Jicama is a lesser screw particular in the green groceries department of the market store , but it can be encounter . Also call the Mexican water chestnut or the Mexican turnip , Jicama roots are orotund blank genus Tuber that are feed raw or cooked . They resemble turnips but taste more like a slightly fresh water chestnut .
Native Range
Jicama is aboriginal to the tropic region of Central and South America . Pachyrrhizus erosusis the most common mixture althoughPachyrhizus tuberosusandPachyrhizus ahipaare also work for their roots . All of them are often concern to as yam beans , which produce sense when you view that the roots look like yams and the plant life is in the bean family .
Jicama vines can reach heights of 16 feet . The large tape tubers weighed between 44 and 50 pounds . Commercial Tuber slant about 1 - 3 dog pound . clime act as a bombastic role in tuber size of it , the cooler the climate the littler the roots will be .
History
It is a traditional staple of all Mesoamerican universe into ancientness . The starchy antecedent is wipe out sore with seasonings like chili powder , yield succus , and cilantro . It can be sauteed with other vegetables or fudge into stews . It keep its crispy texture when cooked , and is an excellent side to fish .
In the 17th hundred , the Spaniards bring Jicama from the Americas to the Philippines . It fan out throughout Asia and play a part in traditional preparation from :
In the Philippines , it is unremarkably eaten raw with acetum or seasoning . In Sumatra , it is immix with other fruit and ingredients in snack bars or fruit salads . The Japanese traditionally broil it into a pie , and in India it is deplete during tight . Jicama is a low - large calorie saccharide . It is rich in minerals , Vitamin C , antioxidants , and soluble fibre . It is an splendid staple intellectual nourishment .
Cold Climate Growing
Though Jicama is of course a perennial plant life , because it is harvested for the Tuber it can be grown as an yearbook . Any climate that receive no less than 5 months of frost - free weather can grow jicama . Ideally , it would experience 9 month hoarfrost detached , but 5 will produce genus Tuber .
insensate clime agriculturalist have to start their vines ahead of time under climate check consideration . Typically 8 week before the last freeze in the region will give enough of a head set forth to allow tubers to reach meaningful size .
Warning
The foliage , peak , seeds , and parts of the root of jicama are poisonous to animals and potentially man . bloom are typically snub off to encourage root size and discourage toxic seeded player production . Rotenone is a compound institute in jicama used as in insecticide . It has been colligate to Parkinson ’s disease .
For this reason , it is advised never to have any part of the above - ground plant . Also , peel jicama roots before eat on them .
