Looking for jicama recipes, or simply an alternative to traditional French fries? Well look no further. 🙂 These baked jicama fries are both deliciously satisfying AND easy to make.
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So I've been a little obsessed with cooking with jicama lately (also known as a Mexican turnip). If you haven't eaten one before, I would describe it's flavor as mild or perhaps slightly sweet—and with a texture similar to an apple or potato. It's both super refreshing and also incredibly versatile. You can eat it raw in a jicama salad, with a dip like guacamole (it has the perfect crunch for dipping), or even use it in coleslaw-like jicama slaw.
Did you know?
Jicama is a prebiotic vegetable, meaning that it contains specialized types of fiber that help feed beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome. Prebiotic vegetable fibers also provide food for the beneficial bacteria found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi, so consuming both types of foods can be a win win for gut health.
And if you're not a big ketchup fan, try these fries with this homemade garlic aioli (you won't believe how good the combo is!) You can also explore other recipes with prebiotic foods.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- Great alternative to French fries
- Simple and easy to make recipe
- Only 6 ingredients needed
- Delicious way to eat more fiber
- Kid friendly and approved
🌿 Ingredients
Only a handful of ingredients are needed in this recipe; feel free to throw in a little extra garlic powder or paprika for a stronger kick! (Parsley is totally optional, but a nice way to garnish.)
See recipe card below for exact quantities.
📝 Instructions
The prep for these jicama fries is super easy and you can even do it ahead of time or the day before to make meal prep easier on the day of.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Then, peel and halve the jicama.
Step 2: Cut each half into ¼" slices.
Step 3: Cut each slice into ¼" sticks. (The size doesn't have to be exact; just make sure they are uniform in size.)
Step 4: Place your prepped jicama sticks in a bowl and set aside.
Step 5: Fill a medium pot about halfway with filtered water and add a pinch of salt. Heat over medium high heat until the water boils. Then, add the jicama slices and let sit for 10 minutes in the boiling water.
Step 6: Drain, cool and dry your jicama sticks with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Drizzle them with olive oil in a mixing bowl and sprinkle with the spices and salt & pepper to taste. Mix everything well to coat.
Step 7: Pour the fries out onto the lined baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until they're crispy and golden, flipping them once.
Step 8: Let the fries cool a little on the baking sheet, sprinkle a little extra salt and pepper on if desired, and serve immediately.
📋 Substitutions
As written, this recipe is vegan and gluten free. Feel free to make any of the following substitutions:
- Jicama - while there isn't really a perfect substitute for actual jicama, you could substitute carrots, parsnips or sweet potatoes in a pinch
- Olive oil - substitute avocado oil or melted coconut oil
- Garlic powder - substitute minced fresh garlic instead, or feel free to leave out
- Paprika - substitute chili powder, Cajun spice or just leave out
- Sea salt - use regular table salt if you don't have sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper - use any other variety of ground pepper, or leave out
📖 Variations
Here are a couple great variations on these jicama fries:
- Garlicky jicama fries - sprinkle a little extra garlic powder into the fries long with the other spices
- Spicy jicama fries - sprinkle a tiny bit of cayenne pepper in (careful; a little goes a long way!)
🔪 Equipment
I used the following kitchen equipment to make this recipe:
- vegetable peeler
- chef's knife
- cutting board
- silicone spatula
- baking sheet
- parchment paper (optional; for easy cleanup)
🍱 Storage
Jicama fries are best when consumed immediately, but they'll stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. To rewarm, place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet at 300°F for about 10 minutes. That way, they'll be nice and crispy again. (If you're in a hurry, microwave for about a minute.)
🎉 Top tip
If you see fresh jicama when you're shopping, grab it! 🙂 It can be hard to find sometimes, so I like to make jicama recipes whenever I see this lovely prebiotic veggie in the grocery store so that I don't miss out.
Enjoy!
💭 FAQ
The consistency and texture of jicama is crispy similar to an apple or potato, and it's flavor is mild and slightly sweet. It can be eaten raw in salads or as jicama sticks, or baked or fried such as in jicama fries.
Jicama fries are slightly chewier and sweeter than regular fries, and pair especially well with spices such as garlic and paprika.
Jicama is usually available in larger grocery stores or Mexican grocery stores. You can normally find it in the produce department alongside other root vegetables.
If you're short on time you could skip the blanching step, but it is recommended to help soften the jicama so that it's not too crunchy.
🍳 Recipe
Jicama Fries
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 medium jicama about 1 pound
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- sea salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- chopped fresh parsley optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Wash and peel the jicama, and slice into uniformly thick match stick slices (about ¼" thick or to your preference).
- Blanch: Fill a medium pot halfway with filtered water, add a pinch of salt and heat over medium high heat. Once boiling, add the jicama slices and let sit for 10 minutes in the boiling water. Then, drain, cool and dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel.
- Season: Place the jicama slices in a large mixing bowl, drizzle in the olive oil and sprinkle with the spices and salt & pepper to taste. Mix everything with a silicone spatula to coat.
- Bake: Pour the coated fries out onto the lined baking sheet and arrange in a single layer. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until crispy and golden, flipping them halfway through.
- Enjoy: Let the fries cool slightly on the baking sheet once out of the oven, sprinkle a little extra salt and pepper on if desired, and serve immediately.
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