My New Favorite Fruit

One of the things that I have enjoyed living overseas is the opportunity to try new fruits and vegetables.  I have been very blessed to have a nearby fresh fruit and vegetable market both in Prague and here in the UK (at least on Saturdays).  A few of my favorites have been:

• Kohlrabi - I learned it as calubna (that's a poor spelling of the Czech pronunciation).  It's a wonderful crisp member of the radish family.  It looks like a bulb and has edible greens (like turnip greens), but I don't eat that part.  Research has shown that you can eat is cooked, but I like it raw.  Small ones are best - it's a bit sweet with a refreshing crunch.  It makes a great substitute for water chestnuts in spinach dip.
• Fresh figs - I despise dried figs.  And Fig Newtons have never been appealing to me at all.  But, fresh figs are a completely different story.  While you can eat the skin, I don't find it very tasty.  I like to split the fig in half and scoop out the pulp.  I think it tastes like a kiwi, but with the texture of a peach.  Watch out if you try to find these in America - I seriously doubt you can find one that is fresh enough to actually taste good.
• Pomegranate - I think I tried these once in the States. The juice is great, but the fruit is even better. Since learning the drown-it-in-water-while-you're-getting-the-seeds-out method I have eaten it stain free. They are quite yummy. Unfortunately, the prime season is past, but I can always look forward to next year!

But my new favorite is this one.

 

Do you know what it is?  The lychee!  It's yummy.  The outside looks scary, but the inside has the texture of a grape with a slight grapefruit flavor.  The seed is enormous, so don't chomp down too hard, but I think they're great.  Now, I wonder what I shall have the opportunity to try next . . . .