Carambola has a sweet and slightly sour taste. Some people call it a cross between papaya, orange and grapefruit, while others compare it to a mix of pineapple and lemon. Carambola can be sliced and eaten alone, or used to accompany recipes and drinks. This guide will show you how to prepare and eat starfruit in different ways.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: The basics
Step 1. The starfruit should be eaten when it is yellow in color
A ripe fruit is firm and has a bright yellow skin.
- The more yellow the peel, the sweeter the fruit will be. A carom with the ends slightly tinged towards brown is ideal.
- A starch contains about 30 calories and is an excellent source of fiber, vitamin C, carbohydrates and water.
Step 2. Slice the fruit and eat it alone
Use a sharp knife and cut it horizontally to create star-shaped slices. Give it a thickness of about 0.5 - 1 cm.
- Wash the starfruit before slicing it. Rinse it under running water and rub it with your fingers to remove all traces of dirt from the less accessible parts.
- It is possible to eat any part of the fruit, so you will not have to peel it or deprive it of seeds.
- Carambola is excellent eaten alone, without any kind of addition.
Step 3. If you prefer, remove the ends and seeds before eating
Although the fruit is edible in all its parts, for a more elegant presentation, you may want to eliminate the brown areas and the seeds.
- After washing the fruit carefully, hold it in one hand and place it on a cutting board or kitchen worktop.
- Take a knife and slide it along the edges of the fruit to remove the green or brown parts. Just remove the non-yellow areas with very thin slices.
- Trim the ends. Remove a generous inch from the bottom and top of the fruit, removing any green or brown traces.
- Put the fruit on one side and slice it forming many stars of the desired thickness (from 1/2 to 1 cm approximately).
- Remove the seeds visible in the center of the slices with the tip of the knife.
Step 4. If you suffer from kidney disease, do not eat starfruit
The fruit contains a neurotoxin that a damaged kidney cannot eliminate.
If after eating the fruit you have symptoms of "intoxication" go to the emergency room. Symptoms can include insomnia, hiccups, vomiting, lethargy, seizures, loss of strength and confusion. Symptoms usually occur within 30 minutes of ingestion and up to 14 hours thereafter. In rare cases, carom poisoning can lead to death
Part 2 of 3: Alternative ways to eat starfruit
Step 1. Add the star fruit to a salad
Pair carom slices with other tropical fruits to create a sweet and colorful blend of colors and flavors.
- Banana, strawberries, kiwi, mango, pineapple, papaya, grapes and citrus go perfectly with the starfruit.
- You can dress your fruit salad with a light lemon-based vinaigrette, or with an orange glaze, honey or fruit syrup.
- Add an extra exotic touch to your dish with some grated coconut.
Step 2. Bring the leaf salad to life
Carambola is a great addition to a classic green salad.
- Make a simple salad using lettuce leaves, chives, bell pepper, and avocado. Avoid more classic garden vegetables like carrots and cucumbers.
- Opt for a dressing with an acidic part like a light vinaigrette, or add lemon or balsamic vinegar, or apples, to your usual dressing.
Step 3. Use the starfruit to decorate your preparations with an exotic touch
Slice it into a star shape and remind your guests that the decorations can be eaten.
- Decorate a tropical-flavored cake or a colorful cup of ice cream.
- Decorate a recipe with an exotic taste, giving space to the imagination.
- Carve a star-shaped slice and hang it on a cocktail glass.
Step 4. Add the starfruit to a cake or bread
Turn it into a puree and add it to the dough or spread it on the bottom of the pan and prepare a cake that can be turned upside down when cooked.
- Mix 500 ml of flour, 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. In another bowl, make a cream with 125 ml of butter, 250 ml of sugar, 3 eggs, 1 teaspoon of white wine and 500 ml of carom puree. Mix the two compounds and add 250ml of chopped coconut. Pour the mixture into a bread pan and bake for 50 minutes at 180 degrees.
- Arrange 3 or 4 slices of star fruit on the bottom of a greased cake pan. Make a cake mix (such as Paradiso cake) and pour it over the carambola slices. Bake the cake following the normal directions. Before serving, turn the cake upside down on a serving dish.
Step 5. Accompany your poultry or fish dishes with starfruit, its flavor is great when paired with chicken, duck, fish and seafood
- Make an oriental-inspired chicken recipe and add slices of raw starfruit to the plate.
- The star fruit, cut into small pieces, can be added to a chicken, tuna or lobster salad.
- Grilled chicken, tuna fillets, shrimp and duck can also be deliciously accompanied by raw or grilled slices of carambola.
Step 6. Make carambola preserves
Cut it into pieces and cook it in a pot with sugar and tropical fruit juice. Make a jam, incorporating a lot of liquid and cutting the fruit into very small pieces, or a chutney, adding less juice and making larger pieces.
Part 3 of 3: Drink the starfruit
Step 1. Make a tropical smoothie
Blend the starfruit with other exotic fruits and juices.
Blend 3 seedless star fruits, 1 diced mango, 750ml orange juice, 500ml ice, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon of honey. Blend them to obtain a smooth and homogeneous consistency. If you wish, add chopped pineapple, some strawberries or banana slices
Step 2. Make a cocktail
Mix the puree of carom with rum and fruit liqueur, you will get a fabulous and refreshing alcoholic drink.
Blend 1 star fruit with 60 ml of orange liqueur and 125 ml of rum. Add 250ml of orange juice and ice cubes. Decorate the cocktail with carom slices
Step 3. Make carom juice
Mix the star fruit puree with water or fruit juice, you will get a fabulous non-alcoholic drink.
- Blend 450 g of carambola with a piece of ginger. Add 1 teaspoon of lime juice, 1 liter of water and sugar or honey to taste. Filter the juice and serve it.
- Add sparkling water to give your drink a sparkling touch.
