Jicama Salad

Crunchy, refreshing Jicama Salad with julienned jicama, bell peppers, red onion, cucumber, orange, and lime juice. Perfect accompaniment to Mexican food dishes.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated September 22, 2021
Elise Bauer
Jicama Salad
Elise Bauer

Are you familiar with jicama?

This tuber looks like a seriously overgrown radish and is the root of a vine native to Mexico and Central America.

The flesh is crunchy, mild, and even faintly sweet, and is often served with a little lime juice and chile powder to accompany Mexican dishes.

I first encountered jicama (pronounced HICK-ah-mah) years ago in cafeteria salad bars, and on its own (how they typically serve it in those places), jicama can be a little boring.

Jicama
Elise Bauer

With some seasoning and lime juice, however, it comes alive, and is wonderfully refreshing, especially along side tacos and refried beans.

Jicama salads are usually prepared with julienned jicama a little thicker than what I have shown here. Cut them this small (result of the mandoline) and the jicama pieces will bend a bit and the salad will resemble more of a slaw than of chunky pieces of jicama.

Jicama
Elise Bauer

The good news is cut this way the salad will be easier to eat. Julienne or cube the jicama into pieces you are most comfortable eating.

Jicama Salad

Prep Time 15 mins
Total Time 15 mins
Servings 4 servings

If you are serving the jicama salad as a side to a spicy Mexican dish like enchiladas or tostadas, then you don't need to add olive oil or avocados. There is enough fat in the main dish to balance the acidity in the salad. In fact, a benefit of the salad is that it does just that, brings balance to these types of dishes.

But, if you are serving the salad on its own, then you may want to add a little olive oil or some chopped avocado to the salad so it is balanced in and of itself.


Tip: It's easiest to julienne or cubed jicama if you cut it in half first.

Ingredients

  • 1 large jicama (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, then julienned or cubed

  • 1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced

  • 1/2 yellow bell pepper, finely diced

  • 1/2 green bell pepper, finely diced

  • 1/2 cup chopped red onion

  • 1/2 large cucumber, seeded, chopped

  • 1 navel orange, peeled, sliced crosswise, then each round quartered

  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

  • 1/3 cup lime juice

  • Pinch cayenne

  • Pinch paprika

  • Salt

Optional

  • 1/2 avocado, chopped

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Method

  1. Toss together the jicama, bell peppers, red onion, cucumber, orange, and cilantro in a large serving bowl.

    Pour lime juice over all. Sprinkle with a pinch of cayenne and paprika. Season generously with salt.

  2. Let sit a half an hour before serving.

Links:

Tangerine and Jicama salad from Nicole of Pinch My Salt

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
330 Calories
1g Fat
81g Carbs
7g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 330
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 166mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 81g 29%
Dietary Fiber 24g 85%
Total Sugars 38g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 408mg 2,042%
Calcium 194mg 15%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 1347mg 29%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.