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Most fruits are round, right?
So it's quite the show stopper when we come across a sleek-skinned, star-shaped fruit bursting with juicy flavor that also delivers the nutritional goods.
This bundle of goodness is exactly what you get with carambola, also commonly known as starfruit.
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Starting out as bell-shaped flowers, this fruit blossoms into a five-pointed, oblong fruit that can be sliced into stars.
This unusually shaped fruit grows on bushy trees in tropical climates, including southern Florida.
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What the numbers mean
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Starfruit not only looks cool, but also it delivers on nutrition regardless of its small size.
One of the lower-calorie tropical fruits, one cup of starfruit weighs in at only 40 calories and yet provides 76 percent of the RDA for vitamin C and almost 4 grams of fiber.
Smaller amounts of potassium, copper, folate and pantothenic acid round out a solid nutritional profile.
Also rich in polyphenolic compounds, such as quercetin, starfruit has antioxidant properties to reduce oxidative stress to the body's cells, which, in turn, reduces inflammation.
Now that's a good deal!
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Mellow yellow it's not
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As it ripens, the color goes from a light green to a deeper yellow, with its points turning slightly brown and its texture getting slightly softer.
If you're seeking a tart flavor, use a starfruit when it's still slightly green, or wait for it to turn yellow for a sweet flavor.
In any case, handle them with care, as they can easily bruise.
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Star studded
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Star studded fruit kabobs
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Starfruit varies in size. Most will fit in the palm of your hand, making it handy to eat like an apple.
Starfruit is an all-in-one package. No peeling is required to enjoy its refreshing flavor, which is often described as a cross between a grape and an apple.
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In a starring role ...
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| Any salad is a star with slices of starfruit on top |
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Simply sliced into sparkling water
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Add to sparkling water for a star-studded aqua fresca.
Let the stars shine, diced into chutneys, salsas or smoothies.
Starfruit's light refreshing tropical taste reduces tomato's acidity while giving veggies like cucumbers or celery a boost in flavor.
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Starfruit showing its Asian roots
in this stir fry
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When warmed, it retains its star shape and looks great as an ice cream topping or in fruit compote.
Cook with your veggies and note how stars topping them creates a veggie disappearing act.
And move over pineapple-starfruit's great in an upside-down cake.
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Not the diva of the produce aisle
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Starfruit's easy to prepare for garnishing drinks, topping salads or adding to salsas.
Here are some tips...
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| Lunchbox star - starfruit |
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What are you waiting for?
Whether enjoyed sliced into stars, chopped for a recipe, blended for a smoothie or eaten whole for a snack, starfruit has a refreshing tropical taste that delivers high flavor, great texture and a nutritional bang for your buck.
To your health,
Donna Shields
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About the author
Donna Shields
As a registered dietician, Donna
uses progressive nutritional science
to achieve good health through a
flavorful lifestyle.
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