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?

13 people like this

19 responses

rakski

@rakski (123010)

• Philippines

11 Mar 23

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

4 people like this

show previous comments

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Michele

@Aquitaine24 (11813)

• San Jose, California

11 Mar 23

Yes, that is true.

1 person likes this

rakski

@rakski (123010)

• Philippines

11 Mar 23

@Aquitaine24

Show more comments

@DaddyEvil (137259)

• 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.

4 people like this

relcap23

@florelway (23286)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

11 Mar 23

Have you tried dipping it in vinegar?

2 people like this

@DaddyEvil (137259)

• United States

11 Mar 23

@florelway No, just Ranch dressing.

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

2 people like this

Show more comments

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (340019)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Mar 23

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

3 people like this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (340019)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Mar 23

@Shavkat They sound quite nice.

Thelma

@thelme55 (77061)

• Germany

11 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Thelma

@thelme55 (77061)

• 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.

3 people like this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

CarolDM

@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

11 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

CarolDM

@CarolDM (203422)

• Nashville, Tennessee

12 Mar 23

@Shavkat That is cool, they are very tasty.

Always smiling

@allknowing (136442)

• India

12 Mar 23

Never seen them. They look like potatoes to me

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker

@CaptAlbertWhisker (32697)

• 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.

1 person likes this

show previous comments

Your Highness Emperor Albert Whisker

@CaptAlbertWhisker (32697)

• Calgary, Alberta

13 Mar 23

@Shavkat more like ginataang labong but yummier

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• 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?

Show more comments

Michele

@Aquitaine24 (11813)

• San Jose, California

11 Mar 23

I have had jicama before.

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Michele

@Aquitaine24 (11813)

• San Jose, California

13 Mar 23

@Shavkat yes I have tasted it.

Judy Story

@jstory07 (139717)

• Roseburg, Oregon

11 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Judy Story

@jstory07 (139717)

• Roseburg, Oregon

12 Mar 23

@Shavkat That sounds really good.

Anna

@LadyDuck (471506)

• Switzerland

11 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Anna

@LadyDuck (471506)

• 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

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• 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.

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• 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 (23286)

• 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.

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• 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?

1 person likes this

relcap23

@florelway (23286)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

12 Mar 23

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

Heather Echola

@GardenGerty (160665)

• 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.

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• 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.

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• 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 (106271)

• Marion, Ohio

11 Mar 23

I don't think I have ever seen them

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• Philippines

12 Mar 23

I hope I can share them with you.

1 person likes this

Icydoll

@Icydoll (36717)

• India

11 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• 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 (14558)

• Hong Kong

11 Mar 23

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

1 person likes this

Shavkat

@Shavkat (139933)

• 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.

1 person likes this