It's the 1st of June 2025

~ Happy June 2025 ~

May the month ahead be a good one for you

In previous years regular readers will know I usually start each month with facts about the coming month ahead. This year however, a break with tradition, which I hope you are enjoying because the first of each month will feature a lower carb recipe starting with the first letter of that particular month ... so here we go as it's now June and the sixth month of the year!

J is for ? can you guess ?

Yes, I am talking about Jicama !

Jicama is a root vegetable with thick, brown skin and white flesh. It tastes like an apple but not as sweet. It’s a bit like a potato but with a lot fewer carbs. The jicama plant grows mostly in Mexico and Central America on a long vine. But the part you eat is the root.

On the outside, jicama looks like a light brown beet. Inside, it looks and feels like a raw potato, but doesn't taste like one. It's crisp and slightly sweet, like an apple. But jicama doesn't brown like an apple after you cut it.

Jicama is a root vegetable from Mexico and Central America, known for its thick brown skin and crisp, white flesh that tastes mildly sweet, kind of like an apple. It's low in carbs and calories, making it a healthy alternative to potatoes. Rich in fibre, vitamin C, and antioxidants, it offers numerous health benefits, such as aiding digestion, boosting the immune system, and supporting heart health.

You can prepare and eat it in lots of different ways, such as raw with seasonings, pickled, or cooked in dishes such as stews or stir-fries. When storing, keep unpeeled jicama in a cool, dry place for up to 3 weeks, while peeled jicama should be refrigerated and used within a week.

These can grow up to 50 pounds! But the small ones are the best to eat. Jicama (pronounced HEE-kuh-muh or HIH-kuh-muh) goes by many other names, including: Chinese potato, Mexican potato, Mexican yam, Mexican yam bean, Mexican water chestnut, Mexican turnip, Leafcup

Safe for blood sugar - if you are watching your blood sugar and insulin, jicama is a safe snack. It has carbs with a low glycemic load, which means the carbs don't affect your blood sugar very much.

Please keep in mind that while jicama's high fibre content is generally a good thing, people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may want to limit how much jicama they eat.

More to read here

It's not always easy to find jicama in the UK but it's worth looking at specialized grocery stores, online retailers, and potentially at larger supermarket chains with international food sections.

In the UK and Europe we tend to use celeriac as a lower carb swap from potatoes and it's also tasty in slaws. It is similar to jicama and I wrote about in 2022 in this post here

Jicama and Strawberry Salad

Light and refreshing this jicama and strawberry salad is the perfect low carb accompaniment

to roast meat or fish. And doesn't it look pretty!

Recipe details can be seen here

In case you missed last months (May) post you can see it here

You will see a variety of articles and recipe ideas within this blog, and not all may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan