Jícama what? Never heard of this vegetables? I hadn't either until recently. Though I had seen this root vegetable on the local market, I thought it was some kind of a sugar beet and never paid much attention to it. But then I saw it on a menu in a restaurant in town and after a quick google search, I realized the markets are packed with it. And it's super cheap too.

What the heck are Jícamas

---

Jícama (pronounced hee-cama), aka Mexican yam bean or Mexican turnip - is a native Mexican vine which produces an edible tuberous root. It can be intimidating If you haven’t been formally introduced to the whole vegetable. And just like me you probably don’t know what you are looking for.

Or maybe you did know the root vegetable but totally forgot about it. For some reason, it’s easy to forget how juicy, crunchy, and exciting they are. This wonderfully juicy, sweet, and nutty tuber with a distinct crunch often makes it the forgotten vegetable lists and that's actually a real shame. Though it is most commonly enjoyed raw, you can cook jícama, too. We recently made jícama mashed potatoes and added it to a stew too.

If you wonder what it tastes like, then the best description I can give is, it tastes like a savory, crunchy apple.

Though it might be too exotic to find at your local farmers market, since it is native to central America and Asia, a lot of supermarkets are now selling this forgotten vegetable. And if they don't have it, try Mexican, Latin American, or Asian markets. I'm sure you'll find this yummy and crunchy vegetable there.

Nutritional value

---

Jícama is made out of 86 percent to 90 percent water. It’s low in calories, natural sugars, and starch. It has a low score on the glycemic index (GI) and is a good source of immune system-boosting nutrients such as vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and fiber.

Jicama contains a beneficial type of prebiotic fructan carbohydrate or a fiber called oligofructose inulin. Humans are not able to digest this fiber and it ferments in the gut where it acts as a prebiotic. Prebiotics help probiotics (or the “good bacteria” living in our gut) do their job best.

And as you may or may not know, good health starts in our gut! And our gut flora plays a key role it that.

A one-cup serving of sliced raw jicama packs:

---

• 49 calories
• 0 fat
• 6 grams fiber
• 1 gram protein
• 11 grams carbs
• 2 grams sugar
• 2 milligrams vitamin C (40 percent DV)
• 7 milligrams iron (4 percent DV)
• 4 milligrams magnesium (4 percent DV)
• 4 micrograms folate (4 percent DV)
• 180 milligrams potassium (5 percent DV)
• 1 milligram manganese (4 percent DV)

Jícama & Pomelo Salad with Spicy Thai Dressing

---

Ingredients (serves 2)

---

For the dressing

---

1 lime, juice only
1 small clove of garlic, minced
1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
1/2-1 tsp chili paste, or to taste

FYI: CLICK HERE to learn how to make your own chili paste.

For the salad

---

1 cup shredded purple cabbage
1 cup shredded white cabbage
1 cup jícama; peeled and finely chopped in matchsticks
1/2 big pomelo; peeled, segmented and chopped
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, toasted

FYI: if you can't find a pomelo, grapefruit works too.

Directions

---

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk well to combine. Set aside.
2. Cut all salad ingredients and combine in a large bowl. Toss to combine.
3. Divide salad over plates or bowls. Top with roasted sunflower seeds and drizzle with Thai dressing.

Bon Appétit

ALL CONTENT IS MINE AND ORIGINAL!
PICTURE(s) TAKEN WITH FUJI X-M1

---

If you enjoyed reading this post, make sure to follow my news feed here

Or check out my health and recipe blog for more yummy recipes!