Description
Zesty Xec is a refreshing and vibrant jicama and citrus salad that combines crisp jicama cubes with juicy oranges and sweet mandarin segments. Enhanced with a zesty lime and citrus dressing spiced with ground Piquin pepper and fresh cilantro, this salad offers a perfect balance of sweetness, tang, and a hint of heat, making it an ideal light and healthy appetizer or side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 1 medium jicama, peeled and diced into small cubes
- 4 small oranges, peeled, sliced into rounds, then quartered
- 3 medium mandarins, peeled and separated into segments, seeds removed if necessary
- 1 medium lime (zest and juice, divided)
- Salt, a pinch
Dressing Ingredients
- ¼ cup fresh orange juice
- ¼ cup fresh grapefruit juice
- Remaining juice from ½ lime
- 1 teaspoon ground Piquin pepper
- â…“ cup chopped cilantro leaves
Instructions
- Prepare Jicama: Peel and dice the jicama into small, bite-sized cubes. Immediately squeeze half of the lime juice over the jicama pieces to keep them fresh and prevent browning.
- Prepare Oranges: Peel the oranges, slice them into rounds, then cut each round into quarters. Add these pieces to a large mixing bowl with the jicama.
- Prepare Mandarins: Peel the mandarins and separate into individual segments. Remove any seeds if necessary. Add these segments to the bowl with jicama and oranges.
- Make Dressing: In a separate bowl, combine the fresh orange juice, fresh grapefruit juice, the remaining half of the lime juice, ground Piquin pepper, chopped cilantro, and a pinch of salt. Whisk everything together until well mixed.
- Toss the Salad: Pour the prepared citrus dressing over the jicama and citrus mixture. Gently stir to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill or Serve: You can refrigerate the salad for a couple of hours to allow flavors to meld and serve chilled, or serve immediately for a fresh, crisp experience.
Notes
- Use fresh citrus juices for the best flavor and brightness in the salad dressing.
- The ground Piquin pepper adds subtle heat; adjust to taste or substitute with chili powder if unavailable.
- This salad is best served chilled but is also delicious immediately after preparation.
- For extra crunch, consider adding thinly sliced jicama or a handful of toasted pepitas.
- To keep the jicama from browning, apply lime juice immediately after dicing.
