Salted Caramel Jicama Salad

I try my best to come up with new and exciting recipes so you will not get bored with the same old recipes such as grilled chicken salad. Don't get me wrong... I love a great grilled chicken salad, but sometimes you need a little bit of variety. I could not stay on track if I only had grilled chicken salad everyday.

So... 

I was craving a yummy sweet treat that fits the 5 and 1 plan, but still left some room to have a yummy Lean and Green as well. This truly hit the spot! A delicious dessert to enjoy after a hearty Lean and Green meal.

Jicama is juicy, crunchy, nutty and slightly sweet. It's flavor reminds me of chowing down on a savory apple. I decided to try it as a fruit salad, although it really isn't a fruit at all. It's actually a root veggie. It still makes a great substitute for a delicious caramel apple salad using lower carb jicama instead. It turned out pretty darn good!

Look at that yummy goodness! Topped with toasted walnuts!

This dessert had all the yummy flavors of a caramel apple salad, but without all the carbs.

Jicama is quickly becoming a favorite veggie of mine. Being only 25 calories and providing 3 grams of fiber per half cup, I think I am in love!

You do need to cut the tough brown skin off with a sharp knife. Don't use a vegetable peeler since the skin is thick and tough. You will get better and safer results using a chef knife or you can purchase it pre-cut at Trader Joes!

Trim a slice off the top and the bottom so that the jicama is sitting on a flat surface. This makes it safer and sturdier for cutting away the skin. Once you remove the skin, chop the jicama into 1 inch pieces.

Place jicama in a medium sized bowl and add plain Greek yogurt. The yogurt gives this salad it's creamy goodness! Then add vanilla extract and ground cinnamon to the mixture. I used Sinful Cinnamon Blend from Stacey Hawkins. I absolutely love her seasoning blends! Check it out over HERE!

Add stevia or your favorite brand of sweetener. I like to use the packets of NuStevia which I get from Amazon. Click HERE for the link.

Next add a tbsp of Walden Farms caramel syrup.

Then stir in the toasted walnuts. Don't skip the toasting! Toasting the walnuts really brings out the flavor of the nuts. It gives them a richer and deeper flavor.

Pour the mixture into a small casserole dish. Drizzle with 2 tbsp of caramel syrup and sprinkle toasted walnuts on top. 

Lastly, sprinkle coarse sea salt on top and enjoy this guilt free dessert!

Salted Caramel Jicama Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups raw jicama, peeled and chopped (6 Greens)
1 1/2 cups 2% plain Fage Greek yogurt (1 Leaner)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract (1/2 Condiment)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (1 Condiment)
1 packet stevia (1 Condiment)
3 tbsp Walden Farms caramel syrup, divided (1 1/2 Condiments)
1/2 tsp coarse sea salt (2 Condiments)
28 walnut halves (4 Snacks)

Directions:
Toast walnut halves:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy clean up. Spread walnut on prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 5 to 10 minutes. Frequently stir the nuts to ensure even baking. Nuts are done when they appear a shade darker and smell toasted. Let cool and then chop. Set aside.

Combine chopped jicama, yogurt, vanilla extract, cinnamon, stevia, 1 tbsp caramel syrup and half of the chopped walnuts in a medium bowl. Stir until jicama is evenly coated.

Pour into a serving dish. Drizzle 2 tbsp caramel syrup on top and then top with the other half of walnuts. Sprinkle sea salt on top. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 Servings
Each serving provides
1/4 Leaner, 1 1/2 Greens, 1 1/2 Condiments and 1 Optional Snack

Add 3/4 Lean option and 1 1/2 Greens to make a complete Lean and Green meal 

Examples:

4.5 oz grilled chicken breasts (3/4 Leaner) with 2 tbsp light Italian salad dressing as a marinade (1 Healthy Fat) and 3/4 cup broccoli (1 1/2 Greens)

5.25 oz cooked shrimp (3/4 Leanest) with 1 1/2 cups mixed greens (1 1/2 Greens), 2 tbsp light ranch dressing (1 Healthy Fat) and 1.5 oz avocado (1 Healthy Fat)

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