These exotic berries from South America are slowly beginning to conquer space in European markets and Asian bazaars. After all, in the homeland of feijoa, entire plantations are devoted to it. And when the harvest is harvested, there is so much of it that it is enough to feed your people and send it for export.
Feijoa is a truly unique berry. No matter how many people try it, everyone finds similarities with different fruits. Some people think that it tastes like pineapple, others associate it with strawberries, and still others find something in common with kiwi. Apparently, because of its appearance, since feijoa really resembles kiwi, albeit in a smaller form and without fibers.
Feijoa has a smooth green skin, which makes many people doubtful when purchasing it. It is very difficult to determine appearance the ripeness of the berry, without knowing the characteristics of its growth and stages of ripening. But connoisseurs easily choose ripe feijoas from among the mass of green fruits of different sizes.
How to choose the right feijoa
If the feijoa has a smooth peel Green colour with a glossy surface on which there are no wrinkles, and the berry itself is dense and strong, then such a fruit is apparently not yet ripe enough. If you cut it in half, there will be white pulp inside, which only happens in unripe fruits. Such feijoas are tasteless, and if a person tries an unripe fruit for the first time, he will decide that they all have the same taste. But you shouldn’t immediately turn away from shelves with unripe berries, because unripe feijoas ripen quite quickly and become ripe after 2-3 days.
And if the fruit is soft, but there are dark spots on the skin, then the feijoa is most likely already overripe. Although some sellers, in order to sell goods that have begun to deteriorate, claim that these stains are nothing more than iodine protruding on the surface. Indeed, feijoa contains a lot of iodine, more than seafood. But this has nothing to do with dark spots on the skin. If you cut such a fruit, you can see brownish pulp inside, which indicates that the feijoa is overripe, which means its taste has deteriorated.
Ripe feijoa has a green skin that has no spots or suspicious dents. The skin may be slightly wrinkled. The fruit itself will be soft to the touch. If you cut it, there will be a jelly-like pulp inside, almost transparent. These feijoas are the most delicious, sweet and aromatic. They are the ones that need to be eaten.
What is prepared from feijoa
Feijoa is a very tender berry. It is not customary to subject her heat treatment, so it is most often eaten in fresh.
Feijoa is delicious on its own, but can be added to salads. And not only in desserts, but also with white meat (chicken, pork) or boneless fish.
But still, most often they make it from feijoa fruit mixes with orange, pineapple, kiwi, apple or other fruits and berries. This fruit goes well with beets and carrots. Feijoa is delicious not only with fruits, but also with nuts.
Jam is made from feijoa, but it is not boiled, but ground with sugar in a 1:1 ratio. Although some consider it unnecessary to add such an amount of sugar, because these berries are already sweet. This jam is stored in the refrigerator. If you eat it one spoon three times a day, then with this healthy treats immunity can be improved.
Feijoa is added to ice cream, puddings, biscuits, and soufflés. These berries give baked goods and desserts a pleasant, refreshing taste.
Many people are concerned about the question: do you need to remove the skin? from the berry or can be eaten with it.
If feijoa is added in the salad, then it is cut into circles or cubes along with the peel. But this is the case if the berry is ripe, because the skin has a specific tart taste, especially of an unripe fruit.
For jam feijoa is ground together with the skin. And if the berries are added to pudding or ice cream, the peel is usually removed.
If feijoa is served as a dessert as independent dish , then it is cut in half and eaten with a spoon, scraping out the pulp.
Some people simply bite the top of the berry and suck out the contents. But this is considered not very good form.
Helpful information
- Feijoa is a good preventive remedy for atherosclerosis, problems with the thyroid gland, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. This berry improves metabolism.
- If it is peeled, the skin is not thrown away. The peel has a specific taste, but if dried, it can serve as an excellent flavoring agent when brewing tea.
- Despite its low calorie content, feijoa should not be carried away due to the large amount of iodine, an excess of which is just as harmful as its deficiency.
- Feijoa is not subject to long-term storage, so they buy it in small quantities. This berry can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week.
- Despite its exotic origin, feijoa practically does not cause allergic reactions. Therefore, it can be given even to small children. Especially if you have digestive problems.
Feijoa – green fruit tropical tree of the myrtle family. This berry is not very common in our country, but after trying it at least once, you can remain a fan of it forever. In this article we will tell you how to eat feijoa - with or without peel, what can be prepared from this fruit and how beneficial it is for health.
How feijoa is eaten - with or without peel - depends on what is prepared from it.
How to eat feijoa correctly
For those who are unfamiliar with the fruit, the question arises whether it is necessary to remove the peel from it or eat it along with it. This is how you should eat feijoa:
- You should first take a good look at the fruit and determine its ripeness - this is difficult to do by looking at it, so you need to slightly squeeze the fruit. If it is ripe, it will yield to pressure and feel like a ripe banana;
- Use a knife to cut it in half, preferably lengthwise;
- evaluate the pulp - it should be yellowish in color, transparent and gelatinous, with a pleasant aroma. If it has a brown tint, it means the fruit is overripe, but you can still eat it;
- Take the pulp with a small spoon and eat it.
Or you can bite off one end of the berry and suck out the contents. However, this method is not very aesthetically pleasing and can easily get dirty with juice.
There is an opinion that eating feijoa with the peel is much healthier, since it contains a large number of useful elements. Yes, you can eat this fruit with the peel, but you just need to keep in mind that it has a tart taste and is somewhat bitter. Therefore, lovers of unusual taste sensations can easily afford to consume this berry in a shell.
What is prepared from feijoa
You can cook from it:
- jam;
- fruit salads;
- jams;
- cold drinks;
- yoghurts;
- ice cream;
- wine;
- compotes;
- jelly.
The berries are also used to prepare various baked goods. If it is used for salads, it is cut into cubes or circles along with the peel. But you can only use fully ripe berries this way. To make jam, feijoa is usually crushed with its peel.
Hello, dear readers! Our guest today is exotic and came from afar, from Latin America. It came to Europe only at the end of the 19th century, from where it was transported to Crimea. It grows well in subtropical climates and areas former USSR settled in the southern regions of Russia (Dagestan, Krasnodar region), Transcaucasia and Central Asia. We are talking about feijoa - a fruit with such an unusual name for our ears.
Feijoa
Feijoa – good source and B vitamins, and minerals - potassium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, phosphorus, and most importantly - iodine. In terms of its content, feijoa is the only plant that can be compared with seafood. Moreover, the element, so necessary for humans, is in a water-soluble form and is easily absorbed by the body. However, it must be recognized that the amount of iodine depends on the place where the plant grew.
Feijoa. Benefits and contraindications
I understand that every fruit or berry is healthy. It is from them that we get vitamins and essential microelements. So what are the benefits of feijoa? What substances accumulate in this amazingly tasting berry?
- Due to the iodine content, the fruits are recommended by doctors for people with a deficiency of this element due to impaired activity. thyroid gland. Regular use Eating feijoa is an excellent prevention of thyroid diseases.
- For the same reason, the berry is desirable for consumption by schoolchildren and people engaged in mental work.
- Low calorie content allows nutritionists to recommend feijoa to people struggling with extra pounds.
- The high content of vitamin C makes feijoa useful for colds. It is good to prepare drinks from it, which the patient especially needs on days of illness, or if there is jam, then drink tea with jam.
- Feijoa is recommended for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and inflammatory diseases kidneys (pyelonephritis).
The fruits have no contraindications other than personal intolerance. The only people who need to be careful are the sick diabetes mellitus because the fruits are sweet.
How to eat feijoa?
Perhaps for many the question “how to eat feijoa” will be superfluous, but I will not be surprised that some people are not at all familiar with this berry.
Usually the fruits are picked and transported unripe. The fruits are green oval berries up to 7 cm long. It is impossible to distinguish whether the fruit is ripe or not by the color of the peel. Only by cutting it crosswise can you determine its ripeness. If the pulp is transparent, then the fruit is ripe; if it is opaque, it is white, then it is too early. Let it sit, wait until it ripens. When the fruit becomes soft and the pulp is jelly-like, it will bring you not only benefits, but also a pleasant taste sensation.
The taste of ripe feijoa is sweet and aromatic. It is best eaten with a spoon, but it can also be eaten with the peel, although taste qualities peels will make the experience worse because the skin is sour and tougher.
If you don't eat feijoa with its skin, don't throw it away. It is the peel that contains antioxidants. Therefore, brew it into tea or add it to compotes. To prevent the peel from spoiling, you can dry it.
Feijoa is actively used in cooking. It is used to make jam, compotes, lemonades, jams, jellies, and add fruit puree to sauces. Great to use them in salads. Agree that fragrant feijoa anyone will do fruit salad unforgettably delicious. It’s very tasty to grind the berries and mix with sugar, just like we prepare blackcurrants or cranberries. The resulting paste can be used to prepare delicious baked goods. 
How to make feijoa jam?
If you want to preserve the taste and benefits of this wonderful berry for the winter, then prepare jam or compote. As I already wrote above, it is best to twist the fresh berries and cover them with sugar. To do this, wash the berries, cut off the ends of the berries and twist through a meat grinder. Take granulated sugar in a ratio of 1: 1 or 1: 1.2. Keep this jam in the refrigerator for a short time.
Feijoa goes well with other fruits, so you can experiment and prepare mixed jam. Try adding orange or lemon. To do this, peel the fruit from seeds and films, leaving only the pulp. Wash and cut the feijoa. Mix the fruits and grind in a blender. To give extra spicy taste add crushed nuts to the jam (to your taste!) Add a kilogram of sugar per kilogram of the resulting mixture and cook the jam. There is nothing tastier and healthier! If you add lemons, their quantity should be less than oranges so that the jam is not too sour. But lemons add an unforgettable aroma!
Feijoa is exactly the fruit that appears in stores in our country only at the beginning of October. This product will no longer be available for sale in December. At the same time, many do not even know how to eat feijoa correctly, what can be prepared from it and what beneficial qualities it has. Let's figure it out.
Where does this fruit grow?
Initially, an evergreen plant called feijoa appeared in Argentina. Uruguay, Brazil, precisely in the subtropics of distant South America. For the first time they learned about this tree in Europe only at the end of the 19th century. The plant received its name from the pioneer botanist Joanie da Silvo Feijo. Now this tree is grown in Crimea, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the Krasnodar Territory. But large feijoa plantations can only be found in New Zealand. For a long time, this plant was considered decorative. The delightful tree with silver leaves very quickly spread throughout almost all subtropical zones. But in the tropics the plant did not take root at all. Gradually the popularity of this tree increased. But despite this, many still do not know what feijoa is. The beneficial properties of this plant have long been proven.
Beneficial properties of feijoa
So, what are the benefits of feijoa? It is worth noting that this fruit contains great amount Yoda. In terms of the content of this microelement, feijoa can only be compared with seafood. Why does the body need iodine? This trace element improves memory and speeds up thought processes. When there is enough iodine in our body, we feel great. We are cheerful and full of energy. If the amount of an element in our body decreases, we feel very weak and get tired very quickly.
In addition, feijoa fruit contains about 93 substances beneficial to humans. This fruit is a real treasure trove of vitamins. Feijoa contains fiber, essential sugar, malic acid, macro- and microelements.
The fruits of this plant are recommended for use for diseases of the thyroid gland. feijoa fruit, beneficial features which has been known for a long time, can be used for pyelonephritis, gastritis, vitamin deficiency, as well as in the presence of inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the fruits of the evergreen tree help reduce blood pressure and calm the heart. Essential oil Feijoa helps eliminate skin problems. This substance has anti-inflammatory properties.
Where can you use feijoa?
As for the smell and taste of this fruit, they resemble a combination of pineapple, kiwi and strawberry. Now imagine how many different dishes can be made with such a unique component. Feijoa fruit is used to prepare various sauces, salads, desserts, compotes, jams and preserves.
It is worth noting that these fruits go well with seafood. Especially with noble varieties of fish, such as sea bass or black cod. They can be stuffed with feijoa or the fruit can be served with these products as a side dish.
These fruits impart a piquant and unique taste to poultry and pork. Very often, a side dish with feijoa is made in combination with various vegetables: zucchini, Brussels sprouts, carrots. However, the fruit itself should not be processed, since when boiled the fruits become softer.
How to choose the right feijoa
So, you already know why feijoa is useful. Now you need to understand how to choose the right fruits. When choosing this fruit, you should pay special attention to the color of the pulp. Of course, the feijoa needs to be cut. If the flesh of the fruit is transparent, it means it is ripe. You should not buy brown fruits. This indicates that the feijoa has begun to deteriorate. If the pulp inside turns out to be opaque and white, then the fruit is not ripe.
It is also worth remembering that the fruit retains its useful qualities only for a week. Therefore, you should not buy feijoa, the beneficial properties of which have long been known, with a reserve. It’s better to immediately prepare something tasty from the fruits. It is worth noting that the fruits of this plant will not only diversify your menu, but will also become a table decoration.
Feijoa: how to eat it
This fruit can be eaten raw. It is worth noting that not only the pulp is edible, but also the peel. Of course, it is not as tasty, but it has much more benefits. To eat the pulp, you need to cut the fruit and carefully scoop it out with a spoon. However, it is better to cook various dishes from feijoa. Vitamins are almost completely preserved. What can you cook?
Raw jam
So, feijoa, how is it eaten and in what form? For starters, you can try jam from this fruit. The fruits should be crushed to a pulpy state. This can be done using a blender or a meat grinder. However, you should not remove the peel, as it contains a huge amount of vitamins. The resulting mass must be mixed with sugar. You will get simply amazing jam without cooking. For 1 kilogram of feijoa you need 1 kilogram of sugar. When the jam is ready, you can put it in pre-sterilized jars. Keep finished product better in the refrigerator. You can also add crushed hazelnuts or walnuts to the mixture.
How to make real jam
Feijoa, whose beneficial properties are known to many, can be eaten in the form of jam. To prepare it you need water, grated ginger, fruits and sugar, the amount of which should be 25% of all fruits. All components should be placed in a fireproof container and put on fire. But it's best to water bath. The delicacy should be cooked for 6 hours. In this case, you need to skim off the foam and stir regularly. Don't add grated ginger right away. It is better to do this at the end of cooking. It is worth noting that such an unusual combination will make the jam more tasty. The finished delicacy should be rubbed through a sieve. This will separate the ginger fibers and feijoa seeds from the jam.
Feijoa with beets
To prepare this simple salad you will need:
- Medium sized beets.
- From 100 to 200 grams of feijoa.
- Walnuts.
- Salt.
- Vegetable oil.
The fruits must be peeled and then finely chopped. It is better to boil the beets and chop them into coarse grater. Peel and crush the nuts. Mix all ingredients in one container, lightly salt and season with vegetable oil. It is worth considering that the calorie content of feijoa is very small. Therefore, the dish is perfect for those who watch their shape. In addition, boiled beets help cleanse the body. This dietary salad contains a lot of vitamins and fiber.
Pork special
To prepare this dish you will need:
- Pork.
- Feijoa.
- Lime.
- Vegetable oil.
- Salt.
- Cashew nuts.
- Paprika.
- Mix of lettuce leaves.
- Low-fat yogurt or mayonnaise.
- Red wine
The meat should be washed, dried with a paper towel, and then cut into small and thin slices. Lime and feijoa also need to be thoroughly washed and chopped. It is better to cut the fruit into thin rings. The onion should be peeled and cut into strips. After this, you need to put a frying pan on the fire, pour a little vegetable oil and warm it up well. Place pork slices in heated fat and fry them on all sides. After this, place the fruits and onions in the pan. You need to fry everything for another three minutes.
In almost ready meals you need to add a little red wine, soy sauce and add chopped cashews. All components must be thoroughly mixed and removed from heat. Mix of absolutely different varieties should be combined with low-fat yogurt or mayonnaise. An extraordinary dish is ready.
Tincture with cranberries and feijoa
The calorie content of feijoa is very small, so from this fruit you can prepare not only tasty, but also dietary dishes and drinks. To prepare cranberry tincture you will need:
The berries need to be washed and mashed. Peel the feijoa and cut it randomly. After this you can cook sugar syrup. To do this, pour 75 milliliters of water into a fireproof container and dissolve the sugar in it. Place the bowl with the syrup on the fire and bring to a boil. Pounded berries and chopped fruits should be transferred to a 700-milliliter container. You also need to add sugar syrup there. The remaining volume should be filled with water. Then everything needs to be mixed well. The container should be tightly closed and placed in a dark place. The tincture will be ready in 7 days.
Finally
Feijoa is a real treasure trove useful substances. The fruit can be consumed not only in its raw form. Feijoa is great for cooking various salads, sweets and even meat. This product has a simply amazing taste, which makes any dish simply unique.
