Star Fruit

20131022_210531

Starfruit also known as carambola is native to the Philippines, and the botanical name is “Averrhoa carambola. We call it “Balimbing” which is an ambiguation from the botanical name of another fruit we call “kamias” or Averrhoa bilimbi which is sour and used as a souring agent for soups and other dishes.

The fruit has five ridges on its sides and when you cut it crosswise you will find starshape pieces which most chefs and bartenders are using as garnishes for their foods and drinks. It’s actually becoming a popular fruit nowadays. Although it is not particularly sweet when you eat it, you can eat the whole fruit. No need to peel. Even the seeds are edible but you don’t have to eat it if you don’t like.

Starfruit or balimbing is rich in antioxidants and potassium. It is very juicy and good to eat fresh. It won’t keep long in the refrigerator so might as well enjoy eating it fresh and when in season. In the Philippines, summertime which runs from March to May will have an abundance of the starfruits.

Similar Posts

  • Breadfruit

    Breadfruit or “rimas” as we call it in the Philippines can be prepared as a vegetable or a fruit but it has to be cooked. The Hawaiians call it “Ulu” and has been their staple food for decades. I like breadfruit the way my grandma prepares it. She steams it and cut them up and…

  • Coconuts/Niyog

    Coconut is the most versatile of all plants that I ever knew. From the fruits, to the leaves, to the trunk almost all parts of it can be used for something. The leaves we used for wrapping a delicacy we call “suman” (glutinous rice wrapped in coconut leaves). The inner part of the leaves is…

  • Macopa/Mountain Apple

    Macopa or Mountain Apples are in season now in Hawaii and they look delicious. Their red color make them almost look like red delicious apples. They are crunchy and succulent and although not too sweet, they are refreshing to eat. Each fruit have a seed inside which you can discard because they are not edible.

  • |

    Jackfruit

    We call the jackfruit “langka” in the Philippines.  I consider it as the biggest fruit ever.  When I was young, we  nicknamed it “hog” because sometimes it grows as big as a pig.   I remember my grandma’s jackfruit tree in the farm and the fruit almost touches the ground.  I also remember eating the fruits…

  • Cashew Fruits

    Cashew nuts are my favorite snack food. I always wish I could eat the fresh roasted nuts from my hometown that I was accustomed to. Eating the fresh roasted cashew nuts is really a treat. It always remind me when I was a young kid, playing with the raw nuts as jackstones and then roasting…

  • Chico/Zapodilla

    Chico/Sapodilla Chico – (Manilkara Zapota-bot. name) is a very popular fruit in the Philippines. Although it is not native to the Islands, the fruit has been widely cultivated. It is in season during the months of January till February. In Hawaii they can be seen in the farmers market up to the month of May….