Air Fryer Jicama Fries
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.These air fryer jicama fries turn out crisp and full of flavor, and they are very easy to make. I enjoy serving them as a healthy alternative to traditional French fries, and the rosemary, garlic powder, and fresh thyme add a nice savory touch. I also like that it is ready in about 35 minutes, which makes it easy to add to any meal when I want healthy side on the table.
Jicama fries in the air fryer are perfect for days when I want homemade fries without using potatoes. Jicama is a tuberous root vegetable from Central America with a slightly crisp and sweet flavor. Its brown skin and white flesh look similar to a potato, and it is naturally starchy and high in fiber. I enjoy using jicama as a nutritious and low carb alternative to potatoes because it has a mild nutty flavor.
When I make air fryer jicama fries, they always turn out crisp with only a small amount of oil. Cleanup is simple, and the air fryer heats up fast, so I can have a healthy and tasty side on the table in very little time. My family enjoys them just as much as regular fries, and I like switching things up with other nutritious options such as eggplant fries or my delicious air fryer yuca fries.
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
I have to admit that this recipe surprised me the first time I made it. One evening, I peeled and sliced the jicama while my kids went to the table to help. We all worked together tossing the fries with olive oil, garlic powder, and fresh thyme before placing them into the air fryer. When I served the warm and crisp fries straight from the basket, everyone was drooling over them, including myself.
My air fryer jicama fries recipe works so well because it uses simple ingredients that I usually have on hand and lets the air fryer handle the work. After a short boil to soften the jicama, I drain it, toss it with oil and seasonings, and let the air fryer crisp it up without turning my kitchen into a grease splatter zone. The result is a batch of crunchy fries with a sweet and mild nutty flavor, and they are much healthier than traditional fries.
As a health coach and nutritionist, I highly recommend these fries. They are now one of my favorite snacks or side dishes for busy nights because they are healthy, easy, and do not make a mess. Last week, I served them when my kids had friends over for a movie night, and none of them even noticed they were not regular fries. Everyone ate theirs right away, that’s a win!
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🥘 Ingredients
This air fryer jicama fries recipe uses simple ingredients that I can find at most grocery stores. Here is what I need to make this tasty and easy snack:
Fresh Jicama, Cut Into Strips: I pick jicama, also called a Mexican turnip, Mexican potato, or Mexican yam bean, for its juicy and mild flavor.
Olive Oil: I drizzle a small amount of olive or avocado oil over the jicama to get the fries crispy. Sometimes I use cooking spray to keep things lighter.
Rosemary and Thyme: Fresh herbs make a big difference, so I toss in thyme, chopped rosemary, or whatever herbs I have on hand.
Garlic Powder: I sprinkle just a little garlic powder on the fries because it adds great flavor. Occasionally I add a touch of onion powder too.
Salt and Black Pepper: I season with salt and pepper and sometimes add a pinch of cayenne for a little heat.
🔪 How To Make
The air fryer helps these jicama fries turn out crisp and so delicious every time. Here is how I like to make them:
Prepare the Jicama: I peel the outer skin of the raw jicama using a vegetable peeler or a paring knife. Then I cut the jicama into thin slices.
Boil The Jicama: I bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the jicama for 10 minutes until it starts to soften. Then I remove the pieces from the water and place the jicama fries on a plate or baking sheet lined with paper towels.
Season the Jicama: I toss the jicama slices in a large bowl with the seasonings, drizzle them with olive oil or use a nonstick spray, and then spread the slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the trays if my air fryer has them.
Air Fry Jicama Fries: I start by placing the fries in the air fryer. I cook them at 390 degrees F, flipping them halfway through so they get crispy and golden brown on all sides.
Serve: I like to sprinkle my air fryer jicama chips with fresh herbs and season them with salt and pepper. I serve them warm for the best taste and texture.
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for this recipe is to shake or flip the jicama fries halfway through cooking. I take a moment to open the air fryer, give the basket a good shake, and make sure the fries move around a bit. This helps every side cook evenly so the fries turn crisp instead of soft in certain spots.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Dry the Jicama: I always drain and dry the jicama well after boiling so the oil sticks properly. This helps the fries turn crisp instead of soggy.
- Check Cooking Times: I look at my air fryer manual because every appliance cooks a little differently. This helps me avoid overcooking or undercooking the fries.
- Boil First: I always boil the jicama before air frying to help it cook evenly. Air frying it raw does not work well, so I never skip this step.
- In the Oven: After boiling the jicama, I spread the fries on a baking sheet and bake them at 425 degrees F. I toss them halfway through so they cook evenly and do not stick.
📖 Variations
The variations with air fryer jicama fries are endless! I’ve experimented with so many over the years, and here are 3 of my favorite ways to enjoy them.
Switch Up The Spice Mixture: I like to mix and match different seasonings and toppings with these jicama fries. Some of my favorites are chili powder, kosher salt, nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan cheese, fresh cilantro, green onions, smoked paprika, and parsley.
Plain and Simple Salt: I sprinkle the jicama with half a teaspoon of sea salt right after cooking. This keeps the flavor clean and lets the natural sweetness of the jicama stand out.
Lemon Herb: I add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and a small squeeze of lemon juice after cooking. The bright citrus flavor blends well with the herbs.
👨👩👧 Serving Suggestions
Like traditional French fries, I serve these jicama fries as a side dish in a variety of ways. They are versatile and go well with so many meals, making them an easy addition to any dinner.
I love pairing these healthy fries with my Florentine pizza or serving them alongside a protein-packed dish like my spicy black bean burger. They also taste great with my vegan chicken sandwich, which we have been making very often lately because the kids are completely obsessed when I shape the pieces into little nugget style bites.
🧊 Storage Directions
Refrigerating: I store the jicama fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezing: I do not freeze these fries.
Reheating: I reheat the fries in the air fryer at 375 degrees F for about 5 to 7 minutes. This brings back the crisp texture much better than the microwave.
❓Recipe FAQs
What can I do if my jicama fries are not crisp?
When my fries are not crisp, it usually means the jicama still had a little water left on it after boiling. I take my time drying each piece with a clean towel and make sure the surface looks dry before I add the oil and seasonings. If I want them even crispier, I leave them in the air fryer for a few extra minutes and check them until they reach the texture I like.
Why do I have to boil the jicama first?
Jicama is very firm when it is raw, and boiling helps soften it just enough so it cooks evenly in the air fryer. If I skip this step, the fries stay too hard in the center and never turn tender. A quick boil makes a big difference and helps the inside stay soft while the outside crisps up.
How do I stop the fries from sticking to the air fryer basket?
I brush the basket with a little oil or use a light coat of cooking spray before adding the fries. This keeps the jicama from sticking and makes cleanup easier. I also shake the basket halfway through cooking to keep the fries moving. This helps them crisp evenly without sticking to the bottom.
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Air Fryer Jicama Fries
These air fryer jicama fries turn out crisp and full of flavor, and they are very easy to make. I enjoy serving them as a healthy alternative to traditional French fries, and the rosemary, garlic powder, and fresh thyme add a nice savory touch. I also like that it is ready in about 35 minutes, which makes it easy to add to any meal when I want healthy side on the table.
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 115kcal
Ingredients
- 4 large jicama, peeled
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp rosemary
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh thyme to taste, as a garnish
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 390F/200C.
- Slice the peeled jicama into ¼ inch sticks.
- Bring a pot of water to the boil and par boil the jicama for 10 minutes. Remove and drain.
- In a small mixing bowl mix together the salt, pepper, rosemary and garlic powder, stir to combine.
- Mix together in a medium mixing bowl half of the par boiled jicama sticks, oil and seasonings. Stir to coat.
- Add the seasoned jicama fries to the air fryer basket. Lower the heat to 356F/180C and cook for 15-20 minutes. Checking the fries half way and shaking to ensure even cooking.
- When cooked through and golden in color remove and repeat with remaining fries.
- Season with salt and fresh thyme.
Notes
- My #1 Secret Tip for this recipe is to shake or flip the jicama fries halfway through cooking. I take a moment to open the air fryer, give the basket a good shake, and make sure the fries move around a bit. This helps every side cook evenly so the fries turn crisp instead of soft in certain spots.
- Dry the Jicama: I always drain and dry the jicama well after boiling so the oil sticks properly. This helps the fries turn crisp instead of soggy.
- Check Cooking Times: I look at my air fryer manual because every appliance cooks a little differently. This helps me avoid overcooking or undercooking the fries.
- Boil First: I always boil the jicama before air frying to help it cook evenly. Air frying it raw does not work well, so I never skip this step.
- In the Oven: After boiling the jicama, I spread the fries on a baking sheet and bake them at 425 degrees F. I toss them halfway through so they cook evenly and do not stick.
Nutrition
Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 46IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
Omgoodess!! These fries are spectacular. I can’t have and haven’t enjoyed a potato in a year. I was absolutely contemplating how sick I was willing to be just for a taste of French fry. When I came across your recipe. Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.
I love jicama and I usually just eat it raw, I never once thought to cook it.
I did everything as you directed, but I bowled them in the microwave and they are delicious.
This is a five star recipe, I appreciate the tips and cooking options.
Aw yay!! Thank you so much – I’m so so happy to hear that! 🙂
First time trying jicama and this recipe was fabulous. The Rosemary was was super flavorful on these fries.
Awesome!! Thanks for letting me know Gina! 🙂
I have been trying to find ways to use jicama, and this is such a great recipe! I can’t wait to make these jicama fries in my air fryer.
Thanks Lily! Let me know how these turn out when you try them!
I loved having these fries next to a juicy burger! Completed the meal like no other could. Thank you so much!
Great to hear, thanks so much Ned!
These are so delicious and easy to make. They came in handy for burger night!
Yes! These go great with burgers – so glad you liked them!
I am intrigued beyond words! We are in the UK, and I have never seen or even heard of jicama, but they sound delicious! Will definitely do a bit of digging to see if I can buy them anywhere.
I hope you’re able to find it and try this recipe! You will love it!
This was my first time eating jicama and it was so good!
Yay!! So happy to hear that Mindee!
I’m obsessed with jicama and when I’m not just dipping it raw in hummus for snacks this has become my favorite way to eat it. SO crispy and absolutely delicious as a fry alternative!
I love jicama too!! I’m so glad you liked these fries as much as we do!
Oh my goodness! I love getting to use my air fryer especially for recipes like these! The family is going to love this for a side tonight. Headed to the store later!
Woohoo!! I’m sure you and your family will love this recipe Beth!
Okay, these look absolutely stunning and really I don’t eat jicama enough and I’m pretty sure I’ve never served it to my kids. I bet they would love these and I certainly wouldn’t feel bad about serving it to them. I can’t wait to try this.
Yes!! These are super kid friendly – mine gobbled them up – I hope yours love this recipe too!
Such lovely crispy jicama fries. I love the seasonings. Yum!
Thanks so much Katherine! Enjoy!