Delicious, Medicinal Tropical Fruits
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Fresh Tropical Salad Recipe Below
I love fruit and when I travel I love to try the local fruit selections. Regardless of where I am, there is always something interesting at the farmers market or at roadside stands.
During this last trip to Hawaii I purchased some fresh picked fruits from a local, road side vendor to go along with the papaya we ate for breakfast each morning. The bright purple speckled fruit here is Dragon Fruit. I love Dragon fruit - but then I also love Kiwi and the bright magenta, seeded dragon fruit has a similar taste to kiwi.
As you can see from the picture the deep red color tends to bleed onto anything it touches including the white Lychee fruit laying next to it in the photo above.
The deep red color is so beautiful that it is often used to make wine as well as to color pastries, but I like it freshly chilled alone or with other tropical fruits. Be careful not to eat too much of it at a time as doing so can result in a reddish discoloration of the urine. The discoloration won't hurt you but it can be alarming.
Tip: Dragon fruit is a powerful antioxidant and it's medicinal properties include prevention of colon cancer and diabetes. Dragon fruit, neutralizes toxic substances such as heavy metals, reduces cholesterol and high blood pressure. Eaten regularly, it controls Asthma and cough.
Star fruit (Star Fruit, Star Apple, Carambola)is another common tropical fruit that is now sold in California and Florida as well as in Hawaii and other tropical areas. It's nickname is Star Fruit because when you slice it the slices are star shaped. This is a delicious, mildly sweet fruit with a waxy skin that is also edible. I love to slice it and use it in fruit salads as a beautiful garnish.
Tip: Star Fruit, Star Apple, Carambola is known to reduce elevated blood sugar when eaten regularly.
Lychee fruit is an under appreciated fruit that can take a little getting used to. But once you have tried it a few times you will want it every chance you get. Underneath the red bumpy skin is smooth, white flesh that is sweet and tastes a little like a tropical flower smells. Peel the fruit and discard the seed. Then either eat it or use it in fruit salads. Delicious!
Tip: Lychees are a rich source of Vitamin C, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and thiamine and are said to cure a cough and indigestion.
Many of these fruits are becoming widely available in your local grocery store, so when you have the chance to buy tropical fruit don't just buy the pineapple and mangoes, try something new and refreshing. You will be glad you did.
Tropical Fruit Salad
Chop or slice the following into a bowl:
1/2 ripe pineapple, chunked
1 mango peeled and seeded
6 medium lychees peeled and seeded
1 ripe banana
2 kiwi, peel, slice and then quarter the slices
6-8 large strawberries, sliced and halved
1 cup chunked papaya
1/2 cup guava juice
1/2 cup passion fruit juice
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 Tbs. coconut milk
3 Tbs. lightly toasted coconut
5 slices star fruit (with peel)
Mix fruit chunks (except Star fruit) in a bowl. Chill.
Whisk together juices and coconut milk. Pour over fruit and toss lightly.
Garnish with toasted coconut and star fruit slices.
Serve.
Labels: dragon fruit, Hawaii, lychee, medicinal, star apple
