Root Crop: "Singkamas" / myLot

Philippines

March 10, 2023 10:51pm CST

In the Philippines, it is one of the most common root crops. Although some Filipinos do not know what the English term for it. "Singkamas" is a Spanish word that is known as Jicama in English. In some countries, they call it the Mexican potato or turnip. Personally, I enjoy eating some of these by just slicing them into thin pieces, adding a little salt, and adding vinegar as a dressing. You can occasionally just consume it raw. Thus, I will have some later in the afternoon as my snack. Do you have this kind of snack in your world? Any favorite root crops?

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19 responses

rakski

@rakski (112919)

• Philippines

11 Mar 23

I haven't eaten one for a long time now. It is refreshing to eat during summer time

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

@rakski I was also surprised when seeing them abundantly in the market. So I bought some.

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Michele

@Aquitaine24 (11813)

• San Jose, California

11 Mar 23

Yes, that is true.

1 person likes this

rakski

@rakski (112919)

• Philippines

11 Mar 23

@Aquitaine24

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@DaddyEvil (137232)

• United States

11 Mar 23

Once or twice a year Pretty and I will buy one of these at the grocery store. I slice them up and we dip it into Ranch dressing as a snack. It's good. We call them jicama here, too.

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relcap23

@florelway (23222)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

11 Mar 23

Have you tried dipping it in vinegar?

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@DaddyEvil (137232)

• United States

11 Mar 23

@florelway No, just Ranch dressing.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

@DaddyEvil You can try to dip in vinegar with some salt and ground pepper.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (333719)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Mar 23

I've never seen or heard of these. I like carrots and parsnips.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

They look like potatoes, but they taste a bit sweet and juicier than apples.

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Judy Evans

@JudyEv (333719)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Mar 23

@Shavkat They sound quite nice.

Thelma

@thelme55 (76645)

• Germany

11 Mar 23

I love eating singkamas but unfortunately, I can only eat it when I am in the Philippines.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I also love them. I hope you could have some if you visit our country in the future.

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Thelma

@thelme55 (76645)

• Germany

15 Mar 23

@Shavkat I always buy singkamas when I am in the Philippines.

Frederick Espiritu

@simplfred (20641)

• Philippines

11 Mar 23

I enjoy eating some especially when it was refrigerated.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I am planning to pickle them tomorrow. I forgot to buy a bottle of vinegar.

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CarolDM

@CarolDM (203424)

• Nashville, Tennessee

11 Mar 23

I thought of turnip when I first saw your photo. We have those often.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

According to what I read, it is also family member of turnip.

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CarolDM

@CarolDM (203424)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 Mar 23

@Shavkat That is cool, they are very tasty.

Always smiling

@allknowing (132099)

• India

12 Mar 23

Never seen them. They look like potatoes to me

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

Majority have not seen them and even tasted them. They are like apples when being eaten.

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Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker

@CaptAlbertWhisker (32634)

• Calgary, Alberta

11 Mar 23

I like that thing simmered in coconut milk, chilis and shrimp. I dont like eating it raw, its like apple with no tartness.

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Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker

@CaptAlbertWhisker (32634)

• Calgary, Alberta

13 Mar 23

@Shavkat more like ginataang labong but yummier

Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I do think it can be used as veggie for spring rolls. I have not tasted it with coconut milk. It sounds like 'laing.' Is it right?

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Michele

@Aquitaine24 (11813)

• San Jose, California

11 Mar 23

I have had jicama before.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I am glad that you did. It can also be used for spring rolls. Have you tasted it before?

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Michele

@Aquitaine24 (11813)

• San Jose, California

13 Mar 23

@Shavkat yes I have tasted it.

Judy Story

@jstory07 (137019)

• Roseburg, Oregon

11 Mar 23

It looks like a potato which I eat all the time.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

They do like potatoes. If you are going to eat them, they taste a bit sweet and juicy.

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Judy Story

@jstory07 (137019)

• Roseburg, Oregon

12 Mar 23

@Shavkat That sounds really good.

Anna

@LadyDuck (466789)

• Switzerland

11 Mar 23

I do not believe I have ever seen them here. My favorite root crops? Potatoes.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I also love potatoes. They were my survival food during my medical mission in Tajikistan.

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Anna

@LadyDuck (466789)

• Switzerland

12 Mar 23

@Shavkat My favorite carbs are potatoes, pasta and bread.

The Fly One

@aureliah (24316)

• Kenya

11 Mar 23

I have never tasted them. Dont think we have them here

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I hope you could have some. They can be a big business in your country if someone would import them there.

The Fly One

@aureliah (24316)

• Kenya

26 Apr 23

@Shavkat that could be true

Arya

@yoalldudes (35037)

• Philippines

11 Mar 23

It's one of my favorites and my mother said I was "pinaglihi" to turnip. Sorry I dont know the English.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I am sure you can have some. They are so abundant in the market in our country now. I had some last night. I need to have again later with some vinegar in it.

Arya

@yoalldudes (35037)

• Philippines

19 Mar 23

@Shavkat I bought one yesterday but it was not good quality. Maybe I should go today.

relcap23

@florelway (23222)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

11 Mar 23

I prefer eating the smaller one. I only like to eat the freshly harvested ones because they're more juicy.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I can deal with the small ones. I only see them in big sizes when went to the market at that day. I love to pickled them. Do you like it, too?

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relcap23

@florelway (23222)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

12 Mar 23

@Shavkat yes I prefer the fresh ones than pickled one.

Heather Echola

@GardenGerty (159660)

• United States

11 Mar 23

We can buy Jicama in our stores at least part of the year and we do enjoy them. I know some people cook them but I have only ever eaten them raw.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

In my country, they blend with other vegetables for spring rolls and the like. It is a good way for the vegans to try.

Firefly

@cttolledo (5454)

• Legaspi, Philippines

11 Mar 23

I remember my late mother in law, she used to make “achara” made of singkamas.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I have not tasted it yet. It is my first time that it is possible to pickle 'singkamas.'

Eva James

@wolfgirl569 (101673)

• Marion, Ohio

11 Mar 23

I don't think I have ever seen them

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I hope I can share them with you.

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Icydoll

@Icydoll (36717)

• India

11 Mar 23

I'm not sure if we have it here. I like to eat raw carrots, potatoes

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I have not tried to eat raw potatoes. If I was offered, I would try it. I hope you can see some in the market there. It is quite sweet if eaten.

M Cheung

@Beestring (14082)

• Hong Kong

11 Mar 23

Don't think I've eaten this before. It looks like potato which I eat a lot.

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Shavkat

@Shavkat (137400)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

It is quite a different taste as compared to a potato. When I was in Hong Kong before, I have not seen one like this. I do think you need to have a try in the future.

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