Ingredients
Star fruit
Other Names: Carambola, Chinese star fruit, five-angled fruit.
General Description: Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) is an oval fruit with five prominent longitudinal ribs, thin, yellow, smooth waxy skin, and yellow, translucent, crisp flesh. The carambola is believed to have originated in Ceylon and the Moluccas, but has been cultivated in Southeast Asia and Malaysia for centuries. It is grown in southern China, Taiwan, and India and is popular in the Philippines, Australia, Tahiti, and Hawaii. Star fruits were introduced to southern Florida more than 100 years ago.
Star fruit gets its name from the characteristic five-pointed stars that are formed when it is cut. The greenish yellow fruit, 2.5 to 5 inches long, ripens to a dark yellow color with brownish edges on the ribs. The flesh is translucent yellow, crisp, very juicy, and fiber free. It tastes like a cross between tart apple and grape.
There are two types of star fruit, sweet and tart—it can be difficult to tell them apart. The tart star fruit is smaller, has a strong lemony taste from oxalic acid, and is used mainly for cooking. The sweet fruit is larger with thicker, fleshier ribs. There are also several white varieties, all of which are sweet. As a general rule, the yellower it is, the sweeter the fruit. The fruit may contain up to 12 flat, thin brown seeds, or none at all.
Season: Sweet fruits are available from summer to late winter. Tart fruits are available from late summer to midwinter.
Purchase: Choose large, plump, firm, crisp fruits with shiny skin.
Avoid: Do not buy shriveled or wrinkled fruits. The skin should not be too green or have brown spots.
Storage: Ripen at room temperature in a covered container for about 2 days, until the fruit is solid golden yellow in color. Browning along the edges is common and does not affect taste. Carambolas will keep 1 week in the refrigerator. They bruise easily, so handle with care.
Preparation:
- Rinse the fruit.
- Slice off and discard the ends. You do not need to peel the fruit, but if the outer edges of the ribs are too brown, they will be somewhat tough and bitter and should be cut away.
- Cut into crosswise slices and pick out any seeds.
Serving Suggestions: Grill star fruit slices with shrimp or chicken. Blend and strain, then add pineapple juice to taste and serve over ice. Add sliced star fruit to chicken salad. Add slices to garnish iced tea and tropical drinks.
Flavor Affinities: Avocado, basil, chicken, cilantro, cloves, curry, kiwi, lime, mango, mint, pineapple, rum, shrimp, tequila.
from Quirk Books: www.quirkbooks.com
