Sour, sweet star fruit pickle is a delicious and irresistible snack. Would you like to try it? Let’s go to the kitchen with Farm to Palms and immediately make this starfruit pickle dish using the super simple and convenient recipe we suggest!
What is Star fruit?
Star fruit is a sweet and sour fruit with a shape similar to a five-pointed star. The skin is edible, and the flesh is slightly tart, which is popular in some dishes.
Star fruit can be yellow or green. Starfruit has 2 main types:
- A smaller, more sour type
- Bigger type, sweeter.
Nutritional content of Star fruit
Starfruit is a good source of nutrients – especially vitamin C and fiber.
The average nutritional content in a medium-sized sour star fruit (91 grams) is approximately:
- Fiber: 3 grams
- Protein: 1 gram
- Vitamin C: 52% RDI
- Vitamin B5: 4% RDI
- Folate: 3% RDI
- Copper: 6% RDI
- Potassium: 3% RDI
- Magnesium: 2% RDI
Although the nutrient content seems relatively low, remember that this serving only has 28 calories and 6g of carbs. Sour star fruit is very nutritious.
Uses of Star fruit
Star fruit also contains many other nutrients that are good for health.
This is an excellent source of healthy plant compounds. Including gallic acid, quercetin, and epicatechin.
These compounds have strong antioxidant properties, and they also have various health benefits.
The plant compounds in Star fruit have been shown to reduce the risk of fatty liver and cholesterol in mice.
Moreover, some animal studies have shown that star fruit’s sugar content can reduce inflammation.
How to prepare Star fruit
Simple ways to prepare Star fruit:
- Make sure it is ripe – a ripe starfruit should be mainly yellow with a hint of green.
- Wash the fruit under water.
- Cut off the ends.
- Slice it.
- Remove the seeds and enjoy.
Additionally, you can incorporate Star fruit into your diet in various ways, including:
- Slice it into bite-sized pieces.
- Add Star fruit to salads or other fresh dishes.
- Use it as a garnish.
- Turn it into baked goods or pudding.
- Add it to Asian or Indian-style stews and curries.
- Cook it with seafood or dishes with shells.
- Make jam, jelly, or hot sauce.
- Juice and drink it as a refreshing beverage.
Depending on your preference, you can choose to eat sweet or sour Star fruit, but also pay attention to how you eat it correctly:
- Clean the Star fruit under running water, using your hands to remove dirt from its grooves.
- Cut off the edges of the Star fruit, as this part affects the dish’s taste because it is often bitter.
- Slice the Star fruit into small pieces. Remove the seeds when dipping the Star fruit in sesame or chili salt to eat directly.
The side effects of Star fruit
Starfruit can cause side effects in some people, mainly due to its high oxalate content. Therefore, people with kidney problems should avoid eating Starfruit and use starfruit juice instead. You can also consult a doctor before trying Starfruit.
For people with kidney problems. Eating Star fruit regularly can lead to kidney damage and starfruit toxicity. This can cause nervous system problems – such as confusion, seizures, or even death.
People taking prescription medications should also be cautious when eating Star fruit. Like grapefruit, Star fruit can affect the breakdown and utilization of drugs in the body. Therefore, you should consult a doctor if you take other medications.
How to eat star fruit
Pickled starfruit with chili sauce
- Preparation: 10 minutes
- Cooking: 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients for Spicy Pickled Starfruit for 4 people
- 500g sour starfruit
- 200ml fish sauce
- 100g sugar
- 3 chilies
- (2 horn chilies and 1 bird’s eye chili)
- 1.5 tablespoons shrimp paste
Ingredients for 3 ways to make pickled star fruit
- Tools needed
- Mortar and pestle, spoon, pot, knife,…
How to make Spicy Pickled Star fruit
Step 1: Grind the chilies
Clean the horn chilies, remove the stems, and cut them into 3 small pieces. Please put them in the mortar and pestle, add 1.5 tablespoons of shrimp paste, and grind until smooth.
Step 2: Make the chili sauce.
Put 100 grams of sugar, 200 milliliters of fish sauce, a mixture of ground chili, and add 1 sliced hot chili in the pot. Turn on the stove to medium heat and cook while stirring until the sugar dissolves quickly; after the fish sauce boils for about 2 minutes, turn off the stove and let it cool.
Step 3: Mix the Star fruit
Clean the Star fruit, then slice it horizontally into bite-sized pieces. Mix the Star fruit thoroughly with the prepared chili fish sauce mixture, and it’s ready to enjoy.
Step 4: Finished product
Now, you have a delicious, spicy, pickled starfruit to enjoy while chatting with friends. The crispy, tangy Star fruit and the spicy, salty, sweet chili fish sauce are irresistible.
Spicy Pickled Star fruit
- Preparation: 5 minutes
- Cooking: 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients for Spicy Pickled Star fruit for 2 people
- 4 starfruit
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- A little salt/sugar
How to make Spicy Pickled Star fruit
Step 1: Prepare the Star fruit
Clean the Star fruit, remove the dark green veins to prevent bitterness, then slice into bite-sized pieces horizontally.
Step 2: Mix the Star fruit
Mix the Star fruit with 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 chili powder. Mix well, and it’s ready to enjoy.
Step 3: Finished product
You have a beautiful, spicy, pickled starfruit dish with these simple steps. The crispy, tangy Starfruit combined with salty, spicy chili is addictive at first bite.
Star fruit and Salty Plums
- Preparation: 5 minutes
- Cooking: 5 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
Ingredients for Star fruit and Salty Plums for 4 people
- 200g star fruit
- 2 tablespoons Salty Plums
- 1 tablespoon julienned ginger
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- A little salt/sugar
How to make Star Fruit with Salty Plums
Step 1: Prepare the Star fruit
Clean the Starfruit, remove the dark green parts on the veins, and cut it into bite-sized pieces vertically, removing the core.
Step 2: Mix the Starfruit
Mix the Starfruit with 4 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of Salty Plums, and 1 tablespoon of julienned ginger. Mix well to coat the Starfruit evenly with spices and marinate for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Finished product
Now, you have a delicious and attractive starfruit and Salty Plums to enjoy during snack time. The crispy, tangy Starfruit, spicy chili, salty plums, sweet taste, and fragrant ginger are enticing.
How to choose fresh and delicious Starfruit
It would help if you chose starfruits that are still fresh green when pressed on the outer skin and feel firm, not soft.
Choose starfruits with evenly distributed veins that fit in your hand, not too big or too small.
Fresh and delicious starfruits feel heavy and firm when held up, not soft, or have strange black spots.
Avoid choosing overripe starfruits, as they will not taste good when cooked.
Avoid selecting soft or watery starfruits with strange black spots on the skin.
Starfruit is a delicious fruit. It is low in calories but high in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. Additionally, it is important to note that individuals with kidney issues or those taking prescription medications should consult a doctor before consuming this fruit. However, for most people, Starfruit is a healthy and tasty addition to their diet.
Above is a detailed guide on 3 ways to make irresistibly delicious sweet and sour pickled Starfruit that are simple and addictive. Farm to Palms hopes their helpful tips will help you have more ideas for daily tasty meals. Wishing you success in your preparations!