Blood Orange and Jicama Salad is a refreshing mix of juicy citrus and crunchy jicama — it’ll make you forget all about the mid-February blues and give you a healthy dose of Vitamin C!
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A simple salad like this is hardly a recipe at all, and that’s my favorite kind of thing to share with you —ย anybody can arrange a glorious plate with hardly any effort or planning at all. Just be sure to grab blood oranges the next time you spot them. If you can’t find them, substitute any great orange you can get your hands on. This is a splashy salad for entertaining (hint: Valentine’s Day is Sunday)ย but the family will appreciate it too.
I’ve talked about blood oranges so often here on TFVGI, I’ve roasted them, juiced them, baked them, and even frozen them, but I haven’t talked much about jicama. I wonder why I don’t use this wonderful vegetable more often, it’s cheap, easy to peel and slice, and hardly has any calories at all, not to mention an awesome fresh crunch! It a root vegetable that looks like a large round potato, and once you peel it you can use the entire thing because there are no seeds. But unlike a potato, you enjoy it raw — it has a light crisp texture and a slightly sweet starchy flavor. It slices up easily into matchsticks, and if you have any leftover they’re perfect for dipping into hummus.
I like to add some kind of leafy green for contrast, in this case baby spinach leaves, but you could use arugula, baby kale, or even basil. The oranges are sweet, and the jicama is neutral, so I ‘dressed’ the salad with a drizzle of really special vinegar. I’m always looking for ways to use my favorite O Orange Blossom Vinegar — I think the flavor is so unique, and it brings just the right amount of acidity to the salad. O advertises their vinegars as ‘drinkable’, and I agree. For this one they crush California orange blossoms right along with champagne grapes and I just love it. If you’ve ever smelled an orange blossom you’ll have some idea of how unbelievable this is.
I love working with blood oranges because each one is unique. They can range from deep blood red (look for the name Moro on the sticker) to a bright or rosy orange. Some of them are mottled with both colors and you never know for sure what you’re going to get until you slice into them. The flavor of a blood orange is sweeter and less acidic than regular oranges, I think it tastes a little bit like raspberry — it’s really very pleasing.
Blood Orange and Jicama Salad
Ingredients
- 4 blood oranges
- 1 small jicama
- handful of baby spinach leaves
- salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
- O Orange Blossom Vinegar
Instructions
- Slice the oranges into 1/8 - 1/4 inch slices. Trim the rind with a small sharp knife or scissors. Remove any seeds.
- Peel the jicama and slice itinto 1/4 inch slices. Cut the slices into thin matchsticks.
- Arrange the slices of orange on a platter along with the spinach leaves. Scatter the jicama sticks on top, and season with salt and pepper.
- Just before serving, drizzle with the vinegar.
notes:
- I sliced my oranges on my mandoline slicer, but in this case a sharp knife would be fine too. I slice the oranges first and then use clean sharp scissors to cut the peel off.
- If you slice the jicama ahead of time, keep it moist under a damp paper towel.
- Whole Jicama should be stored in a cool dry place, just like potatoes. Don’t refrigerate.
- O Olive Oil & Vinegar has a great selection of gourmet vinegars, here.
Don’t forget to pin this delicious Blood Orange and Jicama Salad!
Melissas Blood Oranges from Amazon
23 Comments
Foodiewife
March 1, 2016 at 12:20 pmI love jicama (I love water chestnuts, too) because of their crunch. This is a beautiful salad, and one that I definitely would like to make. I’m going to look for the orange blossom vinegar. It sounds delightful. I think I’ve seen it, but I can’t remember where.
Sue
March 1, 2016 at 7:45 pmI hope you track down the vinegar Debby, you’ll love it <3
Barbara | Creative Culinary
February 21, 2016 at 11:17 amThis is just beautiful; almost too pretty to eat…but I would!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
February 16, 2016 at 5:18 amWow, what a gorgeous salad Sue! It’s so cold here, so it totally brightens my day and makes me think of spring!
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February 15, 2016 at 7:54 pmLove the colors, it looks amazing. Thanks for your sharing!This is a wonderful summertime recipe, and goes so well with barbeque, a super palate cleansing deliciousness.
Kolay Yemek Tarifleri
February 15, 2016 at 12:59 pmThanks for this different salad.
Sue
February 15, 2016 at 6:14 pmYou’re welcome Kolay, I’m always on the lookout for fun new salads.
sippitysup
February 15, 2016 at 8:44 amJicama and blood oranges share the same growing season and now they share a salad plare. Brilliant. GREG
Sue
February 15, 2016 at 6:15 pmIt takes a fellow Southern Californian to notice that, thanks Greg ๐
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
February 13, 2016 at 8:57 amYour gorgeous citrus salads are always the most beautiful “magazine cover worthy” photos ever. I need to try more jicama – and that vinegar sounds fabulous too!
Liz
February 12, 2016 at 6:59 pmI love the crunch of jicama, but like you, I don’t use it nearly enough! Your gorgeous salad has enticed me to put both oranges AND jicama on my shopping list ๐
Sue
February 15, 2016 at 6:17 pmI’m the same way, I pass it by too often.
cheri
February 12, 2016 at 5:53 pmGorgeous salad Sue, love the blood orange vinegar as well, did not know there was such a thing.
Sue
February 12, 2016 at 6:09 pmI didn’t know either Cheri until I discovered O Olive Oil, that’s the product that drew me in, what a scent!
2 sisters recipes
February 12, 2016 at 5:29 pmWhat a beautiful salad ! We love jicama and blood oranges and never thought of combining the two, genius sue!
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
February 12, 2016 at 5:17 pmSo gorgeous, Sue! This salad is exactly what I’m craving on this warm, spring-like Friday evening!
Adri
February 12, 2016 at 2:19 pmWhat a beautiful salad. With its vibrant color and brilliant hit of citrus, it is the perfect thing for the dead of winter. Brava!
Vicki
February 12, 2016 at 12:07 pmI love this salad! The color! The crunch! The flavor bursts! Thank you for posting this Sue; it’s a winner all the way around ๐
Diane {Created by Diane}
February 12, 2016 at 11:37 amThis is gorgeous, I just have to make it!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
February 12, 2016 at 7:06 amWhat stunning photos of this beautiful salad. I’ve only bought jicama a few times before, but thinking I need to pick some up soon, while blood oranges are still around ๐
Sue
February 12, 2016 at 7:37 amJicama is so plain looking it’s easy to pass right by ๐
Chris Scheuer
February 12, 2016 at 6:23 amBeautiful Sue! I love too that every time you slice open a blood orange, it’s a surprise!
Sue
February 12, 2016 at 7:38 amI love that too, my favorites are the two tone ones ๐