To most Westerners, the word jicama may sound like an exotic vegetable, but it’s actually one of the most commonly eaten foods in the world!
This low-calorie vegetable has a mild flavor, making it ideal for snacks, salads, pickling, steaming, and boiling. Jicama (pronounced hick-a-ma) is a large root vegetable.
However, it can be substituted to suit one’s taste better; this guide entails the best substitutes for Jicama!
Jicama is also known as the Mexican potato, yam bean, and Mexican turnip. It is popular in Mexico and Latin American countries and is the new potato or starch of choice.
This white tuberous root vegetable tastes sweet, like an apple-like vegetable, but has a texture similar to water chestnuts.
If you’re tired of seeing this on the menu and want to know the best substitutes for jicama, read this article.
We’ll cover the most common alternatives and how they compare to jicama. You won’t have to worry about ordering the wrong thing again!
1. Jerusalem Artichoke
Jerusalem artichokes are the starters of our list of the best substitutes for jicama. They are a relative of sunflowers and potatoes and are rich in fiber, magnesium, folate, manganese, and copper.
Meanwhile, you can boil or roast them like a potato. They’re denser than potatoes and have a nuttier flavor. Be careful not to overcook them, or they will become mashed potatoes!
2. Winter Squash
When we speak of the best substitutes for jicama, either many options come running through your mind, or nothing comes to thought; your mind might just be void. But don’t worry; we’ve got you covered in this guide!
Surging, we have the Winter squash. It makes great substitutes for jicama, too. Though butternut squash is most commonly used, winter squash will do too.
Plus, squash is high in dietary fiber and potassium, making it perfect for people with high blood pressure or heart disease.
3. Water Chestnuts
Jicama is a root vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked in various ways. It has a crunchy, apple-like taste and is often used as an ingredient in salads.
However, if you’re trying to find an alternative to jicama when it’s not readily available or you just don’t like it, plenty of other vegetables can substitute for this Mexican food staple.
One option equally among the best substitutes for jicama is water chestnuts. They have a slightly sweet flavor and will add some texture to your salad when added raw.
While water chestnuts are most often used in Asian cuisine, their mild flavor profile makes them suitable for any meal or salad dressing.
4. Daikon Radish
A jicama substitute is an ingredient that can be used in place of a jicama. There are many options to replace the texture and flavor of this root vegetable, but one example is the daikon radish.
Daikon radish, one of the best substitutes for jicama, comes from a member of the white cabbage family.
Furthermore, it can be sliced thin and eaten raw or cooked with other ingredients. Its crisp texture, when eaten raw, makes it a good alternative for dishes like salads and crudités.
As for cooking it, daikon radish is good for sautéing because its firmness helps prevent it from getting soggy.
5. Cucumber
Other best jicama substitutes that you can easily get hold of include cucumber. It should be noted, however, that when using cucumber instead of jicama, it is best to remove the seeds and use the crispy parts only. This way, you can easily and effortlessly enjoy the relishing taste of this delectable item.
6. Rutabaga
Rutabaga is a great substitute for jicama that you might not have heard about yet. Rutabagas are another root vegetable with a taste and texture similar to jicamas, and they have a bonus of extra vitamins A and C.
However, you may have trouble getting your hands on this vegetable since they are not available in all supermarkets.
But if you can find them, then they are worth checking out. Without Rutabaga, our list of the best substitutes for jicama is certainly not complete!
7. Sunchoke
Sunchoke is one of the best substitutes for jicama that you might not think of. It has an earthy taste that many people enjoy quite a bit.
The key thing about these tubers is that they take longer than any other vegetable mentioned in this blog post. So remember this if you are planning for something like Thanksgiving dinner!
8. Asian Pear
Asian pears are on our list of the best substitutes for jicama because they have a similar crunch and flavor. They’re also high in fiber and vitamin C, so you’ll stay fuller longer.
To prepare this, follow these steps:
- Peel an Asian pear from top to bottom with a vegetable peeler.
- Slice it into thin pieces with a knife or mandoline slicer.
- Lay them flat on parchment paper and bake for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (about 205 degrees Celsius).
- Make sure to flip the slices halfway through the cooking time so they cook evenly. 5. Serve warm or chilled!
9. Celery sticks
Thinking of the best substitutes for Jicama and celery sticks didn’t come to your thoughts? Celery sticks are a great substitute for jicama and have many of the same health benefits. They are crunchy and slightly salty, like jicama, and can be eaten raw or cooked.
I recommend lightly sauteing them in olive oil with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. If you want to get creative, dip them in a vegan ranch dressing!
