How to Use Winter's Shining Starfruit
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All fruits are naturally engineered to look, smell, and taste as gorgeous as possible. Fruit plants are dependent upon it for regeneration! The Starfruit (also called “carambola”) is example of a fruit that really nails the beauty aspect. Grown in Southeast Asia, Australia, South America, Hawaii and Florida, starfruit is the quintessential tropical identifier that just screams luxury in fruit salads. Not only that, but starfruits are a good choice during the winter months because they are readily available, and because they're a good source of vitamin C. They are sweet, with a note of tartness, and have a firm, grape-like texture.
A ripe starfruit should be firm to the touch, have a bright yellow color, and may have slightly browned edges. Occasional patches of green are okay, but if a starfruit is mostly green in color, it means it’s not ripe. With its beautiful shape, starfruit is a natural choice for a garnish on the rim of a fun frozen drink. Just slice a little notch in it like you would a lemon or lime wedge, and stick it on the rim of your cocktail. Starfruit can also be baked and covered in a syrup for a fun, sweet star-shaped chip. Starfruits are commonly made into pickles or chutneys. These could go in salads, on top of curries, or basically go anywhere you’d eat any kind of pickled produce. This is a good use for starfruit that is less ripe.
About the Chef
Stephanie Goldfarb is a Chicago-based chef and national food television personality specializing in seasonal, globally-inspired cuisine. Recognized as the winner of Food Network’s America’s Best Cook competition, and a celebrity chef on Kitchen Inferno and NBC’s Food Fighters, Goldfarb delivers unique and relatable culinary experiences to discriminating and casual diners alike. As the owner of the successful Seven Species Supper Club & Catering, she enjoys the challenge of building brand new menus each month that inspire both repeat clients and newcomers, and seeks opportunities to utilize new ingredients, techniques, and approaches in accessible ways.