As the name implies, starfruit is a fruit whose shape is like a star.
It is very unique in shape. That is why some people use it as garnish.
Starfruit has another name. It is also called Carambola or kamranga which means five fingers.
This fruit comes from Southeast Asia countries including Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Sri Lanka.
It also grows well in other countries which lie in tropical areas, such as Florida and Hawaii.
Starfruit can be harvested from July to February. The ripe fruit color is yellow with brownish color on every side.
Sometimes it is picked when nearly ripe or when the color is still greeny yellow because it can ripe in the storage.
Ripe starfruit tastes sweet and fresh. Sometimes it is a bit sour but still sweet.
A study shows that starfruit is good for health.
It is rich of vitamin C and vitamin A which can boost your immune system and works as antioxidant.
It is fat, sodium, and cholesterol free. It also a good source of fiber and potassium.
Amount of flavonoid is also found in them. So, it is very necessary for you to add starfruit to your menu.
Those who are not familiar with starfruit might not know how to eat it, and especially how to peel it.
So, here are several steps that you can follow on how to eat star fruit.
Step 1
Choose starfruit which is ripe enough for you to eat. You can check it from the color.
Choose the one which has yellow color. Sometimes ripe fruit has brownish edges.
Ripe fruit has firm but crunchy flesh, and juicy texture.
So, you can check the ripeness by touching the flesh of the fruit.
If it is not ripe yet, you can keep it in room temperature to let it ripe before eating.
But do not let it over ripe. Over ripe fruit will turn into brown.
Step 2
Clean the starfruit from dirt and other residues.
Wash it with cold and clean water. You can use fruit detergent if necessary. Then dry it.
Step 3
Cut both ends of the starfruit with a sharp knife, the peak of the fruit and the area where the stem grows.
Dispose them because they are not meant to eat.
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Step 4
Do not forget to cut a little part of every side of the starfruit and dispose it.
Usually, people cut the brownish side. In other words, cut the tip of the five sides whose color is darker.
This part usually tastes a bit bitter.
Step 5
Put the fruit horizontally on a cutting board.
Now you can slice the parts of starfruit across its width like a disc.
You will get star shape from this cutting method.
Step 6
Take out all of the seeds of the fruit.
You can pull it out by using the end of your finger or you can use your knife to remove it.
Step 7
Finally, you can eat it.
You do not really need to peel the waxy skin because it is edible.
You can eat it right away, or make it as fruit juice.
Using starfruit as garnish will make your smoothies or juice look more tempting.
Starfruit is good to be eaten raw. It tastes really fresh, sweet, and juicy.
If it is too boring, you can try the recipe using starfruit as the ingredient.
One of the recipe comes from Thailand.
People in Thailand love eating starfruit, especially because starfruit is produced in abundant there.
They can make it into salad, like what they do to mango.
This salad is easy to make. It is called starfruit in mango-orange sauce.
First, they will a bit cook the starfruit to make it firmer.
Then they will give mango and orange sauce. As a final touch,they will add coconut milk drizzle on top of it.
Sprinkle pomegranate seeds or cherries as the garnish.
Not only raw, you can also make it into delicious meal namely clam and starfruit soup.
What you need are:
- 20 clams
- 2 star fruits, slice them
- 2 minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon of shrimp paste
- 2 tablespoons of finely chopped baby leeks
- 2 cups of chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons of chopped coriander
First, shimmer the chicken stock in medium heat.
Then, add clams and cook it up to 8 or 10 minutes with the lid on.
When the shells open, remove it immediately from the chicken stock.
Heat the vegetable oil to stir fry the garlic and baby leeks. Wait until tender.
Then put shrimp paste, cooked clamps, starfruit and chicken stock.
Cook until it creates gravy texture. Sprinkle coriander as the final touch.
WOW! Starfruit is not only good to be eaten raw or drunk as juice, but it is also perfect for salad and soup.
It can give you essential nutrition for your body.
So what are you waiting for? Enjoy them now.
Hope that you can learn something from our discussion.
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