A Star Fruit

Hello, everyone!

Today, I want to talk to you about one of my favorite fruits: Star Fruit, also known as Carambola!

It’s incredibly delicious and packed with health benefits. As you can imagine, it can be consumed and cooked in numerous ways.

Let's start by introducing this star fruit.

 Star Fruit 

Origin

Carambola is an exotic fruit native to Southeast Asia. Its scientific name is Averrhoa carambola, and it belongs to the family Oxalidaceae. Today, you can also find it in various hot and humid climates, such as South America, Central America, and Australia.

Around four years after planting, the carambola tree begins to bear its first Star Fruit , and it can produce fruit for approximately 50 to 70 years.

Star Fruit is typically picked when green and turns a golden color when it ripens. Oval in shape, it measures between 5 and 15 centimeters in length and has 4 to 8 ridges. Its skin is smooth and waxy, while its pale green to dark yellow flesh is crunchy and has a tangy taste reminiscent of citrus and pineapple. There is also a variety of Star Fruitthat remains green when ripe and is quite acidic. It’s not just delicious but also very nutritious!

 Star Fruit  Tree

It's so good for your health but ....

Did you know that Star Fruit contains over 90% water? This makes it ideal for cooling and hydrating.

Low in calories, star fruit is notable for its high vitamin C content, which plays an essential role in the body. It helps prevent viral and bacterial infections, protects blood vessel walls, promotes healing and iron absorption, and has strong antioxidant properties.

Star Fruit also provides valuable levels of beta-carotene (or provitamin A), another important antioxidant that helps combat cellular aging and cardiovascular diseases. It also contains potassium and phosphorus. However, be cautious: Star Fruit contains oxalates, which in high doses can lead to kidney issues. It also has a neurotoxin that can cause serious neurological problems in those with kidney disease.

If you suffer from any kidney issues, it’s best to avoid this fruit. Sorry!

Let's Talk about eating the Star Fruit

Nhamy Caramboa Recipe.

Carambola is often used to garnish dishes, adding a joyful touch thanks to its unique shape. It can elevate a simple plate to an effortlessly gourmet-looking dish.

You can consume it cooked or raw, green or ripe, depending on your desired flavor and texture for the dish.

Due to its unique flavor, Star Fruit can be used to create:

• Jelly and jam

• Sorbet

• Compote

• Cocktails, smoothies, and homemade fruit juices

• Garnishes for pies

• Spicy chutneys, homemade salsas, and ketchups

• Salads

• Toppings for pancakes, French toast, waffles, etc.

• Asian stir-fries

• Side dishes

It’s a versatile fruit that allows you to explore various recipes and invent your own according to your preferences.

In my next three posts, I will share three simple yet gourmet and delicious Nhamy recipes featuring Star Fruit.

I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to the fruit before the recipes!

See you in the next post!

Xo