Wondering what star fruit is like? We’ll tell you all about the taste and texture as well as how to eat it. Then we’ll show you some of the most delectable uses of this tropical fruit in your recipes.
Let’s take a peek…
What Does Star fruit Taste Like?
Starfruit, star fruit or carambola, is an amazing little fruit that looks just like a star when sliced open. Its flavor is bright and complex in the sweet and sour range with the ripest fruits being the sweetest.
Carambolas have been said to taste similar to a mix of fruits like grapefruits, oranges, apples and pears. But there’s more: a sharp but pleasant acidity similar to pineapple as well as a gentle floral essence.
Star fruit Texture
This fruit has a fantastic texture. Ripe star fruits are a lot like grapes with waxy skins, tender and bursting with juice but with a firm snap as you bite into them.
Though all star fruits have a crispness to them, the less ripe fruits are fairly firm and less juicy. These might have a texture closer to an apple or an underripe pear.
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Does Star fruit Taste Good?
People seem to generally enjoy the flavor of star fruit, but perhaps more so when it’s fully ripened. Underripe star fruit can be quite sour, which may put some folks off.
Though really mature star fruits may be pretty sweet, their tang makes them particularly suited to fruit salads with bananas, mangos and berries.
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Do You Eat the Skin of Star fruit?
You don’t need to peel your star fruit. The skin is delicate and edible along with the entire fruit—even the seeds can be consumed, though they’re a bit hard and some people prefer to take them out.
To eat a star fruit, all you need to do is place it length-wise on your cutting board and cut it like you’d cut up a banana. Pop the seeds out if you don’t want to eat them and enjoy.
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Can You Eat Unripe Star fruit?
Many fruits can be eaten while immature, including the papaya, the mango and the star fruit. If you love that tart green apple flavor, you might like green star fruit (before it turns yellow).
Try using unripe star fruit in salsas and salads with garlic, onion and strong herbs like cilantro and Thai basil. Usually, underripe fruits are matched with bold flavors so that they don’t overwhelm the palate.
Star fruit Serving Tips
Eating star fruit can be an intuitive experience, but you may want to know which foods and flavors it works best with. See some examples in these short recipe videos.
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Star fruits are perfect for green smoothies. This tropical recipe incorporates the following ingredients:
- Coconut water
- Baby kale
- Spinach
- Star fruit
- Cucumber
- Beet
- Frozen pineapple
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseeds
- Hemp seeds
Chutney is the ultimate condiment for star fruit. This one is for savory dishes and can be served as a side to the main meal. Tip: It would be killer on top of vegan breakfast tacos.
Here’s what you need:
- Star fruit
- Mustard oil
- Salt
- Sugar
- Green chili
- Garlic
- Chili powder
- Coriander leaves (cilantro)
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Wrap Up
Star fruits are tart and sweet fruits like a mashup of citrus, apple and pear with a floral essence. They can be eaten when green and not yet fully ripe, though most people prefer them when they’re yellow and fully matured as they become more intensely sweet and juicy. Think about using star fruit in your smoothies as well as turning them into chutney or jam of the sweet or savory variety.
Hey, I’m Joey. I’ve been cooking since I was a little kid and love everything about it. You can find my writing about food, kitchen appliances (such as blenders) and much more. Thanks for stopping by!
