Simply microwave them briefly, then bake them in a hot oven. They will satisfy the need for a salty, savory snack. If you love French fries but would like to try a good alternative, these delicious fries are a perfect choice. While not exactly the same as the original, they are very tasty and will satisfy that need for a salty, savory snack. When I started making this recipe, back in 2014, I had to peel and slice the jicama. It’s not at all difficult to do, but I’m still grateful that my life now is easier than ever - I buy pre-sliced jicama strips at Whole Foods. So all I need to do is briefly microwave them, then toss them in some olive oil and spices and bake!
Ingredients
You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make 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 by yourself, or buy it already cut into strips. Olive oil: I love cooking with this delicious oil. But if you worry about its relatively low smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead. Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you may want to reduce the amount you use, or the fries could turn out too salty. Spices: Garlic powder and smoked paprika. Make sure the spices you use are fresh - a stale spice can easily ruin a dish.
Instructions
So how do you make jicama fries? In this recipe, I start by microwaving the jicama strips to soften them. Then I add olive oil and spices and bake them in a hot oven until tender-crisp. The detailed instructions 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, these days you can also find it in many stores already cut into strips. Next, you microwave the strips to make them somewhat tender, then dry them with paper towels. Toss them with olive oil and spices, then bake for about 40 minutes in a 400°F oven.
Expert tip
Microwaving the fries prior to baking them is optional. But keep in mind that 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.
Frequently asked questions
Variations and substitutions
I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you’d like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:
Use melted butter instead of olive oil. It’s so delicious!You can vary your spices. Ones that work well in this recipe include onion powder and just a sprinkle of cumin.Make them spicy by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to the seasoning.
Recommended main dishes
Jicama fries are very versatile! Just think of them as regular fries, and serve them with whatever dish you would serve with those. A few examples from my own repertoire:
Keto fried fishPerfectly cooked steaksBaked chicken tenders
As for a dipping sauce, although it’s not strictly needed, you could try unsweetened ketchup. Or do as my Dutch dad does and dip them in mayonnaise. 😮And yet another tasty option is to dip them in guacamole.
Storing leftovers
You can keep the leftovers for 3-4 days in a sealed container in the fridge. You can reheat them in the microwave, covered, on 50% power. Or better yet, re-crisp them in a low oven.
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