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    Home » Vegetable Recipes » Jicama Fries

    Jicama Fries

    Last updated: Oct 10, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

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    These flavorful jicama fries make a great alternative to French fries; preparing them is effortless!

    Simply microwave them briefly and then bake them in a hot oven. They will satisfy the need for a salty, savory snack.

    Jicama fries wrapped in paper and served on a white plate with a checkered napkin.

    These delicious fries are one of my favorite side dishes. While not exactly the same as French fries, they are delightful when served with ketchup or any other dip.

    To ensure they bake evenly, I first microwave them briefly to slightly soften them. This helps prevent them from remaining crunchy after they've been baked.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Variations
    • Jicama Fries Instructions
    • Expert Tip
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Storing Leftovers
    • More Chip and Fry Recipes
    • Recipe Card

    Ingredients

    The ingredients needed to make jicama fries.

    You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make these jicama fries. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    Raw jicama: You can buy it whole and prep it yourself or buy it pre-cut into strips. This is what the raw vegetable looks like:

    Raw jicama on a white plate.

    When I started making this recipe in 2014, I had to peel and slice a whole jicama. It's not difficult to do, but now we also have the option to buy pre-sliced jicama sticks.

    As you can see in the photo below, the packaged sticks are sometimes fairly wide, so it's best to cut them thinner to better resemble the shape of French fries.

    Packaged jicama sticks.

    Olive oil: I love the flavor this delicious oil adds to the fries.

    To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.

    Variations

    • Use melted butter instead of olive oil. It's delicious!
    • You can vary your spices. Seasonings that work well in this recipe are ½ teaspoon of onion powder and ¼ teaspoon of ground cumin.
    • Make them spicy by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning.

    Jicama Fries Instructions

    The detailed instructions for making this recipe are listed in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps:

    You start by peeling the jicama and cutting it into strips. As mentioned above, you can also find it pre-cut in many grocery stores. Microwave the strips to make them somewhat tender, then dry them with paper towels.

    Raw jicama strips in a microwave-safe bowl.

    Toss the jicama sticks with olive oil and spices.

    Coating jicama fries with olive oil and spices.

    Arrange them in a baking dish.

    Jicama fries in a baking dish.

    Sometimes, I bake them together with other sturdy vegetables, such as cauliflower, as shown in the photo below:

    Jicama fries and cauliflower florets arranged on a baking sheet.

    Bake the jicama strips for about 40 minutes in a 400°F oven until they are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and golden brown.

    Jicama fries are ready in the pan.

    Serve them immediately with your dip of choice. Here, they are shown dipped in unsweetened ketchup:

    Jicama fries served with ketchup.

    Expert Tip

    Microwaving the jicama fries before baking them is optional. But if you don't microwave them first, the fries retain some of their crunch even when baked for a long time. I tried both versions, and we all liked the microwaved version better.

    Recipe FAQs

    What is jicama?

    Jicama is also called "Mexican yam" or "Mexican turnip." It's a root vegetable usually eaten raw with a sprinkle of lime juice. The raw vegetable has a mild flavor.

    Jicama resembles a potato, but it's crispy. Its taste resembles an apple or an unripe pear, but milder and not as sweet.

    When cooked, it becomes creamier, but it's still very mild, so it takes on the flavor of the seasonings you use.

    Can you use jicama instead of potatoes?

    Yes. It's a good substitute. But you should be aware that in terms of flavor and texture, it won't be exactly the same. These fries are delicious, but they lack the texture that only starchy potatoes can offer - crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

    Can you make jicama fries crispy?

    The challenge is not so much to get them crispy as to make them tender on the inside. They tend to remain crunchy on the inside even after you cook them for a long time.

    The method described here, of microwaving them first and then baking, is the best way I have found to get them relatively tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.

    Serving Suggestions

    Suggested Main Courses

    Jicama fries are very versatile! Just think of them as regular fries, and serve them with whatever dish you would serve with those. However, since I bake them in a 400°F oven, I like to serve them with a main course that I can bake in the same oven, such as:

    • Boneless chicken thighs
    • Crispy baked chicken thighs
    • Baked chicken drumsticks
    • Baked chicken wings
    • Baked hamburgers
    • Baked pork chops
    • Baked shrimp

    They are also a natural choice to serve with steak (think steak frites!), including New York strip steak, ribeye steak, and flat iron steak.

    Dipping Sauce Suggestions

    I usually serve jicama fries with unsweetened ketchup. My Dutch dad likes to dip them in mayonnaise. 😮 They are also excellent with guacamole or salsa, as shown in the photos below.

    Jicama fries served with guacamole.
    Jicama fries served with salsa.

    Storing Leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. Or better yet, re-crisp them in a low 250°F oven.

    Jicama fries wrapped in paper and served on a plate.

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    Recipe Card

    Jicama fries wrapped in a parchment paper cone.
    4.99 from 1100 votes
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    Jicama Fries

    These flavorful jicama fries make a great alternative to French fries; preparing them is effortless!
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time40 minutes mins
    Total Time55 minutes mins
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 165kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    Ingredients

    • 1 raw jicama about 1 pound
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt or ¼ teaspoon of any other salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a ceramic or glass baking dish (such as a 9 X 13-inch baking dish). Alternatively, use a rimmed baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.
    • Peel the jicama and cut it into ¼-inch-thick fries. Or use pre-sliced jicama strips, available at Whole Foods and in many grocery stores such as Kroger.
    • Place the jicama strips in a microwave-safe bowl. Add ¼ cup of water. Cover and microwave for 8 minutes, stopping once to gently stir. If I use a large jicama, I sometimes microwave it for up to 10 minutes, as shown in the video. But 8 minutes is usually enough.
    • Using oven mittens, remove the bowl from the microwave. Be careful when removing the cover - hot steam will escape. Remove the jicama strips to paper towels to dry. 
    • In a large bowl, toss the partially cooked jicama fries with olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Arrange them in a single layer in the prepared baking dish.
    • Bake until browned and tender-crisp, about 40 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Video

    Notes

    • The packaged sticks are sometimes fairly wide, so it's best to cut them thinner to better resemble the shape of French fries.
    • You can use melted butter instead of olive oil. 
    • Microwaving the jicama fries before baking them is optional. But if you don't microwave them first, the fries retain some of their crunch even when baked for a long time. I tried both versions, and we all liked the microwaved version better.
    • I usually serve jicama fries with unsweetened ketchup. My Dutch dad likes to dip them in mayonnaise. They are also excellent with guacamole or salsa. 
    • You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, covered, at 50% power. Or better yet, re-crisp them in a 250°F oven. 

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    Nutrition per Serving

    Serving: 0.5recipe | Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 285mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 2g
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    DisclaimersMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate, and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Lisa

      August 10, 2023 at 12:30 pm

      Would this work in an air fryer?

      Reply
      • Vered DeLeeuw

        August 10, 2023 at 12:59 pm

        I only tested this recipe in an oven.

        Reply

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered DeLeeuw. It features real food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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