Tag Archives: jicama

3 No-Cook Summer Jicama Recipes + More Yum

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Jicama is a root vegetable that tastes a bit like a mild apple. It doesn't oxidize when cut -- the perfect crunchy ingredient for salads and summer no-cook recipes.

Mister Jicama Head

Mr. Jicama Head!

Have you ever tried jicama? It’s not the prettiest pick in the produce section (in fact, you’ve probably buzzed right by it), but it’s certainly a cool and crispy addition to no-cook summer recipes. Jicama is an edible root from Mexico that resembles a cross between a potato and turnip. Jicama has a thin brown skin that is easily removable with a vegetable peeler and the white flesh inside is crispy, crunchy and very mildly sweet – some say it reminds them slightly of pear or apple mixed with a water chestnut texture. But, unlike pears and apples, a convenient thing about this root is that it doesn’t oxidize when cut open and exposed to air – which means you can prep your dishes well in advance and not worry about the vegetable turning brown.

Another perk of jicama is that it’s pretty darn inexpensive and for just a few bucks you can get one big enough to make several recipes. Or, just cut raw jicama up into sticks and eat like celery sticks with your favorite sweet or savory dip!  Some sweet dips I love to use with jicama are Opadipity By Litehouse Foods Sweet Greek Yogurt Dips  — three flavors including Cheesecake, Strawberry Delight and Vanilla Almond.  Lower in calorie and higher in protein that similar products you’ll find at the store – plus, everything is free of preservatives and high fructose corn syrup.

Berry and Yogurt Jicama Crust Pizza makes a healthy choice for your summer dessert!

Berry  & Yogurt Jicama Crust Dessert Pizza – Perfect for when you need something sweet but are being mindful of your diet. This healthy dessert recipe was first shared on the Living Litehouse Blog, check it out!

Raw Jicima Nachos make a vegan swap for the traditional recipe.

Raw Vegan Jicama Nachos – A meatless, non-dairy take on the quintessential patio happy hour food! Another bonus of this healthy appetizer recipe is that no cooking is required!

Strawberry, Jicama and Jalapeno Confetti Salad is so colorful and healthy!

Jicama Jalapeno Confetti Fruit Salad – This delicious bowl of fruit and jicama is the definition of eating a rainbow! Kicked up with jalapeno, the jicama adds a crisp crunch to all the best fruits of the summer season.

JicamaCheck out Cooking Light for more healthy recipe ideas using jicama — I think this vegetable is going to become one of your new favorites! You’ll also find great tips on how to pick out this root vegetable at the market and how to best store and prep it at home.

 

Arm Balance Yoga

I’ve been working on my yoga practice – I try to do a little bit each day to improve my runner-impaired hip and hamstring mobility (some of the simplest moves are the hardest for me)!  I have lots of fun trying some of the arm balances – they use so much concentration, strength and balance. I’m just waiting to break my face on some of the crash landings!

 

 

3 No-Cook, Vegetarian Summer Jicama Recipes #Fitfluential

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Are you a fan of jicama?  Do you have any favorite jicama recipes?

What is a new fitness-related thing you’ve tried lately?

Jicama is a root vegetable that tastes a bit like a mild apple. It doesn't oxidize when cut -- the perfect crunchy ingredient for salads and summer no-cook recipes.
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Berry & Yogurt Jicama Crust Dessert Pizza
Prep Time
10 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
Indulge your sweet tooth with this healthy option for a light summer dessert.
Course: Appetizer, Salad, Snack, Vegetable
Cuisine: American, Southwestern
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
  • 1 6" diameter jicama sliced into 1/3" thick rounds (there will be leftover)
  • 1/2 pint fresh blueberries
  • 1/2 pint fresh blackberries
  • 1/2 pint fresh raspberries
  • 8 strawberries
  • 8 ounces plain Greek yogurt can substitute Litehouse Food's Opadipity Greek Yogurt Dip -Cheesecake or Vanilla
  • stevia to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped or substitute Instantly Fresh brand mint
Instructions
  1. Slice jicama into 1/3" rounds. Rinse berries, set aside to dry.
  2. Mix greek yogurt with stevia to achieve desired sweetness. Spread evenly over tops of jicama rounds.
  3. Top Greek yogurt with berries as desired and sprinkle with fresh mint.

Plant-based Protein – Asian Chop Salad with Gardein Teriyaki Chick’n Strips

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Thanks to Gardein for introducing me to their Gardein Teriyaki Chick’n Strips and for sponsoring today’s post.

I’m that fast girl you’ve been warned about. I talk fast, I run fast . . . . and, I like to get my food fast. But NOT fast food, no way.  To keep my diet fit and fresh, I like to make the majority of my meals at home, despite the insanely busy schedule I keep.  So, while a 30-minute weeknight meal might sound pretty quick to most, I’m kicking it up into super-sonic speed on the typical night with 10-minute, pan-to-plate dinners!

Teriyaki Chick'n Chop Salad is a fit, fast and flavorful meal that takes 10 minutes to make and fills you up with healthy plant-proteins.

Tonight, I whipped up a far-out, far-east inspired dinner using Teriyaki Chick’n Strips from Gardein. These tasty strips have 15 grams of plant-based protein for a mere 120 calorie cost. They are made with non-GMO soy and wheat, ancient grains and veggies and remarkably have a similar taste and texture to real chicken breast – they are also work for those of you who keep vegan and kosher diets. My husband,  a carnivorous guy who would normally turn his nose up at such “nonsense,” didn’t even realize he was eating a meat substitute! I call that winning dinner!  #MeetChef

Teriyaki Chick'n Chop Salad is made with plant-based protein and perfect for a #MeatlessMonday mealIn addition to the Teriyaki Chick’n Strips magic, I employed my favorite busy-night trick and used what I could find in the produce bin to make the remainder of dinner.   While the strips were browning for five minutes in the skillet, I quickly chopped up some jicama, carrots and red onion and thawed out shelled edamame that I always keep in the freezer. The Teriyaki Chick’n Strips come with a sauce packet that also I also found to make a serendipitous salad dressing (there was plenty to drizzle on everything)!

This quick and easy meal solution is definitely going to be in my dinner rotation — I now have more time for running fast . . .  and running errands!

jen running in yellow flowers

Gardein makes lots of other yummy, healthy, meatless proteins like Gardein Ultimate Beefless Ground, Golden Fishless Filets. Check back next week, because I’ll have a new recipe for you! All Gardein products are found chillin’ in the freezer aisle at your favorite grocery store.  Save yourself a dollar with this coupon (available for download until May 31, 2015).

Far Out Far East Chick'n Chop Salad - TheFitFork.com

10-Minute Meal for Fast Girls – Teriyaki Chick’n Chop Salad #MeetChef @Gardein https://ooh.li/e44c699

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What is your quickest go-to meal to make at home?

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Teriyaki Chick'n Chop Salad
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
This Asian-inspired salad uses plant-based protein, teriyaki sauce and chopped fresh veggies to create a fit, fresh and fast dinner solution.
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 3 Servings
Ingredients
  • 1 bag Gardein Teriyake Chick'n Strips
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped carrots
  • 1 cup chopped jicama
  • 1 cup shelled edamame beans
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion
  • 2 ounces cashews
  • 3 tablespoons Sriracha sauce if desired
Instructions
  1. Heat olive oil on medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add thawed chick'n strips and cook for about 5 minutes, flipping once. Remove from heat. Add thawed sauce packet to skillet to coat strips.
  2. Toss carrots, jicama, edamame beans and onion into skillet and stir quickly to coat veggies with sauce, yet not heat them.
  3. Divide chicken and veggies among three plates and sprinkle with cashews. Drizzle with Sriracha sauce, if desired.

Rainbow Eats! Cumin Seared Scallops with Strawberry, Jicama and Jalapeno Confetti Salad

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Scallops dusted with cumin and quickly pan seared make a quick and healthy dinner -- especially atop Strawberry, Jicama and Jalapeno Confetti Salad

My fresh and fit recipe for Strawberry, Jicama & Jalapeno Confetti Salad is truly an edible rainbow. Strawberries, papaya, pineapple, jalapenos, cilantro and jicama mingle together with a limey dressing – it’s so utterly utopian, the chances of seeing a unicorn run by increase with every spoonful.

Strawberry, Jicama and Jalapeno Confetti Salad is so colorful and healthy!

Of course, you could eat this fruit salad alone, but it’s also amazing as a salsa on fish tacos – or with my dinner tonight, Cumin-dusted Seared Sea Scallops. Scallops are so easy to prepare, it’s almost ridiculous. Get your oiled skillet really hot, pat on some spices and then sear for just a couple minutes each side is turning crispy golden brown and the flesh is still just slightly translucent in the center. Pan to plate in less than five minutes!

Cumin-Dusted Seared Sea Scallops are so quick and easy to make -- plus very healthy!

Sea Scallops from Sizzle FishI’m a big fan of the scallops from Sizzle Fish.  Plump, natural sea scallops from the North Atlantic (flash- frozen and packaged in individual serving packs of 4 scallops) are shipped right to my door! No shopping in a busy supermarket and five minutes of cooking – it’s the easiest way ever to get your muscle-making protein.

Scallops dusted with cumin and quickly pan seared make a quick and healthy dinner -- especially atop Strawberry, Jicama and Jalapeno Confetti Salad
Print
Cumin Dusted Scallops with Strawberry, Jicama and Jalapeno Confetti Salad
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
It's an eating rainbow! Cumin Seared Scallops with Strawberry, Jicama and Jalapeno Confetti Salad recipe makes an insanely quick, colorful and healthy meal.
Course: Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Southwestern
Servings: 2 servings
Ingredients
For Confetti Salad
  • 1 cup diced strawberries
  • 1 cup diced jicama
  • 1/2 cup diced pineapple
  • 1/2 cup diced papaya
  • 1/2 cup diced red onion
  • 1 to 2 seeded and minced jalapenos depending on preferred heat level
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
For Scallops
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 - 10 medium sea scallops
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ancho chili powder
  • cilantro and srirancha for garnish
Instructions
  1. In medium bowl, add all diced fruit, red onion, and jalapeno.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, vinegar, cumin and ancho chile pepper. Gently stir into salad.
For Scallops
  1. Add oil to skillet and heat to medium-high.
  2. Pat scallops dry and dust with cumin and ancho powder. Arrange in hot skillet so they are not touching each other.
  3. Cook for approximately 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes per side (depending on thickness). Scallops should be crusty golden brown on top and bottom and still a tiny bit translucent in the center (because the will still cook a bit once removed from pan).
  4. Drizzle with sriracha and sprinkle with minced cilantro. Serve with confetti salad.

Party Ready! Pomegranate Jicama Salad with Roasted Cilantro Shrimp

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Although we’re just a few days into November, soon the winter holiday season will be in full swing. Invitations to parties galore will be popping up in your inbox and you may even be hosting a soiree of your own. If you’re anything like me, indulging in foods that have been forbidden to pass your lips for months upon months are now welcomed as the beloved, long-lost friends they are. It’s so wonderful to see you again cheesecakes, chocolate kiss cookies, mugs of eggnog and bacon-wrapped finger foods — squeal!

chocolate crinkle cookies kiss cookies thefitfork

Sometimes you just have to say “yes” to the splurge!

But, before you dive off head first into a bowl of fully-loaded artichoke spinach dip, remember – all things in moderation! I’ve said it many times before and I’ll say it again; I’ve never been a food denier. But, I do balance my splurges with healthy foods and watch my portion sizes when I know that tempting foods are coming my way.

jennifer fisher litehouse jicima pomegranate salad 1 big

One festive, flavorful and yet still fit dish I like to make (or bring) to parties is Pomegranate Jicama Salad with Roasted Cilantro Shrimp.  I created this colorful recipe to fulfill a request for “elegant and easy healthy holiday ideas” for the Living Litehouse blog.  This simple to assemble salad makes a showy statement when served as a light entrée. It can also be divided up among stemmed glasses and served as an appetizer, shrimp cocktail-style! If you’re not up to roasting the shrimp yourself, just purchase them ready to go at the chef-prepared food section of any upscale market. Guests will be impressed with the presentation and pomegranate flavor of this shrimp salad and not feel a bit guilty about overdoing it.

jennifer fisher litehouse jicima pomegranat salad individual big

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • For the shrimp:
  • 2 pounds uncooked (12 to 15-count) shrimp
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh cilantro
  • For the salad:
  • 1 lb jicama peeled and julienned
  • 1 medium red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 large pomegranate peeled and arils harvested
  • 2 Tbsp. minced jalapeno
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh very thinly sliced green onion
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh minced cilantro
  • 2/3 cup Pomegranate Blueberry Vinaigrette
  • ¼ cup salted roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • 4-oz. crumbled Feta Cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Peel and devein the shrimp, leaving the tails on. Place shrimp on a sheet pan with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir shrimp around a little to coat them in oil and then spread in a single layer. Sprinkle with cilantro.

3. Roast for approximately 8 minutes, just until pink and firm and cooked through. Set aside to cool.

3. Meanwhile, in large bowl, add julienned jicama, sliced red onion, pomegranate arils, jalapeno, spring onion, and cilantro. Pour Pomegranate Blueberry Vinaigrette over mixture and mix gently to combine.

4. Add spring mix to serving bowl or platter. Mound jicama-pomegranate mixture in the center of lettuce; sprinkle with pepitas and feta cheese.

5. Arrange roasted shrimp around perimeter.

 

With this deliciously nutritious and low-cal salad, you don’t have to feel guilty about taking a wild ride on the dessert cart; or, perhaps having a second slice of my Lower-Fat Caramel Apple Carrot Cake! Don’t forget to visit Living Litehouse for my recipes!

jennifer fisher litehouse closeup cake slice

On another note, it’s less than a week until I leave for Las Vegas to battle it off spatula to spatula with the other 99 contestants in the Pillsbury BakeOff.  If you missed it a few months ago, my recipe that made it through to become a finalist is an appetizer – Spicy Beef and Sweet Potato Samosas.  How cute is the official apron this year? It was created especially for the event by designer Whitney Port and I can’t wait to wear it!

pillsbury 2013 apron