locarbdiner.com/article_eat_your_veggies.html


I once followed the Atkin's diet, a very LOW "carb" diet, and Jicama was also on the allowed list of foods for the strictest "phase" of it. So I don't get where it's high-glycemic. It has lots of water and is a good source of vitamin C as well.

[Ariannah]

I saw jicama sold at our grocery store called "The great canadian super store"
I wanted to buy one but was affraid it would taste like a turnip. I dont care much for turnip :o

If I were on a desert island and the only available food were turnips, I'd likely die of starvation.

But Jicama are very tasty. Nothing like turnips.

[trinity082482]

If I were on a desert island and the only available food were turnips, I'd likely die of starvation.

But Jicama are very tasty. Nothing like turnips.

LMAO rawandnatural :)

[mershwista]

It's kind of like a rutabaga.

[KindnessToAllCreatures]

A recipe I love with jicama:

1 medium jicama, peeled and cut into matchsticks
cherry tomatoes, quartered
cilantro
juice of one lime
dash of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
green onion, cut up
cucumber, cut up
clove garlic, minced
dash of salt

Toss in a bowl to mix.
Makes several servings. Keeps for about 2-3 days in the fridge. Great in the summertime over a bed of greens :)

[Nini]

I often add sliced jicama to my stir fry. It replaces SAD water chestnuts. I like the crunch. I NEED the crunch!

[DreamingD]

You should try asking your store managers at your neighborhood supermarkets they might be able to get it. They have them at my local supermarket.

Dara

[luna99]

anyone else have any recipe suggestions for the jicama? I bought an extra one and it's sitting in my fridge and I have no idea what to do with it! :confused:

[RowanC]

I didn't read all these posts, but I love to put cubes of jicama in my fruit salaads. It is slightly sweet and gives such a wonderful textury CRUNCH to them!

You can also just peel it, slice it in cubes or rectangles and eat it. It's GREAT alone! Sweet and crunchy. Very nice cold. Use it to dip your favorite dip. Use it sliced in the rawvioli recipe. Use it in anything!

[luna99]

Use it sliced in the rawvioli recipe.

ooooh yes! I forgot about the rawvioli recipe! I'm gonna try that for lunch tomorrow! .. thank you!!! :D

[mershwista]

Stick it in the food processor and use it as suchi rice, and make some avocado nori rolls : )

[christiahall]

Rawvioli? That sounds fun! Where can I find the recipe for that?

[RawVee]

anyone else have any recipe suggestions for the jicama? I bought an extra one and it's sitting in my fridge and I have no idea what to do with it! :confused:


You can also use jicama to make rice for sushi. There's a great recipe in Raw Food Real World.

6 cups chopped jicama (roughly 1-inch cubes)
1/2 cup pine nuts
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons sea salt
1/4 cup brown rice wine vinegar
3 tablespoons agave nectar

Place the jicama and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until chopped to the approximate size of rice grains. Press the jicama between clean kitchen towels or paper towels to remove all the excess moisture.

In a large bowl, combine the rice with the salt, rice vinegar and agave nectar and mix well. Gently spread the mixture onto dehydrator screens and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for about 2 hours to remove additional moisture. Check the rice occasionally to make sure it is not getting too dry, and to toss it around a bit on the tray, as the edges dry faster. If left too long, it will start to turn pale brown, which is fine, it just doesn't look as nice. If this happens, add a bit more seasoning liquid, and keep in mind that the yield will be a bit less, and the texture not as soft. The rice will keep for 2-3 days in a covered container in the fridge. Yields 4 1/2 cups.

[emily]

You can use matchstick cut pieces of jicama in lettuce roll-ups, with sprouts (quinoa would be good), tomatoes or carrots, cilantro, basil and mint (amazing together) and some sort of raw dressing.

[Old Fashioned Oats]

:) Here is a wonderful recipe that includes Jicama, and it is easy to make. I do not remember where I got this recipe from so I cannot give credit where credit is due sorry.

Raw "potato" salad (Jicama Salad)

a 2lb. jicama, peeled and cubed small
2 ears of organic corn, cut off the cob
2 stalks organic celery, diced
1 med. organic onion, diced
1 avocado, diced
1/2 C. tahini
2 cloves of garlic
1/3 C. lemon juice (less if desired)
1 Tbsp. cilantro
1/2 -1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. chili powder
4 tsp. fresh dill (or 1-2 tsp. dried dill)
2 tsp. celtic sea salt.

Mix all ingredients well and chill before serving.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we do. :D

[Ariannah]

You can also just peel it, slice it in cubes or rectangles and eat it. It's GREAT alone! Sweet and crunchy. Very nice cold. Use it to dip your favorite dip. Use it sliced in the rawvioli recipe. Use it in anything!

That's how I like them. Any recipe to me, just alters the delicious taste! I love the taste of jicama and don't like to drown it in a dressing.

[levamssg]

This is a good use for a large jicama ... and it is really yummy!

JICAMA SLAW
1 medium red onion, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
21/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon sweetener of choice
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 1/2 lb jicama, peeled and cut into julienne strips (9 to 10 cups)
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

Soak onion in 1 cup cold water with 1/2 teaspoon salt 15 minutes (to
make onion flavor milder). Drain in a sieve, then rinse under cold water
and pat dry.

Whisk together lime juice, oil, sweetener, pepper, and remaining 3/4
teaspoon salt in a large bowl until combined well. Add onion, jicama,
cilantro, and salt to taste and toss well.

Cooks' note:
• Jicama can be cut into julienne strips 6 hours ahead and chilled,
covered.

Makes 8 servings.

[RowanC]

Wow, this looks GREAT!

Ok.. here's a good example of cheap eats:

JICAMA SLAW
1 medium red onion, finely chopped (3/4 cup) - maybe $ .75?
1 1/4 teaspoons salt - .05
21/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice - .50
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil .25
1 teaspoon sweetener of choice .10
1/4 teaspoon black pepper - .05
2 1/2 lb jicama, peeled and cut into julienne strips (9 to 10 cups) 2.00
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro .30

Looks like you could make this nice slaw for under $4.
A GREAT cheap lunch! And you'd probably get 2 lunches out of it.

[Frog]

I've never seen jicama anywhere ever in the UK - what could I use as a replacement??

Thanks.

[Frog]

Bump it up.

[mdsantematt]

One man's trash is another man's treasure, I suppose:

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/whatveg.htm
http://diabeticgourmet.com/faq/entry/2/62/
http://www.healingfoodreference.com/jicama.html
http://www.locarbdiner.com/article_eat_your_veggies.html


I once followed the Atkin's diet, a very LOW "carb" diet, and Jicama was also on the allowed list of foods for the strictest "phase" of it. So I don't get where it's high-glycemic. It has lots of water and is a good source of vitamin C as well.


Amen - you're correct. Jicama is not high on the glycemic index. As a long-term insulin-dependent who recently discontinued using an insulin pump (requiring tight control of carbs), I want you to know that jicama has been a WONDERFUL allowed food that hasn't wreaked havoc on my blood sugar levels. Consider this:

1 oz of raw jicama = 11 gm of carbs (including 6 grams fiber). It is a low calorie, moderate carb, high fiber food.

Give it a try!

[MangoMyst]

I've grated it with carrots, diced up some apples, mixed in a few raisins and it's really good!

[subbacultcha]

Amen - you're correct. Jicama is not high on the glycemic index. As a long-term insulin-dependent who recently discontinued using an insulin pump (requiring tight control of carbs), I want you to know that jicama has been a WONDERFUL allowed food that hasn't wreaked havoc on my blood sugar levels. Consider this:

1 oz of raw jicama = 11 gm of carbs (including 6 grams fiber). It is a low calorie, moderate carb, high fiber food.

Give it a try!

Yep.
Serving Size: 100g

Nutrition Facts
Calories 38
(Kilojoules 159)
% DV**
Total Fat 0.1 g 0%
Sat. Fat 0 g 0%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 4 mg 0%
Total Carbs. 8.8 g 3%
Dietary Fiber 4.9 g 20%
Sugars 1.8 g
Protein 0.7 g
Calcium 12 mg
Potassium 150 mg

Doesn't look too starchy to me!

[subbacultcha]

I've never seen jicama anywhere ever in the UK - what could I use as a replacement??

Thanks.

I also live in the UK and have never seen it! I have used daikon radish (also can be tricky to get hold of!) in some recipes, but I don't know how similar the two really are as I have never had jicama :(

[deberaw]

Here in Southwestern MI, Jicima is sold in the grocery store right next to the potatoes....ummmm, I love the fresh taste {isn't like a turnip:) }...I love Alissa's fries that use it...also just love the fresh, crisp taste........