In Asia, carambola is as common as apples for the inhabitants of Russia. By the way, this fruit tastes like a sour apple crossed with a cucumber, and in color it is almost like his relatives - yellow-green. But outwardly it resembles a star in cross section. It is for this reason that the ribbed fruit is often called "starfruit", from the word "star". And you can also find other poetic names for carambola - "the fifth corner" and "star apple".
The exotic fruit is popular in Asia, but it is also very common in India, Indonesia, Ghana, and even grows in Hawaii. Russians can try the product for the first time in Brazil and Thailand, and Europeans are now happy to decorate their festive tables with a five-pointed edible curiosity. You just need to cut it across, and the unusual dish is ready to eat.
What a taste
Carambola is distinguished by a delicate sweet and sour taste, fresh and pleasant. Someone senses the taste of gooseberries and plums in ripe carambola. You can taste orange and cucumber. There are many flavors. You just have to try to get your own idea.
The pulp contains a large amount of liquid, like a cucumber, and it is often used simply to quench thirst.
What is the use
Carambola has very few calories - no more than 35 per 100 g. So you can eat and drink this fruit in unlimited quantities. In addition, it does not provoke allergies (mashed potatoes are used in Asia as a baby's first complementary food). But it is contraindicated in case of high acidity of the stomach, with gastritis and ulcers and renal diseases (due to oxalic acid in the composition).
Despite the exotic name, bright color and unusual shape, the tropical fruit is not a dummy, it is rich in vitamins and minerals. For his benefit, he is very valuable. So vitamin B1, entering the human body with fruit pulp, has a positive effect on the state of the nervous system. Reception of carambola relieves a person's irritability, makes him balanced. And literally 3-5 minutes after the "star apple" snack, the mood improves and the person feels a surge of strength and vivacity.
The acids that saturate carambola have a beneficial effect on the thyroid gland. Eating a star from time to time can negate food allergies. Also, an exotic specimen is an excellent prevention of cardiovascular diseases and arthritis. Thanks to thiamine in its composition, it has a good effect on the functioning of the digestive tract. The fruit perfectly improves appetite.
Carambola is recommended by doctors for children, the elderly and especially sick patients after serious illnesses.
By the way, immunity will also be grateful if you decide to increase it with "starfruit". Even if the cold has already overtaken, the daily use of this product will increase the body's resistance.
Women revere the fruit for its rejuvenating properties. Frequent use leads to strengthening of nail platinum, hair shine and skin hydration. Dietary benefits are also a great benefit for people who are losing weight.
Finally, carambola is brilliant at dealing with the worst hangover. A freshly squeezed 100-150 ml of drink is enough, and thirst with a headache will be relieved as if by hand. And thanks to trace elements in its composition, the fruit removes toxins and other harmful substances from the body weakened by alcohol (or diseases).
As it is
The carambola is delicious. But only if she is mature. Like bananas, "starfruits" ripen gradually when plucked. They can be yellow with a sweet soft pulp, and green with a dense filling. Asians prefer the second option. But preferences are individual.
In a good fruit, the narrow ribs are clearly divided, and the edges are fleshy and moderately soft. The top coating of the edges is also used for food. It should be remembered that the product is imported to Russia unripe, it ripens on store shelves. You can store carambola at home for no longer than 4 weeks.
To eat the fruit, first you need to rinse it, carefully rubbing all the edges and depressions with a sponge or brush. It is in these places that there is a lot of dust and dirt.
Correctly the fruit is cut across into several pointed stars. And it is eaten raw with seeds and peels. If you don't want to crunch the bones, just pierce the center of the star with a sharp object and remove the soft bones from the pulp. The edges of the fruit can also be trimmed by removing the black veins and rind.
Carambola can be used to decorate dessert, ice cream, cocktail glass and even meat dishes. The meat is served with sweet and sour carambola sauce. Asians use the fruit as a filling for stuffing baked fish.
In Hawaii, they learned to make sweet sorbet from carambola by adding lemon pulp and gelatin to the fruit juice. Also, carambola juice will be an excellent addition to a cocktail with coconut, orange, pineapple juice or mango pulp.
