Creamy Apple Jicama Slaw

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This creamy apple jicama slaw is so fresh and crunchy! With its mix of sweet and tangy flavours, it makes a delicious side for hearty main courses but also works as a cool topping for spicy tacos or burgers.

It also happens to be super easy to put together, which makes it perfect for late summer or fall meals when you want to be outdoors enjoying the fantastic weather. 

The shining star of this slaw is jicama. I fell in love with this root vegetable in Mexico where it’s a popular as a street food. There it’s served in cups or plastic bags and comes topped with Tajin, the spicy seasoning made with chile peppers, lime and sea salt. 

I’d keep bowls of jicama in the refrigerator to enjoy as a healthy snack. It’s especially delicious sprinkled with the rosemary-infused sea salt from Oaxaca, Mexico.

This recipe is inspired by those hot sunny Mexican days when you crave something light and nutritious but want it ready in a flash. 

What is Jicama?  

First of all, what exactly is jicama? Pronounced (HEE-kah-ma), it’s a starchy root vegetable native to Mexico. It has a thin brown outer skin and white fresh.

Also known as the Mexican yam bean or Mexican turnip (pachyrhizus erosus), jicama is slightly sweet and tastes like a cross between a potato, a water chestnut and a pear. 

High in dietary fiber, vitamin C and other essential vitamins and minerals but low in calories, sugars and fats.  

It’s also a main ingredient in Ensalada de Nochebuena Salad, the traditional Mexican Christmas Eve Salad where it’s mixed with pomegranate seeds and oranges. 

Ingredients for Creamy Apple Jicama Slaw 

One of the things I love about this recipe is that it has just five main ingredients! 

• granny smith apples (or substitute crispin)
• jicama 
• Mexican crema (or  crème fraîche)
• light mayonnaise 
• parsley 

You’ll notice that unlike many other jicama slaw recipes, cabbage isn’t on this ingredient list! 

While I love cabbage in encurtidos (the lightly pickled mix of veggies  popular throughout Guatemala and El Salvador), raw cabbage can be tough for some people to digest.  This slaw recipe has no cabbage in it at all. 

An added benefit of this slaw when it comes to digestive health is that jicama contains a type of prebiotic fiber that supports beneficial gut bacteria. More good news! 

This creamy jicama slaw features crisp and tart Granny Smith apples to complement the sweetness of the jicama.  You can substitute a firm, mildly tart apple like a Crispin for the Granny Smith apples.  

Other ingredients include Mexican or Guatemalan crema (or crème fraîche if you can’t find crema) as well as a light mayonnaise. I always use Hellman’s Light Mayonnaise but you can use your own fave brand or even make your own.  

If you have leftover crema, use it up in this recipe for Sopa de Frijol – Guatemalan Black Bean Soup.  

Shopping for Jicama  

While jicama is available year-round, it’s best during its growing season of early fall to late spring. You can often find it in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. Just don’t get it confused with celiaric which is a similar colour but smaller and rounder. 

When choosing jicama, look for skin that’s firm and smooth. Avoid those that are cracked, soft, damaged or discoloured with spots.  

Jicama comes in all sizes. While it can be tempting to select an extra-large jumbo vegetable thinking they might be easiest to peel, your best option is to go for a medium-sized one.

Sometimes the colossal-sized jicama have a woody interior which is fine to stir-fry but is not ideal for grating raw into salads.  

How to Store Jicama 

In addition to its versatility, another beautiful thing about jicama (can you tell I’m a fan?) is that unlike a potato, it doesn’t discolour when cut.

This means you can cut it into pieces, place it inside a covered bowl and store it in your refrigerator for up to four days. How handy is that? 

To refresh it and remove any sticky moisture that’s accumulated, just give the sliced jicama a quick rinse before using.  

Step by Step Instructions for Making Creamy Apple Jicama Slaw 

*Note: Scroll down to see the full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Wash the jicama thoroughly, cut it in half lengthwise from the root to the stem.

2. Then peel off the brown skin and set the peeled jicama aside. I fine it easiest to use a sharp knife to peel the jicama but a vegetable peeler also works well. 

Insider’s Tip: Placing the cut side of the jicama down on your cutting board will help prevent it from slipping when you cut it. 

3. Wash, and cut the apples into 4 pieces and remove the seeds. 

Set the prepared jicama and apples aside while you set up your food processor or mandoline.

4. Place the shredding attachment onto your food processor or use a mandoline slicer.

5. Shred the sliced apples and then shred the jicama. You don’t need to wash the food processor in between as you’ll be mixing the ingredients anyway. 

6. Remove the shredded jicama and apple and pour into a large glass mixing bowl.

7. Add the chopped parsley and the salt and pepper to the bowl and mix lightly until combined.

8. Next add the mayonnaise and crema (or creme fraiche)  and stir gently until well combined. You want the jicama and apple to be coated evenly.

9. Adjust seasoning, garnish with sprigs of parsley and/or lime wedges. Serve immediately. 

Tips for Making this Mexican-inspired Apple and Jicama Slaw 

• This jicama salad is best served immediately because the fresh apples will discolour due to oxidization.
• Keep this slaw cold before serving as it contains dairy.  In hot weather, I like to place a salad on a frozen cooler pack (covered with a tea towel) to keep it crisp and chilled while serving.   
• To prep in advance, peel and cut the jicama up to four days in advance. Rinse and drain before grating. 
• Don’t be afraid to mix this recipe up by adding toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds), cilantro or lime juice as you like. 
• For a slightly spicy hit, sprinkle the slaw with Tajín, the classic Mexican lime chili seasoning, before serving.  
• If you have extra apples, try our recipe for Spiced Apple Cider Mojito! 
• Serve this slaw with a Classic Margarita Cocktail, Pepian de Pollo (Chicken in Spicy Red Sauce), Grilled Steak in Beer Marinade and Black Beans with Rice.

If You Liked This Green Apple Jicama Slaw, You’ll Love These Recipes

• Salpicon de Res – Guatemalan Shredded Beef, Mint and Radish Salad 
• Quick and Easy Guacamole 
• Mango and Black Bean Salsa 

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