What's Cookin? Tuesday - Fruit Salad with Jicama

Kristen Mowers, CalSERVES Nutrition Coordinator

A Slice of Melon History

• Melons were first cultivated in Persia and northern Africa nearly 4,000 years ago, and later by ancient Greeks and Romans.
• Introduced to western and northern Europe during the Middle Ages, melons were harvested by the Spaniards and later the French and British.
• Christopher Columbus brought over the first melon seeds to North America on his second expedition, while watermelons arrived with African slaves.
• In 1683, the melon was introduced to California by Spanish missionaries.
• Melons and watermelons were grown almost exclusively in home gardens until the first half of the 20th century, when more disease- and wilt-resistant cultivars were developed by the USDA.

Fruit Salad with Jicama

Yield: 7 servings

Ingredients:

1 small jicama

2 cups watermelon cut into pieces

1 mango

1 small papaya

1 lime

2 kiwis

1 teaspoon lime or orange juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon chili powder

Instructions:

1. Wash, peel, and cut the jicama into thin slices.

2. Wash, peel, and cut the rest of the fruit into slices or medium sized pieces.

3. On a large plate, arrange the fruit. Sprinkle the lime or orange juice over the fruit.

4. In a small bowl, mix the salt and chili powder. Sprinkle over the fruit and serve.

5. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Calories 80, fat 0g, Sodium 90mg, sugar 12g, protein 1g