Try something new from the produce section this week and get crazy with jicama! Jicama (pronounced HEE-kah-mah) is a root vegetable of Mexican origin that can now be found in most grocery stores. To eat, first remove the thin brown outer skin. The white inside has a crisp, crunchy texture and mild sweet starchy taste, like an unripe pear or sweet potato. Most often served raw, here are three recipes to get you started. Jicama is also excellent cooked, such as in stir fries.
Ham and Jicama Wraps – divided evenly, wrap 6 jicama or celery sticks with 3 slices of ham. Serve with 1 tsp whole grain mustard for dipping.
Creamy Herb Dip with Vegetables – serve raw vegetables, such as jicama sticks, snap peas, carrot sticks, or thinly sliced beets with a creamy dip. To make dip, blend together 5 oz goat cheese, ½ cup plain low fat yogurt, 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill, 1 tbsp chopped fresh flat leaf parsley, 1 tsp lemon juice, ¼ tsp salt.
Strawberry Mango Jicama salad – make a fruit salad of sliced strawberries, chopped mango, chopped jicama, chopped fresh cilantro, and lime juice.