Jicama

[saraa281]

Hello, I bought one and need to know how to cook it. What is it substituted for? Potatoes or what?

Thanks,

[not2late]

Imo, jicama is best raw: sliced into fries, sliced into thin rounds, or into cubes. It's makes a good raw apple substitute, so I frequently have it for "dessert" sprinkled with cinnamon or I make a Waldorf salad with it (equal parts celery, jicama, chopped toasted walnuts---if you are on OWL, and enough mayo to hold it together loosely).

There are a few recipes here that cooks the jicama, but jicama never softens like apples or potatoes. Do a search for Mock jicama apples or Mock jicama oatmeal.

Some people fry it like french fries or hash browns but those recipes never work for me because the jicama has enough of a sugar content that it turns brown very quickly (I probably use too high a heat).

If you want a potato substitute, try turnips, celery root (celeriac), daikon, radishes and kohlrabi bulbs off the Induction list. Once you move onto OWL and are at the starchy veggie rung, you can add sweet potatoes, potatoes, rutabagas, etc.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Personally I like it raw. I peel it and then slice it into "sticks" squeeze some lime juice on it and a little chili powder and eat it like that! Its a good crunchy snack.

If you go here and do a search for jicama there are several recipes for cooking it (or just click on the recipe icon at the top of the page and use the serach)

http://www.lowcarbrecipes.org/

[saraa281]

Thank you guys so much!! I am going to try them both ways!

[Checkers]

I just had my first jicama experience so I'll share what I did. I tried a raw piece and the taste was yummy and sweet. But it did have the grittiness of a raw potato. I haven't tried it with a dip or topping so maybe I wouldn't have that issue if I did. Then I sliced it super thin, like shavings really, and then fried them. If they arent' super thin they won't be crispy like a chip. Then I salted them. It was AWESOME! Those who like salty and sweet together will really like this. They were very cripy like a chip, but really shriveled up. I will do this alot more, but I will try to buy something to make the slicing faster. I used the suggested pototo chip setting of 340, but I think I will go a little lower next time. Then I made little 1/4 inch matchstick pieces. Very good, but I think they need to cook longer than I cooked them. The I tried a 1/4 inch slice. It was pretty good and again I should have cooked it longer at a lower temp. Finally I tried it grated like hash browns. This was excellent, but I would only do it in a frying pan. I should have known some pieces would fall through the basket and now I have to filter my oil (it's new oil and it takes alot to fill my fryer!). I even think hubby would like the 'hash browns'. I will soon try to make some kind of potato patty-like thing and maybe I can put it in a casserole.

[MotherOfGizmo]

I've tried the potato chip thing before too, they are good, but you have to cook them a long time and eat them right away or they got soggy really quickly! I prefer the taste of fried kale when I'm looking for a "potato chip" fix, I like it sprinkled with Old Bay seasoning! Much much quicker and they hold the "crisp" better if you want to make some for later.

[Checkers]

Fried Kale! I hadn't heard of that one. Isn't kale kind of a lettuce type veg? Are you frying it in oil? I'm sure it's cheap enough that I can just experiment with it. With the jicama, mine cooked very quickly and stayed crispy, but it was super, super thin.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Fried Kale! I hadn't heard of that one. Isn't kale kind of a lettuce type veg? Are you frying it in oil? I'm sure it's cheap enough that I can just experiment with it. With the jicama, mine cooked very quickly and stayed crispy, but it was super, super thin.

Yep, kale is that leathery looking lettuce type thingy. It fries up crispy in just seconds! Just be sure that you dry it off very very well before dropping it in the hot oil or it will splatter like you wouldn't believe! It really is delicious and you are right cheap enough to experiment with! Try it and let me know how you liked it. It cured my craving for a chip type snack!

[Checkers]

You know that crispy chip type snack is what really attracts me. I'd always loved potato chips so this may really help. Do they travel well for lunches? I'm restarting about your starting weight ( I was down to about 170 before I screwed up) and I'm your height so it's nice to see someone so similar to me.

[MotherOfGizmo]

I was a potato chip junkie too! I never had a problem with sweet snacks, but saltly snacks were my downfall. I have no problem bringing my Kale to work in a ziploc, I put a papertowel in first to soak up any extra oil and make sure they are very cool before putting them in the bag, they do crumble very easily so you have to gentle when you transport them or you'll end up with tiny crumbly pieces.

[Finelly]

Slice it up and fry it in butter until golden brown. Sprinkle with cinnamon an a dash of splenda.

You'll swear you are eating apple pie without the crust.

[kpoll19]

Re: Jicama

Yep, kale is that leathery looking lettuce type thingy. It fries up crispy in just seconds! Just be sure that you dry it off very very well before dropping it in the hot oil or it will splatter like you wouldn't believe! It really is delicious and you are right cheap enough to experiment with! Try it and let me know how you liked it. It cured my craving for a chip type snack!

I thought kale was kind of bitter. Does the frying take that away? Also do you season it with anything for different taste?

Kelly