VOTW - Jicama!

[Moochiecat]

I can hear some of you out there saying "Ji-what??!!"
The J is pronounced as an 'h', so it's 'HIC-a-ma' and it's not a very attractive looking vegetable whatsoever. Also called a 'Yambean' it looks like a cross between a potato and a yam. But inside the scrubby potato-y looking outside is a white fleshed crisp, almost sweet crunchy veggie.
For those of you who aren't keen on veggies, but like fruit, you may very well find that jicama is a good veggie for you! :yes


According to www.elook.org, this veggie (which is on the 2 to 3 cup list)has per cup : 11 carbs - 6 fiber = 5 net carbs and is a really good source of Vitamin C.

http://www.elook.org/nutrition/vegetables/1861-2.html

You want to choose a good firm jicama, and unlike a potato, you don't want to eat the peel.

I like to grate jicama up with cabbage and use the dressing recipe from the Cauliflower 'Potato' salad in DANDR (pg 47. Mmmm...I was used to grated apples in my coleslaw, and jicama replaces them really well.

If you do a search for jicama on this board, you'll find different ideas...one that I haven't tried yet, is to sprinkle raw jicama with a bit of cinnamon and splenda. Sounds good, doesn't it?

Have a look at previous VOTW veggies..just type in VOTW in the first search box:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/search.php?mode=results

[not2late]

I like jicama raw: cut into "fries" or sliced into "chips".

I also like jicama cut into cubes, mixed with chopped celery and mayonnaise for a low carb version of the Waldorf Salad (when you get into OWL, you can add the chopped walnuts to make the salad even more complete)

They are very sweet and make a great "dessert" with a creamy cheese like brie or camembert.

:yummy

[love2beeamom]

I like to slice mine into thin chips, and fry them until almost crispy. Then I sprinkle them with a little cinnamon and splenda.. Although I have had a time finding jicaima lately.. maybe not quite the season?

[Starmaker]

hmmm wondering how crispy deep fried jicama would get

[love2beeamom]

well mine never get totally crispy, but if you slice them really thin, it does make a difference.

[2big4mysize]

I love jicama just about any way you can think I loved on induction using thin slices as bread to hold the sandwhich, or as chips dipped in drssing. Brooks mock baked apples is a great way to fix it too. My all time fav was to just peel it cut off a chunk and eat it like an apple back in the no fruit days of OWL that crisp juice texture and taste was a great apple sub.

[spirittalker]

Peel it and eat it like an apple. I can't imagine cooking it. I LOVE jicama though. It fills me up and makes me feel like I am getting fruit in.

[WyndWoman]

I wish I could get decent jicama here in the wilds of New Hampshire. I had tried it a couple times - they have it in supermarkets, but found it blah, and a little odd tasting. Then I went to Mexico and had some there - what a huge difference! Makes me sad that I can find good ones here. I wonder if there is a "season" where they're better than at other times?

[pandagirl]

I love jicama too. I always have. I was a veggie lover, even before starting Atkins. I didnt think that I could handle no fruit for so long, until I saw jicama was on the induction list. YAY!

I like to dip it in blue cheese dressing. I never get to try any of the fun recipes because as soon as I chop it up I eat it. Chili powder and lime juice sounds great tho, I will have to try that.

[Elizellen]

Have any of our UK members ever been able to find jicama?

If so - what kind of shops? Ethnic food shops? Online mail order shops? or where?

I spent several days trudging in and out of most of our local chinese/turkish/asian shops trying to even find someone who knew what it was without success :sadblinky

Is it called something different over here?

[spirittalker]

Elizellen-AKA yam bean. I don't know if this helps or not but you may wish to try.

[spirittalker]

Also found a site that carries it online for shipping to UK.

http://www.oakleaf-european.co.uk/featured/thailand.htm

[softnred]

Mmmmm...I love Jicama. I just peel it, cut it into hunks and eat it raw. Yummmm.

I seem to remember that last year, someone said that they soaked it in water (to leach the sweetness out of it), then they fried it like french fries. I don't remember if it was any good...

JoAnne

[Elizellen]

Thank you for the website Susan :hug

I wonder if it is in season now?