Add a modern twist to your next dish with this stylish fruit
Best to buy
Star fruit, or carambola, is available all year long.
Cut & clean
Star fruit does not need to be peeled. Simply rinse under cool water and slice.
The star of your next salad
When sliced, star fruit’s unique shape adds beauty, style, and a sweet, tangy flavor to
cocktails, and fruit or vegetable salads. They
make a great, edible garnish as well.
Power food
Star fruit is an excellent source of vitamin
C.
Carambolas do not need to be peeled. Unripe carambolas can be prepared as a vegetable,
usually in stir-fry dishes. Ripe carambolas can be puréed into sorbets or puddings, or
added to salads. When sliced, their unique star shape adds a beautiful garnish to cakes,
cocktails, fruit and vegetable trays, and entrées. Dried carambola makes a delicious
snack.
Buying and storing tips
Carambola is available year-round. Look for shiny yellow carambolas that are without
bruises and are not too soft. Carambolas with a little green color on the ridges may be
ripened at home. Ripe carambola should be used as soon as possible. If it’s not going to
be used immediately, tightly wrap ripe carambola in a plastic bag and store in the
refrigerator.
Varieties
So far is known, there is just one variety of carambola.
Nutrition Highlights
Carambola, 1 small
Calories: 22
Protein: 1g
Carbohydrate: 5g
Total Fat: 0g
Fiber: 2g
*Excellent source of: Vitamin C (24.08mg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular
nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good
source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily
Value.
The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes
only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult
your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any
supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications.
Information expires September 2008.
