Eating fresh fruit is one of life’s few obligatory pleasures that we so easily take for granted. It is an immensely rewarding experience to grow your own fruit and very rewarding to pick it by hand and eat it straight from the tree. If you need to awaken your passion for fruits, be more adventurous! Many more things can be done with a fruit besides eating it fresh and whole. Here are some ideas for eating well using fresh fruit.
Juice is a quick and easy fix. Most fruits are rich in meat and water, making them ideal for squeezing or crushing to make a refreshing drink. When preparing a light summer drink, what you need are citrus and berries. They have a mild to strong, sweet and sour flavor that is totally refreshing on a hot summer afternoon. For thicker, richer juices, tropical fruits like bananas, papaya, mango, and guava are just perfect. They are great for smoothies and just what you need to start the day with lots of energy and good digestion.
The cakes and pastries are simply the best, whether you love baking or have a sweet tooth. Berries and pome fruits (apples and pears) make some of the best fruit pies and fruit tarts. They add a vibrant spiciness to the pastry dish and with a little cinnamon, they work wonders.
Chutney is typically a South Asian condiment that accompanies curries, rice dishes, and even desserts. It is made by chopping fruits and cooking them with spices, vinegar and other ingredients until they become pulp. Its texture can vary from rough to smooth, and its spiciness also varies, from spicy to mild. They add a “oomph” to savory dishes, especially those made from mango, lime, tamarind, and even coconut.
Garnishing your meal with fancy fruit goes a long way to impressing a guest. It is important to choose fruits that are bright in color and light to eat. Citrus fruits are quite popular, as are berries.
Salads are the perfect light meal for hot, sweltering weather, and not to mention, for weight loss. Fresh fruits can be used to make a fruit salad or a mixed fruit and vegetable salad. When preparing mixed fruit and vegetable salads, grate fruits such as apples, pears and coconut, so that they mix quite well. Lime or lemons can also be used to rinse salad leaves, their acidic qualities kill germs and add flavor.
The stuffing is a traditional Christmas and Thanksgiving favorite. Pork and poultry dishes prepared with a mix of fruits, herbs, and spices can be delightful. Once again, berries, citrus, apples, and pears are the favorites of the majority.
The next time you eat fresh fruit, why not explore the kitchen with some of these ideas for eating right?