Recipes for This Odd Fellow ...Jicama

I am always getting asked about this weird looking thing we have in our Marketplaces. Looks like a coconut but it's not. Around Texas the locals eat it cut up with chili pepper on it. In our house we just juice this mighty tuber called a Jicama.

If you have never seen one before they can be rather odd looking, but let me tell you juiced they can be so great for your body! Jicama is high in carbohydrates in the form of dietary fiber. It is composed of a bout 90% water, it contained on trace amounts of protein and lipids. It's sweet flavor comes from the oligofructose inulin (also called fructo-oligosacuuharide) which is a prebiotic. 

Jicama is HIGH in Vitamins C,A and B, along with Calcium and phosphorus.

Keep in mind when using this vegetable this is a very unique veggie so when eating or juicing it you will need to make sure to *pair* it with a nice and tasty friend. I think it has a slightly vanilla taste so keep that in mind when you pair it up. I have some wonderful ideas for it in the FALL for Thanksgiving. but for now...

Below you will find 2 of my Family's favorite recipes for Jicama Juices. (pictures included).

 Jicama TO GO JUICE

1 Large Jicama (peeled and sliced)
1 1/2 cups black grapes
1 1/2 red grapes
2 stalks celery
2 Large cucumbers

4 Large carrots
6 Large starwberries
2 Granny Smith Apples

1 lime (peeled...you may add some of the peel if you like. I love the peel or zest in my juice.)

JUICE ALL THE ABOVE TOGETHER, STRAIN AND ENJOY NICE AND COLD! 

My Grand Daughter Zoe loves Jicama To Go Juice in her Sippy Cup. She is 8 months old and  loves her fresh juice at Nanna's Tree House.

STRAWBERRY BLUEBERRY JICAMA JUICE

1 JICAMA (peeled and cut into pieces that will fit into your juicer)
1 cup of fresh blueberries ( if you can't find fresh you can use frozen they work fine in your juicer...believe me.) 
6 oz of fresh Strawberries

 Hints for juicing blueberries and other small berries: If you want to juice blueberries just add them with your jicama. Be very careful when you add them they will POP out everywhere. Add them slowly and with some of the jicama in your hand. Place the berries into the chute and quickly add the berries and plunger so that the berries don't POP out. You can do the same thing with frozen berries (in fact I find if they are frozen they juice better).

There are so many things you can do with your fresh juice. Use your imagination. 

You can make a Popsicle. Simply place some of the juice in small solo cups in your freezer until they juice is slushy. Then insert a wooden Popsicle stick so that it stands in the center. Place your cups back into the freezer until they are totally frozen. Remove from freezer when they are hard and run under hot water to loosen or if the cups are paper you can simply peel then away from your frozen Popsicle. ENJOY.

Using a glass baking dish pour your juice into the dish and place into the freezer about an inch deep. Be sure the dish is setting flat. Check the dish at 30 minute intervals and when it reaches the  stage where it is somewhat hard but not totally frozen take a fork and scrap the top layer . You will scrap the enter top of your pan. Continue scraping the juice and removing it to another pan or place it is a dessert glass and into the freezer to serve to that special someone. This makes a wonderful Shaved Fruit Juiced Ice Dessert. 

I served this in a dessert dish as a special treat to my hubby the other night.  Of course I forgot to snap a picture.

I'd love to see or hear about any of your ideas and unique ways to use juice.

Just email me at livingtheshweetlife@gmail.com

Have a Great Juicy Day!

~Sandi