Useful exotic berries and fruits are increasingly found in our market. They attract the eye and attract the unknown tastes. But many consumers do not dare to buy them, because they do not know how they are and what they are useful for. Let's consider the most interesting of them.
LICHY.
Lychees are small fruits in the form of a nut with scaly skin. Their color varies from light to dark reddish-brown. The white flesh of the lychee fruit is very juicy. It has a sweet and sour spicy taste, reminiscent of muscat grapes. In the middle of the fetus is an inedible nucleus. This fruit grows in South Africa, on the island of Madegascar, in Thailand, Israel and Mauritius. To eat fruit, lychee should be cut at the base and cleaned like an egg. The flesh of the fruit is eaten raw. Fruits are rich in vitamins C, B1, B2. Lychee is a source of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron. In 100 grams of fruit contains: 0.3 grams of fat and 16.8 grams of carbohydrates. And the energy value corresponds to 74 kcal.
CARAMBALL .
Carambola is a bright yellow or golden berry weighing up to 200 grams. On the cannon there are five "edges" stretched along the fruit. In cross section, the berry acquires the outline of a five-pointed star. The fruits have a thin, delicate, almost transparent peel and watery fragrant pulp with a pleasant sweet and sour taste. A fruit is considered ripe if it has dark yellow and brown edges. He grows in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, Israel. Carambola is eaten raw or as an ingredient for fruit salads. It is also used as a beautiful decoration for any dish and cocktail. Store carambola at room temperature for a week. However, it should not be stored below 5 ° C (in the refrigerator). Carambola contains fiber, organic acids, minerals. This berry is a source of vitamins A, C, B1, B2, b-carotene, calcium and iron. In 100 grams of pulp contains: 1.2 g of protein; 0.5 g of fat; 3,5 carbohydrates. The energy value is 23 kcal. Juice of ripe fruit has antipyretic effect.
TAMARILLO.
Tamarillo at first glance looks like a tomato, so it is also called a tree-like tomato. The fruit is covered with a hard red skin. The flesh is juicy, yellow-orange with nucleoli. The taste is sweet and sour with light astringency. It grows in Colombia. Tamarillo can be eaten fresh. His skin has a bitter taste, so before you eat the fruit must be cleaned. Fruits are often used for making marmalade, jelly and marinade. Store the tamarillo at room temperature for 7-10 days. The fruit is rich in b-carotene, provitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, as well as substances with P-vitamin activity. Tamarillo also contains vitamins C, B1 and B2. Of the mineral elements, the potassium and phosphorus levels are the highest. Slightly less in it are calcium, iron and magnesium. Energy value: 100 grams of fruit corresponds to 240 kcal.
RAMBUTAN.
Rambutan is a fruit the size of a chestnut. In appearance, it resembles a sea urchin. Its surface is covered with long, red-brown needles. In the white transparent flesh of the fruit is an inedible bone. The taste of the fruit is refreshing, sweet and sour. Rambutan grows in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand. To use it, cut the flesh of the fetus and peel it. The flesh of the fruit can be eaten fresh or used for cooking tropical fruit salads with the addition of cognac or liqueur. Store rambutane for several days in the refrigerator. The energy value of 100 grams of fruit corresponds to 74 kcal. In this amount of pulp contains: 0.8 g of protein; 0.3 g of fat; 16.8 g of carbohydrates. Also the fruits of rambutan contain protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, nicotinic and citric acids. Also in them is a high content of vitamins of group B and vitamin C.
PRICKLY PEAR.
Opuntia is nothing but the fruit of a cactus. This fruit is rather large, fleshy, juicy. It reaches in diameter 7-10 centimeters. Opuntia has a barrel-like shape and is covered with slightly rounded bundles of very short and small spines protruding above the surface of the skin. The bunches of spines are staggered, at the same distance from each other. The flesh of the fruit is sweet and refreshing. It reminds of a juicy pear or strawberry. Opuntia grows in Morocco, Israel, Italy, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador. Its fruit is eaten raw. You can cut the fruit into two parts and scoop out a spoon, or squeeze the flesh of the fruit from the peel from top to bottom. Fruits are stored at room temperature for 2-3 days. Energy value: 100 grams correspond to 36 kcal. In 100 grams of fruit contains: 1 g of protein; 0.4 g of fat; 7.1 g of carbohydrates. This fruit is rich in vitamins C, B1, B2, b-carotene. The fruit has a laxative effect and contributes to the removal of toxins from the body. Also, the juice of the fruits of the prickly pear has an antipyretic effect on the body.
MARAKUYA.
Passion fruit is one of the representatives of useful exotic berries and fruits. She is also known as Peishen ("the fruit of passion"). The rind of ripe fruit has a yellow color. Jelly juicy pulp has a refreshing sweet and sour taste and characteristic aroma. Passion fruit seeds are also edible. It grows in Colombia. To eat fruit should be cut in half and scrape the seeds with a spoon. Aromatic flesh can be used as an ingredient for cakes, sauces, fruit salads. Store it at room temperature for 5-6 days. Energy and nutritional value: in 100 grams - 67 kcal; contains 2.4 g of protein; 0.4 g of fat and 13.44 g of carbohydrates. Passion fruit is a source of vitamins C (15-30 mg / 100 g), PP, B2, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron. It has a calming and mild hypnotic effect, lowers blood pressure.
MANGOESTAN.
Mangosteen is a round berry, which reaches a diameter of 5-7 centimeters. Mangosteen rind is very dense, the color varies from violet to brownish-red. The food uses a white juicy pulp, consisting of 4-7 segments. Refreshing, creamy taste of mangosteen is considered the most refined of all tropical fruits. It was thanks to its taste and aroma that mangosteen received the title of king of tropical fruits. He grows up in Indonesia, Thailand, Central America, in Brazil. To use, you need to cut the hard skin with a knife and, after cutting out the lid, remove it. Segments of the pulp are divided, as in the mandarin slice. The flesh of the fruit can be eaten raw, or used to make fruit salads and desserts. Store mangosteen in the refrigerator for 7 days. Energy and nutritional value: 100 grams = 77 kcal; in them 0.6 g of protein; 0.6 g of fat; 17.8 g of carbohydrates. The fruits of mangosteen are a source of vitamin B1 and calcium.
SWEET POTATO.
His tubers grow to 30 centimeters long. They are juicy, with a thin skin without eyes and tender flesh. Tubers can be spindle-shaped or spherical, depending on the variety. The color may be white, pink, pale green or orange. On the cut of the stem or the rupture of the tuber is the milky juice. The most developed cultivation of sweet potato in Israel, Egypt, USA. The tubers of sweet potato are eaten raw, baked and boiled, they are added to various porridges. They also cook soufflé, chips, jam, pastille and other dishes. And still get sugar, flour, alcohol and molasses. Young stems and leaves of sweet potato after soaking or boiling, removing bitter milky juice, are used for salads. Strawberries are stored in a cool dry place. The energy and nutritional value is as follows: in 100 grams, 96 kcal. Mature tubers contain glucose (3-6%), starch (25-30% weight), mineral salts, vitamins A and B6, carotene, ascorbic acid. Especially rich in carotene varieties with yellow flesh. According to the content of iron, calcium, carbohydrates, sweet potato considerably exceeds potatoes and its calorific value is 1.5 times higher.
GINGER.
The root of ginger has the appearance of roundish, located mainly in one plane of the pieces. Depending on the method of preliminary preparation, two types of ginger are distinguished. White ginger is a washed ginger, peeled from a superficial, denser layer. Black ginger - not pre-treated. Both kinds are dried in the sun. Black ginger, as a result, has a stronger smell and a burning taste. At the break, ginger has a light yellow color, regardless of the species. The older the root, the yellower it is at the break. Ginger grows in Brazil, Australia, Africa, the Far East. Ginger is suitable for giving a unique taste to such simple and everyday dishes as soups, minced meat, fruit salads, cakes, pastries, pickled cucumbers, drinks. Fresh ginger is used in small portions. To use it, you need to cut off a piece of root, peel and cut into very thin slices or grate it. Ginger contains an enzyme that dissolves fat. If the meat is sprinkled with fresh slices of ginger, it becomes much softer. Store fresh ginger in the refrigerator for a month. Energy and nutritional value: 100 grams of root corresponds to 63 kcal, contains 2.5 g of protein and 11 g of carbohydrates. Ginger also contains 2-3% essential oils. The use of candied ginger during or after a meal stimulates digestion.