Everyday Recipe Menu

Orange-Jicama Salad

Description

This colorful salad uses jicama, a crunchy and sweet root vegetable common to Latin countries. The pairing with oranges and cilantro gives it a distinctive Mexican flair. It would be a wonderful salad to serve with Vegetarian Chili or your favorite Mexican meal. During the winter holidays, add some pomegranate seeds to make it even more festive.

Food as Medicine

Low-calorie, fat-free and high in vitamin C, jicama also contains a polysaccharide (linked group of simple sugars) known as inulin, which research has indicated improves calcium absorption in bones, possibly helping to prevent osteoporosis.

Ingredients

4 cups jicama, peeled and julienned

2 oranges, sectioned

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1/3 cup fresh orange juice

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Mix the jicama, orange sections, and chopped cilantro in a bowl.

2. Whisk together the remaining ingredients, toss with the jicama-orange mixture, season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve.

Serves 4

Nutrients Per Serving
Calories: 125.7 
Protein: 1.8 grams
Fat: 3.6 grams 
Saturated Fat: 0.5 grams 
Monounsat Fat: 2.5 grams
Polyunsat Fat: 0.4 grams 
Carbohydrate: 23.2 grams
Fiber: 7.7 grams
Cholesterol: 0.0 mg
Vitamin A: 336.5 IU
Vitamin E: 1.2 mg/IU
Vitamin C: 80.9 mg 
Calcium: 52.9 mg
Magnesium: 26.9 mg