Considering the recent pandemic that has occurred, it’s wise to consider adding some healthy tropical fruits to your shopping list. It never hurts to be healthy, and these seven tropical fruits will be a wonderful way to add some much-needed vitamins to your daily cooking.
Some of these fruits can be used in cocktails. There are many ways to get the exotic, tropical flavors in the cocktails or mocktails that you make. Try dragon fruit syrup with any cocktail to enhance the look and flavor.
Papaya
The papaya is prominent in Asia and is usually eaten post-meal. The papaya is a Central American native, is a wonderful mid-day snack packed full of vitamin C. It also aids in your digestion. The papaya is also rich in antioxidant vitamins, fiber, and carotenes. In Thailand, the papaya is used in a salad called som tam. The flesh of the papaya has a soft, buttery flesh with peppery seeds. The papaya is normally seven inches long but can grow up to twenty inches. With only 118 calories per papaya, it is a great source of folate. The papaya has the enzyme papain which is used in meat tenderizers and helps in the digestion of proteins.
Banana
The banana is packed with vitamins A, B, C, and potassium. What’s even better, it’s sold at your local grocery store at a cheap price. Bananas can improve your mood as well. The reason for this is they contain an amino acid called tryptophan. Tropical bananas in Singapore and Malaysia are very sweet. They are fried up in a fritter, also called goreng pisang.
Coconut
The coconut, also known as a superfood, is full of electrolytes. It can be substituted for water, especially in humid climates. The white flesh of the coconut is full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. The flesh also contains medium-chain fatty acids (saturated or unsaturated fatty acids). These fatty acids reduce the risk of getting heart disease and can even reduce inflammation.
Passion Fruit
The passion fruit, also called purple granadilla (little pomegranate in Spanish) is rich in fiber and potassium. Not only is it good for you, but it contains only sixteen calories per fruit. You scoop out the inside, eat the pulp and even the seeds. You can add it to salads and serve with chicken, fish, and pork. It can be strained and used in a variety of desserts, cocktails, juices, and sauces.
Star Fruit
Hailing from Southeast Asia, the star fruit, also known as carambola, is one of the lowest-calorie tropical fruits. It’s packed full of phytonutrients, fiber, B-complex vitamins, and is high in vitamin C. The star fruit also contains small amounts of phosphorus, potassium, iron, and zinc. With a sweet-tart taste, the star fruit has only forty calories and can be eaten skin and all. There is no need to peel or seed it. Just wash and enjoy. In traditional Chinese medicine, this star-shaped fruit is used to treat coughs and sore throats.
Dragon Fuit
Fruit lovers around the world can’t get enough of the vibrantly hued Dragon fruit, which includes the red and white varieties. The red Dragon fruit features bright pink skin with green-tipped scales, while the white Dragon fruit exhibits a paler exterior. Cutting open these fruits reveals their stunning fuchsia-red and white-colored flesh, respectively, both adorned with tiny black seeds. The taste of Dragon fruit is mildly sweet, reminiscent of a delightful blend of pear and kiwi flavors. To enjoy this delicious fruit, simply scoop out the soft insides by cutting it down the middle. Dragon fruit is versatile and can be used as an ingredient in fruit salads, enjoyed fresh, or consumed in juice form.
Guava
The guava is a sweet, juicy fruit. It has the same taste as a pear or strawberry. They come in a variety of colors such as red, pink, yellow, and white. Just like the star fruit, the whole thing can be eaten. The guava is loaded in vitamin C, vitamin A, fiber, phosphorus, and potassium. You can use it in desserts, juices, jams, and cocktails.
Kiwifruit
The delicious kiwi is among the favorites when it comes to tropical fruits. They are grown on a vine and have a sweet-tart taste. The kiwi has only 70 calories and is packed with fiber and potassium. They have twice the vitamin C as oranges. Even though you can eat the fuzzy brown skin of a kiwi, it’s best to either peel the skin off with a vegetable peeler or cut in half and scoop out the delicious insides with a spoon. Even the seeds are edible in the kiwi. You can use a kiwi in salads, juices, cocktails, and even yogurt.
Any time you travel to a tropical place to get the freshest fruits, be sure to never buy sliced fruit from a street vendor. Make sure you only buy whole fruit and wash thoroughly with bottled water to avoid an upset stomach or any chance of sickness. You should always wash your fruit, even if buying from a supermarket.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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