Have you ever “riced” a vegetable before? Usually people start with cauliflower when they make something into a rice, but I wanted a delicate and crisp flavor for this tabouli.
Enter the Jicama Tabouli! Gluten-free, grain-free, vegan friendly, and easily raw vegan by replacing the garbanzo beans with hemp seeds or just omitting all together. When I made this salad I wasn’t sure if it was going to end up being a side dish or my lunch because I didn’t know how filling it would be without the grain. Let me tell you, this is SO filling. I was full all day from this meal. Jicama has high water content and the garbanzo beans have a lot of protein. If you are doing a heavy activity, you may want to consider eating with some pita, crackers, falafel, olives, stuffed grape leaves or whatever you like, but with my normal day, this was really quite filling!
I was shy about making this dish because I have never riced a vegetable before. I was reading a couple blogs and there are so many methods. But I wanted to find a shortcut. The Vitamix (have I told you how much I use that thing?) has provided the way! All you have to do is fill up the blender with 3 cups of water, turn it on “1” speed, and start putting chunks of jicama down the chute in the lid. When it looks like everything is pretty well chopped, you drain it with a fine-mesh strainer and press the water out. That’s it! If you don’t have a high-speed blender, the food processor will work just fine. The best part is once you get used to relying on vegetables and fruits as your focus, you can start getting creative!
I found a couple blogs that do a good job explaining alternate “ricing” methods:
Inspiralized
What’s Cooking America
Jicama, or a mexican turnip or mexican potato, is a tuber vegetable and is one of those foods that I’m always shocked when someone says they’ve never heard of it. Not so much because I’m shocked when people don’t know random foods, but it proves that jicama is so rarely given credit for the plethora of nutrition you’ll find inside. In one medium jicama you will find 32 grams of fiber, 4.7 grams of protein, and an awesome lineup of nutrients:
221% Vitamin C
22% Iron
19% Magnesium
15% B-6
2% Vitamin A
7% Calcium
It is also high in anti-inflammatories, and is known to reduce wheezing in asthma sufferers. It is a prebiotic (it has inulin) that promotes healthy bacteria in your gut…AND it may help you build collagen for fighting those wrinkles! Shocked yet? How ever did you live without eating this like every day of your life? I prefer eating this vegetable raw and usually chopped in sticks. It dips well in hummus or eaten like a salad tossed in lime and salt. It’s kind of like a water chestnut that is a bit sweeter, which is awesome because it absorbs the flavors around it very well.
I did research for you when it’s in season, which is fall-spring, so it’s almost out of season for those of you that don’t live close to Mexico. Buy it fast!! I think you’ll love it as much as I do.
Ingredients
- 1 large jicama
- 3 cucumbers, chopped
- 3 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 cup mint, minced or chopped
- 1 cup parsley (I used flat leaf), minced or chopped
- 1/4 cup vidalia sweet onion (optional)
- 1 15 oz. can of garbanzo beans (optional, if raw vegan use hemp seeds or omit)
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 lemons, juiced
- 1-2 Tbsp Rice Vinegar (I like a little more acid and use 2 tbsp)
- 1 clove garlic, pressed, smashed or grated
- freshly ground pepper to taste
- salt to taste (I use between 1/8-1/4 tsp)
Instructions
- Peel and chop your jicama into 1/4-sized chunks (about the size of the hole in the blender lid or shoot)
- Fill up the blender with 3 cups of water
- Drop the jicama chunks in one at a time while blending on "1" and up to a "3" speed to chop for 15-30 seconds. Use the plunger if needed.
- Strain water out with the fine mesh strainer
- Put the jicama into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients
- Mix the dressing ingredients together and pour over the tabouli
- Toss and serve!
I have to say, this recipe is one of your most tempting. I do not have a problem with grain, but in general am cutting down on wheat anyway. I love jicama and live nowhere near Mexico, so I am hoping my little, local Mexican grocery is “closer” with the Mexico vendors than I am. 🙂 I can’t wait to try this. It looks so refreshing and beautiful.
Marjorie Stradinger recently posted…A pause for the comma
Thanks so much Marjorie! You might be able to find it at your regular store still. I always see Whole Foods having a great selection as well.
Foodscape recently posted…Gluten-Free Tabouli (grain-free, raw vegan, vegan)
Wow! That is one loaded salad. Earlier ignorant about jicama, I learned something new today. Thank you, Michaell.
apsara recently posted…Spicy Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins for DFT
I confess, I have never even heard of a jicama, but after reading the healthy benefits, I am eager to try! I need help fighting wrinkles these days (unfortunately) alongside acne. It’s a fun time, ha. I love parsley too!! It’s so fresh.
I finally followed an exact recipe. So glad I did. Wow. I made enough for two meals for two of us, served banana walnut muffins on the side for hubby, and also gave him some leftover roasted chicken, since he isn’t quite there yet on the raw vegan whole meal idea. He loved it. I loved my non-chicken portion. I found jicama at my Big Y regular grocery store and bought two. I also stopped at my little Mexican grocery in walking distance to my home, and he said, “Oh thanks for reminding me to put it on my purchase order,” and he promised to have it next time I stopped in.
Jicama is heavenly. I love it raw, in salads, and will now try it with lime and salt. Wrinkles be gone!!
Thanks Michaell.
Marjorie Stradinger recently posted…The Albrecht’s – Grocery wisdom