I only needed half of the jicama for fish tacos and was left with this big chunk of jicama sitting on my cutting board, just staring at me. Assuming that half a piece of peeled jicama will not last long, I began to panic. What was I to do with this strange new vegetable sitting on my counter just begging to be turned into something delicious. I knew that time was against me and that I had to think fast – what would go well with a sweet pear-like potato? Apple and braised cabbage is a classic German dish, pear is similar to apple, jicama has a great sweet flavour that might work with cabbage. Decision made – caramelized onions with cabbage and jicama braised in Hells Gate Pale Ale.

This is an interesting combination that I suspect would pair nicely with a Vienna Lager or a Helles-Bock. Pale ale wasn’t the best choice for a braising liquid, it doesn’t have a deep enough malt flavour to bring the ingredients together. I would think that a nice German Bratwurst would be great on top of this dish if you wanted to make it a complete meal.

If you are feeling adventurous and have a craving for hearty German style food, I recommend giving this a try. If you do, please let me what you think – I’m still undecided about this new dish, but I see a great deal of potential.

Erik