Hi Guys! Happy Monday! Hope you had a great weekend.
I’m starting a new series on the blog. Healthy Food Substitutions! I want to share with you healthy, delicious and easy swaps you can make in your diet to eat less saturated fat and lower calories.
This series is inspired by my Mom. Since her heart surgery, she’s asked me a lot of questions about what she should eat and shouldn’t eat. Actually it surprised me that after her surgery there was no focus from the medical professionals on her lifestyle and eating. Unfortunately, I believe that is the norm and not the exception.
First victim of food substitutions….french fries. French fries are usually fried with unhealthy oils and bathed in salt. They are high in satured fat and calories. Translation – no good for dieters or your health.
Years ago I read that a 1/2 cup of white potatoes spikes blood sugar more rapidly than a tsp of sugar and it stuck in my head forever. Truth be told, I still eat potatoes but very infrequently –> moderation.
What if I told you that you can eat something that tastes like french fries from a vegetable that is high in fiber and low in calories? That’s right, you can! Allow me to introduce you to jicama. I was introduced to jicama while working in Mexico years ago and love it.
Jicama is a cross between a turnip and bean. According to this source, it’s a Mexican yam bean. To prepare a jicama, you remove the skin using a vegetable peeler. It can be a tough and you may need to put some muscle into it.
Next thinly slice the in half jicama.
Then slice into flat rounds, about 1/2 inch thick.
Then cut into strips like fries.
Lay the jicama strips on a prepared baking sheet and season.
Mix the seasonings in a bowl. Then toss it in a mixing bowl with the jicama and extra virgin olive oil.
This is how they look after baking. These are deeeelicious! They look and taste like french fries. Sprinkle with salt and lime juice when they come out of the oven.
I served mine with a plain greek yogurt. The cool and spicy was yum! Hope you enjoy!
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Baked Jicama Fries
Oven baked jicama fries! Healthy fries baked in 20 minutes and delicious. Paleo + Gluten Free + Low Calorie
Ingredients
- 1 large jicama cut into thin slices
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tbsp lime juice
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 F. Prepare a baking dish with parchment paper.
Place jicama sliced in a large mixing bowl with the extra virgin olive oil and seasonings.
Bake 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from the oven then sprinkle with salt and lime juice.
Recipe Notes
A serving would be 1/3 of the recipe. The amount per cup will depend on the size of your jicama.
Meal Plans
Get a meal plan designed to meet your weight loss goals.
adore jicama! This is a great food that so many don’t use, love the recipe.Totally pinning it!!!
Thanks for sharing on #bestfoot today would love if you linked back to help spread the word.
These look really great! I never order french fries at restaurants, but I am guilty of stealing a few off the plate of my friend.
This looks absolutely delicious! French fries are my biggest weakness. I have to ask, are jicamas easy to find in the grocery store?
It depends where you live. Most places in the south and west have them in the grocery store. If you live somewhere else, you might try a specialty food market or even a farmer’s market.
I love jicama. These fries look so delicious! Great idea!
I’ve never tried jicama but I’ve heard good things! I should pick one up soon and try it out, thanks for sharing. I’m excited about this new series 🙂
I’m a sucker for a good french fry! Thank you for an alternative. I’m looking forward to giving it a try! #bestfoot
Jicama is one of my favorites! I recently used it to make a #strangebutgood porridge, but it’s awesome as nachos too! And fires, obv. 🙂
I am a serious Potato-aholic! I probably eat a 5 potatoes a week haha. Its excessive. But I need the carbs for training. I love this substitute though. Definitely going to try this next week!
I’ve never tried jicama before, but they sound delicious. Usually I make sweet potato fries or I bake my white potatoes using olive oil, as opposed to frying them in a vegetable oil. That always helps. I’ve also seen baked carrot fries, which look pretty cool.
these look great! however its actually the fat that spikes blood sugar not the carbs/sugar in potatoes and fruit. its a misconception! french fries are more a fat than a carb (after being fried) so its best to keep a low fat diet high carb diet and your mom will be fine! look up 801010 diet or dr furman x
I’ll try these, I promise. BUT our favorite summer treat in place of french fries is actually oven-roasted okra!
Kind of like kale chips to potato chips. “Okra fries” feel greasy and salty, crispy on the outside and gushy on the inside. Plus, no cutting required. You just toss whole okra in a bit of olive oil, throw it in a single layer in a large cast iron pan. Cook on fairly high heat (I do 400 if nothing else is in the oven. Otherwise, I cook it at whatever it’s at and then broil or 450 it at the end to get it crispy.) Toss with sea salt and dip in your favorite dip. I like yogurt & horseradish or vegan mayo with harissa.
That okra recipe sounds so good. I need to try that!