The less known pepino melon fruit is native to South America and now widely available in China when in season. It is a small oval fruit with a firm, smooth skin. The yellow colour and the purple stripes develop when the fruit ripens. The size of the fruit can vary from the size of a plum size up to the size of a big apple. How pepino melon growsThe pepino bush is a perennial plant, meaning it will live for several years. The bush grows up to 2 metres tall and benefits from staking or caging, like a tomato plant. If you don’t mind sharing your harvest, the pepino will spread as a ground cover. The plant grows well in frost-free climates. The bush will be covered in light blue flowers which develop to fruit after 30-50 days. The long green leaves resemble those from the capsicum plants but are larger. Health benefits of pepino melon
The taste of pepino melonThis fruit has a smooth, juicy, and creamy textured flesh which is mildly sweet. The flavour is quite like honeydew melon with a touch of cucumber. The sweetest flavour is, as with most fruits, when the fruit is completely ripe. The seeds and skin are edible, but when pepino is ripe the skin will be tougher and so it’s better to peel. Unripe pepino melons are usually prepared like squash. The semi-ripe version will be crunchy and eaten like apples with skin. Another way to prepare is diced in salsa dips. The ripest pepinos are best peeled and used in a fruit salad or grilled before serving with ice cream. Some lemon or lime juice is often added to the ripe version to balance the sweetness. We decided to make a gazpacho with it! The flavour of pepino is quite like honeydew melon with a touch of cucumber. Prep Time 10 mins Total Time 10 mins Course Appetisers & Starters, Soup, Vegetarian Cuisine Chinese, South American Servings 4 people Calories 32 kcal Blender
Calories: 32kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSodium: 3mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 176IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg Keyword fruit, melon, pepino Let us know how it was! #culinaryambition What does pepino melon taste like?The pepino (puh-PEE-noh) is a curiosity. It has a flavor that is reminiscent of the cantaloupe and the honeydew, a texture that is as crisp as a pear, a name that translates as cucumber from Spanish and an orange flesh with small edible seeds that resemble the papaya.
What are Pepino melons good for?Pepino Melon has lots of Vitamin A, C, K and also B Vitamins, protein, plus iron and copper, which are essential for a healthy immune system, and calcium for bones, potassium which is needed for relaxing and lowering blood pressure, and Pepino is a good diuretic.
Can you eat a pepino melon Raw?Despite the outer color of the Pepino Melon, the inner flesh will be orange to yellow in color. This fruit can be eaten raw, similar to an apple, consuming both the skin and the juicy inner flesh. Typically, the inner meat of the Pepino will contain edible soft seeds.
Is pepino same as cucumber?Pepino. Pepinos combine the flavours of cucumber and melon. Pepinos are also known as 'melon-pears'. Its name is derived from its taste, however, because pepinos are most reminiscent of a cross between a cucumber and a Cantaloupe melon.
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