Carambola – Star Fruit

Named for its unique shape, Star Fruit has become an increasingly popular import to North America. Star fruit starts green and then ripens to a bright yellow colour. They are ripe once there is either yellow-green or completely yellow with a tiniest bit of brown on the points of the star. If they are fully yellow and have brown spots, then they are overripe and may be blander in taste and somewhat soggy in texture.

A ripe starfruit will be similar in texture to a grape with a high water/juice content. The riper the starfruit, the sweeter the flavour. A ripe starfruit picked straight from the tree has often been likened to pears for sugar content. Ripening the starfruit off of the tree cuts off their sugar absorption and gives them more of a tart, citrus flavour.

The entire starfruit is edible, including the waxy looking skin and the seeds. Most prefer to eat star fruit plain, but it also mixes well into both fruit and leafy green salads, as well as makes a great accompaniment for poultry or seafood dishes. Dirt does tend to hide in the crevices of the star shape, so make sure to wash it thoroughly before slicing and eating.

As a caution, the fruit does contain a neurotoxin that damaged kidneys are unable to filter, so those taking medication for their kidneys or who are undergoing dialysis should check with their physician before consuming the fruit.