Jicama

Many Americans first tasted this cold vegetable soup at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Gazpacho came into favor partly as a vehicle for showing off blenders, the popularity of which created a boom in recipes that called for liquefying ingredients. This recipe goes the Spanish classic one better with the addition of smoky chipotle chilies.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Sweet and crunchy jicama and smoky grill-roasted peppers and green onions combine in this attractive side dish.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.but requires additional unattended time. In the following recipe, the lettuce leaves may be wrapped loosely in paper towels and kept chilled in a plastic bag until you are ready to assemble the cones.

This unusual salsa calls for canned or bottled nopalitos, the stems of the prickly pear cactus. Available in the Mexican section of many supermarkets, they're sometimes labeled natural tender cactus. If you cannot find nopalitos at your local market, simply substitute cooked green beans. Use this tasty salsa as you would any other--with meats, chips and tacos.

Cumin, chili powder, garlic and fresh lime juice are combine in the easy-to-make spice paste. It adds lots of flavor to the beef in this recipe, but can also be used on chicken, pork, shrimp or firm fish like halibut, swordfish and shark.

Spicy and sweet, this unusual salad would be ideal with grilled chicken or fish.

This variation on the Chinese classic incorporates jícama, which retains the crisp texture of water chestnuts even when cooked.

Chopped cilantro in the dressing and whole leaves mixed with the spinach add a double dose of cilantro flavor to this salad.

Active time: 30 min Start to finish: 30 min

Great on its own or served alongside grilled fish, chicken or steak.

We adapted this gorgeous salad, full of intriguing flavors and textures and so colorful it looks like a fireworks display, from a recipe that Mexican chef María Dolores Torres Yzábal contributed to México, The Beautiful Cookbook.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less. We serve this salad with slices of bread or crackers.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

This recipe can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.