Skip to main content

Jícama, Beet, and Árbol Chile Slaw

Jícama, a Mexican root vegetable with the crispness of a raw potato, but with a sweeter taste, adds great crunch to this simple salad, which gets a lift from the unexpected addition of soy sauce and sesame oil to the dressing. My great-grandmother used beet coloring as lipstick and as blush. Here I add beets not only for their vibrant color but also for crunch.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

1/4 cup soy sauce
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 fresh árbol chile, stemmed, seeded, and cut into rings
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups shredded peeled jícama (from 1 small jícama)
3 medium raw beets, peeled and shredded
1 cup thinly sliced peeled seeded cucumber

Preparation

  1. Mix the soy sauce, lime juice, sesame oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar, and árbol chile in a medium bowl. Season the dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Toss the jícama, beets, and cucumber with the dressing to combine. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Serve cold.

Fresh Mexico
Read More
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Punchy, make-ahead chimichurri adds a bright, fresh finish to this easy summer dinner.
With a crisp crust, garlicky mayo, and a juicy slice of tomato.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Attention, martini drinkers and spritz drinkers: Please for a single line.
Use the beer, not the can, for this citrusy take on a classic that nods to mojo criollo.
Loosely inspired by pasta Amatriciana, a few pounds of zucchini stand in for tomatoes.