Buzz
Star fruit boasts a unique blend of sweetness and a tangy twist. Some describe its flavor as a mix of papaya, orange, and grapefruit, while others find it reminiscent of pineapple combined with lemon. You can enjoy star fruit fresh by slicing it, or incorporate it into various dishes and beverages. Below are some tips on how to prepare and savor star fruit.
Steps
Basic Facts About Star Fruit
Opt for star fruit with yellow skin. Ripe star fruit is typically firm and has a bright yellow skin.
- The more yellow the skin, the sweeter the fruit. A yellow star fruit with slightly brown edges is the most flavorful.
- A single star fruit contains about 30 calories. It is rich in fiber, vitamin C, carbohydrates, and water.
Slice the star fruit and enjoy it immediately. Use a sharp knife to cut the star fruit horizontally into star-shaped slices, about 6.5mm to 1.3cm thick.
- Wash the star fruit thoroughly before slicing. Rinse it under running water, using your fingers to scrub the skin until no dirt remains in the crevices.
- The entire star fruit is edible, so there's no need to peel or remove seeds before eating.
- You can enjoy star fruit on its own without any additional accompaniments.
Alternatively, trim the edges and remove seeds before eating. While the entire star fruit is edible, trimming the edges or removing seeds can enhance its visual appeal for decorative purposes.
- Wash the star fruit by scrubbing it with your fingers under cold running water.
- Hold the star fruit firmly with one hand. You can either hold it in your hand or place it on a cutting board or kitchen counter.
- Use a sharp knife to trim the edges. Start at the green or brown edge and make a thin cut to remove the less attractive parts.
- Cut off both ends of the star fruit. Slice about 1.2cm from each end to remove the pointed tips.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the star fruit into slices about 6.5mm to 1.3cm thick. Cut horizontally to maintain the star shape.
- Use the tip of the knife to remove seeds from the center of the fruit.
Avoid eating star fruit if you have kidney issues. Star fruit contains a neurotoxin that healthy kidneys can filter, but weakened kidneys may struggle to do so.
- Seek medical attention if you experience symptoms of "star fruit poisoning" after consuming it. Symptoms include insomnia, hiccups, vomiting, numbness, muscle spasms, weakness, and confusion. These symptoms typically last from 30 minutes to 14 hours after consumption. In rare cases, star fruit poisoning can be fatal.
Other Ways to Enjoy Star Fruit
Add star fruit to a fruit salad. Mix star fruit slices with other tropical fruits to create a sweet and tangy dish with vibrant colors.
- Fruits that pair well with star fruit include bananas, strawberries, kiwi, mango, pineapple, papaya, grapes, and citrus fruits.
- You can enhance the flavor of the fruit salad by adding a lemon vinaigrette, orange-flavored syrup, honey, or fruit syrup.
- For an extra tropical touch, sprinkle some shredded coconut over the fruit salad.
Incorporate star fruit into salads. Star fruit adds a delightful twist to simple green salads.
- For a basic salad, use ingredients like lettuce, chives, bell peppers, and avocado. Avoid traditional salad components such as carrots, cucumbers, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Opt for light vinaigrettes like lemon, grape, raspberry, or Italian-style dressings. A tangy French dressing also complements the flavor of star fruit.
Use star fruit as an edible garnish. Enhance the presentation of dishes and platters with star fruit slices.
- Add star fruit slices to tropical-flavored cakes or ice creams.
- Garnish tropical-inspired appetizers, such as teriyaki chicken, with artistically arranged star fruit slices.
- Cut a small star-shaped slice and place it on the rim of a cocktail glass.
Add star fruit to cakes or bread. Mash star fruit and incorporate it into fruit bread or use sliced star fruit in upside-down cakes.
- Mix 2 cups of flour with 1.5 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Combine this with a wet mixture made from 1/2 cup of butter, 1 cup of sugar, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon of white wine, and 2 cups of mashed star fruit. Stir in 1 cup of shredded coconut and bake in a standard pan for about 50 minutes at 180°C.
- Place 3 to 4 star fruit slices at the bottom of a greased 23cm cake pan. Pour regular or flavored cake batter over the star fruit and bake according to the recipe instructions. Invert the cake onto a plate before serving.
Pair star fruit with poultry or seafood dishes. Star fruit's flavor complements chicken, duck, and various fish and seafood.
- Add star fruit slices to dishes like fried rice, tropical stir-fried chicken, or Asian-style chicken stir-fry.
- Chop star fruit into small pieces and add it to chicken, tuna, or lobster salads.
- Serve grilled chicken, tuna steaks, shrimp, or duck with fresh or grilled star fruit.
Make star fruit jam. Cook mashed star fruit on the stove with sugar and tropical fruit juice. Blend the star fruit and add more liquid for a jam-like consistency, or use larger pieces with less liquid for a candied star fruit result.
How to Make Star Fruit Beverages.
Create a tropical smoothie. Blend star fruit with other tropical fruits and juices to make a thick, fruit-packed drink.
- Blend 3 seeded star fruits, 1 diced mango, 3 cups of orange juice, 2 cups of ice, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, and 1 tablespoon of honey until smooth. For variety, add pineapple chunks, strawberries, or bananas to the smoothie.
Make a star fruit cocktail. Combine pureed star fruit with fruit liqueur or rum for a refreshing alcoholic beverage.
- Blend 1 star fruit with 1/4 cup of orange liqueur, 1/2 cup of rum, 1 cup of orange juice, and some ice. Garnish with star fruit slices.
Prepare star fruit juice. For a non-alcoholic option, mix pureed star fruit with familiar fruit juices or water.
- Blend 450g of star fruit with a thumb-sized piece of ginger, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, 4 cups of water, and sugar or honey to taste. Strain and enjoy.
- Add sparkling water to the mixture for a non-alcoholic spritzer-style star fruit drink.
Finish.
Warnings
- Do not consume star fruit if you have kidney issues.
What You'll Need
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Blender
