Grilled Pickerel with Spicy Mayo & Jicama Slaw

A delicious, white and succulent freshwater fish, Pickerel is great for the barbecue as it doesn't stick to the grill and is easy to turn over for even cooking. Having purchased a lovely thick tail end piece of fresh Ontario pickerel, I was inspired by this healthy, low fat and carb-free recipe by Lucy Waverman of Grilled Pickerel with Spicy Mayo & Jicama Slaw, that was featured in the Globe & Mail last summer. I had heard of jicama before, but had never used it before in a recipe. Crisp and juicy with a thin brown skin that can be easily removed with a vegetable peeler, Jicama is ideal to use in salads as it doesn't turn brown once cut. Combined with julienned Napa cabbage, red pepper, green onions and tossed with a light citrus vinaigrette, it's a tasty and attractive bed for plump warm fillets of grilled pickerel. Topped with a spoonful of low fat Spicy Mayo and garnished with fresh herbs, this is a dish that's both healthy, delicious and perfect for outdoor summer dining.

Jicama has a thin brown skin and crisp, juicy, white flesh that’s mild in flavour, like a cross between a water chestnut and a pear — it's simple peeled and chopped

Julienned jicama

A Napa cabbage cut in half

How to julienne Napa cabbage

Julienned jicama, Napa cabbage, red pepper, green onions, fresh mint and diced orange zest

The Jicama Slaw dressed with citrus vinaigrette

Spicy mayonnaise sauce

Grilled pickerel and sliced orange garnished with fresh chives and mint

Grilled Pickerel with Spicy Mayo & Jicama Slaw
Serves 4

4 pickerel fillets, skin on, cut in 1/2
2 tbsp vegetable oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Fresh mint or thyme, for garnish

Slaw & Citrus Vinaigrette:
1 red pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
6 green onions, slivered on the diagonal
2 cups thinly sliced Napa cabbage
2 cups peeled and julienned jicama
2 tbsp orange juice plus 1 tbsp orange zest
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp chopped fresh chives

Spicy Mayonnaise:
1/4 cup low fat mayonnaise
1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tbsp hoisin sauce
1 tbsp Sriracha
1 tbsp pickled ginger, minced
1/4 tsp pickled ginger juice
1/4 cup chopped mint
Salt and freshly ground pepper


Toss the red pepper, green onions, cabbage and jicama together in a large bowl. Whisk the orange and lemon juice with olive oil in a bowl, then add the chives, orange zest and season with salt and pepper. Toss with the jicama and julienned vegetable slaw and set aside.

Combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, hoisin, Sriracha, ginger and mint for the sauce, and season with salt and pepper. 

Brush the pickerel with vegetable oil on both the skin and flesh sides, and season with salt and pepper. Preheat an outdoor grill to high. Grill skin-side down for about  6-8 minutes, then turn over and grill flesh-side down for another 2 minutes, or until the fish is just cooked through and still moist. 

To serve, divide the slaw among 4 plates, top with a fillet of grilled pickerel and garnish with fresh mint or thyme, and a bowl of spicy mayonnaise on the side.