RCP: jicama, jalapeno and cucumber salsa

[Jenise]

A guest brought this brilliant fresh salsa to our July 4th party. It was hot and cool at the same time. Serve with tortilla chips (she chose a nacho cheese flavor which worked quite well which is worth mentioning for the purists like me who auto-select just the plain, salted chips).

1 large fat cucumber (approx 2 cups) diced cucumber, approx 1/4 - 1/3
inch cubes
2 cups peeled and diced jicama, same volume and diced size as cucumber
6 Tblsp lime juice
3 -4 Tblsp water
1-2 jalapenos, diced (depending on degree of heat; 1 jalapeno is mild,
2 is medium, and 3 is hot)
1/4 - 1/2 Tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/2 c coarsely minced fresh cilantro
Salt to taste, don't be too conservative, use about 1/2 tblsp
1/2 tablespoon red pepper flakes

Ruth, who brought this (it was her sister's recipe recreated after a trip to Cancun), doesn't cook AT ALL--so much so that I told her not to bring anything, so she definitely didn't employ any prep tricks like desalting the cucumber. In fact, after she put it together she talked to her sister who was shocked that Ruth didn't even know to de-seed the jalapenos (she used two and it was very hot, but very good that way).

Anyway, it's a fantastic salsa--fantastic in it's own right and it would be perfect for someone with a tomato allergy.

This sounds refreshingly yummy, Jenise. I'm going to have to try it soon.
Nacho cheese chips, eh? hmm, maybe I'll get a small bag of those.

[Jenise]

It really was, Bill. And that kind of praise doesn't come from me easily--and I fairly routinely resent any non-tomato salsa for not including my favorite fruit. But this one's a winner--would be fantastic on grilled fresh fish, too.

I've been using more and more jicama in salads and salsas, Jenise.

Contributes an excellent mouth feel, and seems to enhance the flavors of other ingredients. It seems to be a particularly good match with cukes.

Thanks for posting the recipe.

[Jenise]

Bob, how about this salsa on a piece of grilled halibut (or other white fish) with a bottle of viognier? I'll bet it would be a great match.

Halibut for me, trout for Janet -- sounds like a winner.

I'll post a RC report in due course. Thanks for the idea.

I just mixed this up, Jenise, and even bought the Dorito nacho cheese chips. It's really really yummy (even without the chips). It's smells so summery and tastes so clean. Thanks for sharing.

[Jenise]

It's smells so summery and tastes so clean.

Yup! So...gruner or sauv blanc?

So...gruner or sauv blanc?

Lopez de Heredia Vina Gravonia. It went surprising well with the salsa.