So it’s almost July 4th, and I just had to share this fun and festive fruit-and-veggie salad with you!
Decked out in red, white, and blue, it’s as pretty as it is tasty. It’s also fast and easy, which is perfect when you have people coming over for a barbeque in the afternoon and it’s 11 in the morning and you haven’t even made it to the grocery store yet, much less cleaned your house. (Not that anything like that would ever happen to me.)
This salad also makes use of jicama, which I’m pretty sure everyone knows is my favorite vegetable of all time. (Click here to learn how to select and store jicama and here for how to peel it in a flash.)
Why do I love jicama so? Because not only can you make it into sticks, chips, and slaw, but with a set of inexpensive metal cookie cutters, you can create nearly any shape you want in minutes. Which is awesome for celebrating holidays the healthy way: serve jicama as itty bitty footprints for a baby shower, hearts on that romantic Valentine’s Day salad, or snowmen on a Christmas Day veggie tray.
Just be sure to use metal cookie cutters like these—not plastic—or you’re going to get one heck of a workout:
Get your sturdy star cookie cutters on Amazon
Ready to see stars? Grab your cookie cutters, round up some jicama, and have at it. Here’s wishing you and yours a happy, healthy Fourth of July!
- 1 personal-size seedless watermelon
- 1-2 medium jicamas
- 1 pint blueberries
- 2 Tbsp fresh-squeezed lime juice sweetened with agave to taste (optional)
- 1 handful fresh mint, torn (optional)
- Peel jicama and cut into slices ⅛- to ¼-inch thick.
- Use small cookie cutters (get them here or at a craft store) to cut the jicama into stars.
- Toss the jicama stars in sweetened lime juice, if using. (Don't worry, the stars won't turn brown if you skip this step—it's for flavor only.)
- Chop watermelon into cubes. (Bonus points if you use large cookie cutters to make watermelon stars!)
- Add blueberries and fresh mint (if using) to watermelon and jicama just before serving. Toss gently and enjoy!
Pin it for later!
Shared on Meatless Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Gluten-Free Wednesdays, Allergy-Free Wednesdays, Real Food Fridays, Gluten-Free Fridays, and the Plant-Based Potluck Party.
This post contains affiliate links, which help me provide free recipes and info on Veggie Quest.
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I'm Lee, an RD thriving on a healthy plant based diet.
Looks pretty!! Sounds good too!!
Thanks Tango! 😀
Jicama is a great way to add white to the salad! I never thought of making cookie cutter shapes. Thanks for sharing this at Gluten-Free Wednesdays.
Hi Linda, glad you like the idea! I wish I could say I thought of it myself, but I saw it somewhere on the web many moons ago and thought it was awesome. Now the jicama feet for a baby shower, that's all me… 😉
How adorable to use cookie cutters! How creative! This is such a great patriotic salad. You should share it at Raw Foods Thursdays. It's being hosted by Sift, Stir & Savour this week. Have a happy 4th!<br /><br />Heather
Hi Heather, glad you like it! Sorry I missed posting this on Raw Foods Thursdays; I didn't see this until after the 4th. Hope all is going well with your move!
I love jicama too! This is a really creative recipe. The stars are great. Jicama is one of those veggies I forget about so your post reminded me and I bought one. Thanks! I love them shredded for slaw!
Hi Corinne, it IS easy to forget about jicama, sadly–no bright flashy colors like peppers or tomatoes. That's why I'm declaring Jan 30th National Hug a Jicama Day. So if you wanted to gear up now for your Jan 30 jicama post next year, I'd be honored… 😉
This is so cute! I'm going to risk looking like a complete fool here though and tell you I've never heard of a jicama!! Maybe they've got a different name in Australia … or maybe I should go and do some research 🙂 🙂
Hi Lizzy, jicama goes by about 5 names, like Mexican potato and yam bean. Check out fun facts on jicama here: <a href="https://www.veggie-quest.com/2011/04/jicama-juicy-root-poison-peas.html" rel="nofollow">Jicama: Juicy Root, Poison Peas</a>. Even in the states, a lot of people have never heard of it. Which is too bad, because it's delicious and really versatile!
LOVE LOVE LOVE the way you set it up and presented it…so cute, tasty, and healthy! Stopping by from #RealFoodFriday
Thanks Karen! Jicama is so versatile–just use the right cookie cutter and it’s perfect for dressing up any holiday salad. 🙂
This looks so pretty, festive, patriotic and sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned.
Thanks Marla!
Dear Lee,
Love the creative, colorful recipe for easy red white blue salad and fabulous info about jicama. Congratulations for being featured at the Live It Up at the Healthy, Happy, Green & Natural Party Blog Hop #73, where I saw it. Loved it so much I pinned it and started to follow you there.
Happy July 4th. Perhaps you’ll check out my red, white, and blue recipe too. Here’s a link.
http://obloggernewbie.blogspot.com/2014/07/celebrate-july-4th-with-lucious-red.html. Nancy A@obloggernewbie.blogspot.com
Hi Nancy, so glad you like this salad! It’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Just hopped over and saw your berry-and-coconut salad–yum! Have a great 4th! 🙂