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Cucumber, Jicama, and Mango Salad

While the concept of sweet-and-sour dishes is generally appealing, the execution often leaves something to be desired. Sweet-and-sour is like a seesaw; if it tilts too far in either direction, you could be thrown off balance, mangling your taste buds in the process. In this recipe I use a very light hand on both sides; the sour is a delicate brown rice vinegar, the sweet a gentle agave nectar. They dance together nicely on the tongue, more like ballet than Irish clogging. For folks who like a crunchy texture or who want to avoid fat, this one’s a winner.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

1/4 cup brown rice vinegar
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons agave nectar
1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 large English cucumber, peeled
1 cup peeled and diced jicama, in 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup diced mango, in 1/4-inch cubes
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh mint

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine the vinegar, water, agave nectar, lime juice, and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil. Cook until the liquid is clear and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. This should yield 1/4 cup of liquid. Refrigerate the dressing for 15 minutes.

    Step 2

    Quarter the cucumber lengthwise, remove the seeds, and slice crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Combine the cucumber, jicama, mango, and the cooled vinegar mixture in a bowl and stir well, then stir in the chopped mint.

  2. rebecca’s notes

    Step 3

    If you’re feeling intimidated by chopping up a jicama or want to save time, many markets have precut jicama available in the refrigerated area of the produce section.

  3. storage

    Step 4

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 days.

  4. nutrition information

    Step 5

    (per serving)

    Step 6

    Calories: 60

    Step 7

    Total Fat: 0.2g (0g saturated, 0g monounsaturated)

    Step 8

    Carbohydrates: 14g

    Step 9

    Protein: 0g

    Step 10

    Fiber: 2g

    Step 11

    Sodium: 100mg

Excerpted from The Cancer Fighting Kitchen, copyright 2017 by Rebecca Katz and Met Edelson. Published with permission by Ten Speed Press.
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