Rutabaga VS Jicama Two Very Delicious, Versatile Veggies

Are rutabagas really underappreciated? Sure they can be tough to digest (and sometimes don’t taste too great), but they provide lots of health benefits. Rutabagas also contain high amounts of potassium, vitamin C, fiber, calcium, folate, iron, and beta carotene. And here are 3 ways to cook them!

A cross between broccoli and turnip, rutabaga was once considered a weed. They can be found growing wildly along roadsides throughout North America during late summer and fall.

They can be eaten raw or cooked. The sweetest variety is often called white cabbage, and it’s very easy to prepare. Rutabaga can be boiled whole, steamed, sauteed, grilled, roasted, mashed, sliced into fritters, baked, pickled, fried, and added to soups and stews.

Rutabaga vs Jicama

Rutabagas are related to cabbage but not quite as big. They usually do not require peeling and the skin looks similar to that of a turnip. They are very rich in vitamins A, C and K, fiber, potassium, iron, magnesium and vitamin B6. Its white flesh is delicious raw or cooked, and it tastes similar to celery root or parsnips. It is available year round and grows well in cool weather. Jicamas are tubular roots that resemble potatoes and radishes. They are eaten raw in salads or pickled. They are low in calories and fat, and they contain lots of nutrients, especially vitamin C and beta carotene.

[su_youtube_advanced url = “https://youtu.be/DkREjCAbt_8” controls = “no” rel = “no” fs = “no” modestbranding = “yes”]

Jicama has many uses other than being served in salads. Roasted jicama chips are crispy and crunchy and great for dipping while roasted sweet potato wedges are tender and moist. Jicama is also used in Asian dishes such as stir-fries, soups, and curries.

The best way to enjoy these vegetables is by eating them raw. If you want to make them more palatable, try roasting them at 400 degrees F until tender. You can also boil them, steam them, grill them, or slice them thinly and add them to salads.

Taste and texture

Jicama is a root vegetable that has a mild flavor and is slightly sweet and crunchy, so it’s called Mexican potato. The starchy flesh has a nutty flavor, whereas the crunchy texture of the jicama has a slight moisture, much like a savory pear or a crisp apple

Most people usually discard the skin of vegetables because of its tough, fibrous texture, but it is edible. The roots of the plant contain a toxic element called rotenone. However, the seeds, leaves, and stems do not contain any toxic elements.

Rutabagas have an earthy, mildly peppery flavor that’s a tiny little bit sweet and a tiny little bit bitter. To explain it better: combine the slight zestiness of a radish, earthiness of turnips, and mildness of a cabbage, and you will be left with the taste of a ruta baga.

Raw rutabaga remains crispy and crunchy, but is also mild and sweet when eaten raw. They taste sweet, just like potatoes. It’s a root vegetable, but you can eat its leaves just like most other leafy vegetables.

Appearance

Jicama has a round shape that resembles that of rutabagas, but it comes with tough skin like a brown bag or ginger root skin. Jicama has a white interior that’s crisp and crunchy like water chestnuts, potatoes, or apples.

[su_youtube_advanced url = “https://youtu.be/91B4I1UVjTc” controls = “no” rel = “no” fs = “no” modestbranding = “yes”]

Rutabagas can be round, but they’re usually orb-shaped, too. They can also be a bit longer than they are wide. Rutabagas are usually purple on the outside.

A purple color usually covers nearly one-half of the vegetable, just like a turnip with a purple top. The remaining skin of this vegetable is a light yellow color.

How to cook Rutabaga?

Cooking rutabagas takes longer than other vegetables because they are thick and dense. To get started cooking rutabagas you need a stove top and a pot big enough to hold them comfortably. Remove the outer leaves from the rutabagas. Rinse the rutabagas in cold water and cut them into 1 inch slices. Place them in a pot that has been filled halfway with water and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let them simmer uncovered until tender but not falling apart. It usually takes about 30 minutes. Drain any excess moisture after removing them from the pan. Serve warm with butter and salt and pepper.

How to cook Jicama?

Jicama is popularly known as ‘Mexican potato’ because it resembles a potato but tastes mildly sweet and crunchy. It is a tuberous root vegetable that comes from China and Japan. This is a very nutritious and healthy food source rich in dietary fiber, iron, potassium, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and riboflavin among others. It is usually eaten raw although it is sometimes cooked.

To prepare jicamas for cooking, wash them thoroughly under running water. Cut off the ends of the jicamas and peel away the rough skin. Slice them into thin strips. You may use either a knife or a mandolin slicer. If using a knife, make sure to slice them thinly. Cook them in boiling water for 5 minutes. Then drain them well and serve immediately.

How to store Rutabagas & Jicama?

Store rutabagas in a cool dry place. Keep them in their original packaging so they don’t lose their freshness. Store them in your refrigerator if they are going to be used within 2 days.

Keep jicamas in a plastic container in the refrigerator. Use them within 3 days. The best way to enjoy these veggies is by adding them to salads, sandwiches, wraps, soups, stir fries, etc.

Rutabagas are a root vegetable related to turnips and swedes. They are usually white in color but can be purple, yellow, red, or even black. Rutabagas are available year-round and are harvested in the fall. They are typically used in soups, stews, and casseroles.

Jicama is a root vegetable that looks similar to a turnip but tastes very different. It is a member of the bean family and is related to common beans, lima beans, and edamame. It is a starchy root vegetable that has a crisp texture and sweet flavor. It is used in salads, soups, and stir-fries. It is available year-round and is usually sold in Asian markets.

The root vegetables are both Rutabagas and Jicama, and this is why they are sometimes mistaken. They both come from similar botanical origins and recall chalk very much and are versatile vegetables. In fact, one is like potatoes and the other resembles radishes. They both serve distinct goals and are characterized by several similitudes and differences, like each other vegetable out there. Walk down in Rutabaga Vs Jicama for a better perspective.

Rutabaga Vs Jicama

Rutabaga is a root vegetable that looks similar to turnips but is sweeter and milder in flavor. It is usually eaten raw in salads or cooked as a side dish.

Jicama is a type of root vegetable that resembles a long cucumber. It is used in many Asian dishes such as stir-fry, salad, soup, and even desserts. Both rutabaga and jicama are delicious vegetables that can be served alone or combined with other ingredients. The two have some similarities and also share their own unique qualities. Both Rutabaga and Jicama are members of the same plant family called Cruciferae. This means that these veggies belong to the cabbage group. These plants produce flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, stems, roots, bulbs, tubers, and rhizomes.

Taste and texture

Both Rutabaga and Jiccama taste great when you eat them fresh. However, if you want to preserve its nutrients then it’s best to store them properly.

You should keep your rutabaga away from direct sunlight because it will lose vitamin C content over time. If you don’t know how to store your rutabaga, then just put it into an airtight container and place it on top shelf at room temperature. Jicamas are somewhat sweet and crunchy, called ‘Mexican Potato’ due to their flexibility and mild flavour. The stark flesh is nutty, and the crunchy texture of jicama is just like a savoury pear or a tangy apple and has a little moisture.

The vegetable peel can be eaten, but the rough, fibrous fabrics typically reject it for the most part. The seeds, leaves and stalks, while the root is the only dietary component of this plant, contain a poisonous rotenone ingredient. Rutabagas come with a small little bit sweet and tiny little bitter taste, somewhat spicy. Combine the mild radish, the terrestrial touch of towels and the sweetness of a chicken together to make this clearer – and you’ll feel the rutabaga.

Even after cooking, rutabagas stay crunchy, sweeter, and crispy, whereas when consumed crude. When cooked, they like a rich potato and taste sweet. Although it is a vegetable root, its leaves may also be used as most leafy greens.

Appearance

A rutabaga is a round-shaped root vegetable that grows up to 1 foot tall. Its skin is light green in color and covered with fine hairs. A rutabaga’s shape is oval and slightly flattened. On average, it weighs about 2 pounds.

It has a white interior and a yellow exterior. The inside is soft and tender, while the outside is firm and crisp. Jicama is one of the longest vegetables around. It measures between 3 inches and 4 feet long. It is often referred to as Mexican potatoes since it is so flexible and easy to cut.

Jicama’s spherical shape is similar to rutabaga, but it has rough skin that looks like a brown paper bag or ginger root. When you peel back the jicama, it reveals a crunchy and crispy white interior, similar to water chestnut, pommy, or apple. While rutabagas can be round at times, they are more often orbic, and can even be a little longer. On the exterior, rutabaga is usually purple. Almost like a toboggan with a violet top, the purple hue covers nearly half of the veggies. The remainder of the vegetable’s skin has a white-yellow color.

Growing environments that are ideal

For growing rutabagas include: full sun, fertile soil, well drained soils, and moderate temperatures. They prefer cool weather conditions during summertime. In warmer climates, they grow better in cooler areas where there is less heat.

Only in warm areas can Jicama be grown. It originates from Mexico, but it is cultivated in several different regions of the world nowadays. Generally sown with seeds, jicama is best cultivated in regions that are moderately rainy and frost sensitive. If it is seed sown, jicama roots need to be collected for five to nine months.

Rutabaga roots, however, are best ripened in chilly weather circumstances, when they are called to be planted on time to mature while the weather remains cool. In chilly areas, or as winter crop in warm areas, Rutabagas are excellent for an autumn crop. The plant takes from the time it is sown to harvest for 80 to 100 days.

Shelf life & storage

When stored properly, rutabagases will last two weeks if kept away from sunlight. However, once exposed to direct sunlight, their lifespan decreases by 50 percent within 24 hours.

To keep them fresh, store them in plastic bags in your refrigerator. You should not wash them before storing because washing removes nutrients. Both jicama and rutabaga are quite similar to this and must be dry. Both must be stored unpacked at cool room or fridge temperatures. If moisture is free, it will last for up to one week and it will last for around 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator at room temperature. Use plastic wrap to securely cover rutabagas and jicamas after sliced.

They vary from one other because rutabagas are kept in cold darkness like onions or potatoes for up to a week. Jicamas will probably lose their firmness if they do so, therefore it is advisable to keep them in the refrigerator.

Jicama and rutabaga preparation

Both vegetables have very versatile uses. For example, both can be used raw in salads, cooked into soups, stir fries, casseroles, stews, etc., or added to dips such as guacamole. Ripe rutabagas also make great mashed potato substitutes.

You may slice either rutabaga or jicama thinly using a mandolin slicer or vegetable peeler. This tool makes thin slices without tearing the vegetable. To prepare rutabagas, peel off the outer layer first then cut into strips. Cut each strip lengthwise into long pieces. Then you could chop these pieces into smaller cubes.

You might want to use a knife to remove any tough strings from the outside of the rutabaga. After slicing, rinse the rutabaga under running water until all dirt comes out. Rinse again and pat dry with paper towels.

Cooking with jicama

Jicama is mainly used as a raw garnish or as the main element of major salads. Some people appreciate a raw snack, including cubed, julienne, or sliced carrots and radishes. It is popular as a vegetable and salad ingredient because, unlike apples and pommes, it does not oxidise or go brown after it is sliced.

Culinary uses include:

• Sliced jicama salad

• Stir fry with tofu

• Add to salsa verde

• Make chips

• Slice and add to tacos

• Chop finely and mix with beans

• Mix with rice noodles

• Mash with eggs

• Serve as crudités

• Toss with pasta

• Dip in hummus

• Eat raw

Cooking with Rutabaga

The most common way to cook rutabagas is boiling. They take about 30 minutes to boil. When cooking rutabagas whole, place them in a large pot filled with enough water to completely submerge the root end. Bring the water to a rolling boil over high heat.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes. Drain well and serve hot. The favorite approach to appreciate it is to cook and mash cruciferous vegetables as a low-carbon alternative to potatoes. You may slice the rutabaga into fried food and throw the slices into the air-fryer or just dice them and serve your sauces or cook them in a food processor.

Rutabagas are as wonderful when roasted to add carrots, beets, onions, parsnips and celery roots to a roasted veggie plate. Rutabaga may also be stewed to make heartfelt soups, such as chicken soup, beef barley and many more. Its flexible structure includes baking, frying, boiling, braising, grilling, pickling, mashing, pureeing, roasting, sautéing, searing, under-viding and other cooking techniques.

Conclusion

This was everything about rutabaga and jicama. I hope you understood how they are different and how can you use them.