The Observer, February 22, 2008
Volume XL, Issue 18
Lighten Up: Fantastic Winter Fruits
Around this time every winter, we are faced with the reality that the wind and the cold are not going to stop anytime soon. On the other hand, spring break, with its beach vacations and wonderful relaxation, is right around the corner. It is time to stop reaching for those high-calorie comfort foods and find a fresh alternative, such as fresh fruits. Believe it or not, there are some great fruits that are in season right now, in the middle of winter. In fact, this is the best time of year for some exotic fruits that you may have been anxious to try.
According to Discovery Health, winter fruits include such tropical and exotic wonders such as blood oranges, kumquats, and even some rarities like pummelo and ugli fruit. Although most of us know what to look for when buying fruit for the dorm, some of the more exotic ones are a bit of a mystery. Here are some guidelines for what to look for when buying, and how to eat winter fruits.
Blood oranges and clementines: Look for ones that seem heavy for their size when purchasing. These two taste great on salads, as they are not super juicy and won't wilt the lettuce.
Cranberries: When buying, look for three things: shininess, a dark red or a brown color, and firmness. Cranberries are great in bread, or sprinkled on cereal.
Kiwi: A fresh kiwi should give slightly to pressure, but should not have soft spots. Kiwi is best eaten by itself as a snack.
Kumquat: Kumquats are thin-skinned, orange, and their leaves are still attached. Measuring in at approximately 1.5 inches long, kumquats are best enjoyed like kiwi: plain and raw.
Pummelo: This tropical fruit is large, heavy, and thin-skinned. Its flavors perfectly accompany fish, and they are also delicious sliced and eaten raw.
Ugli fruit: These fruits stay true to their name. They are thick, bumpy, and covered in an orange-green skin. They can be treated as a variant of grapefruit and eaten in the same manner.
A great way to combine the different flavors of winter fruit is to create a fruit salad. One delicious combination is kiwi (about a cup, sliced), oranges (about 2 1/2 cups), red grapefruit (about two cups), pomegranate seeds (about 1/4 cup) and cranberries (about 1/2 cup). To make this fruit salad a little more interesting, try adding pistachios or a little bit of orange juice to the top. Fruit salad also makes a great desert when served with angel food cake or fat-free cool-Whip. Lastly, fruit is a great pancake topper.
The next time you stop at the grocery store or the West Side Market, take a few extra minutes to check out the exotic fruits that are now in season. They will make you feel like you are someplace tropical even though it may be snowing and blowing outside.
