strange fruit

When it's cold and wet outside, there is something very cheering about unusual and tropical fruit. I think it was Nigel Slater who said that he can't have Christmas without a pineapple. Anyway, the weather has been really cold here oop north (and elsewhere I imagine!) and yesterday I felt miserable as at no point did my feet ever feel warm which always makes me a bit cross and whingey. But look what we found in Tescos! Instant cheer!

Custard apples! (otherwise known as Cherimoya).

I hope that you have had one of these, they are gorgeous. The inside flesh is all custardy and sweet and sticky and as you can see they are very beautiful to look at too. If not, grab yourself one and find out for yourself. We generally find them in asian foodmarkets and the like but supermarkets do get them in sometimes. Like all of the fruit sold in supermarkets, they aren't ripe yet and if you also find one in Tesco, chances are it will be rock hard (or total mush - nothing in between is allowed it seems!). Wait until it yields slightly to a gentle squeeze, rather like you do with an avocado. Actually, the flesh texture is not disimilar to avocado, it has a similar butteriness going on, but is stickier and more silky textured. They have a very slight cheesiness to them too which sounds weird but trust me, is not.

I have no recipe for them for the simple fact that I cannot see any better way to serve than with a knife for opening, a spoon for scooping and a bowl for spitting all of the glossy black pips into.

Enjoy!

Comments

[cd&m]

We bought some of these from Tesco last year, your right they were rock hard and I'm afraid they went bad before they ripened. But having now hear how delicious they are we will duly try again, but maybe not from Tesco this time.

[paula luckhurst]

They were called anonas in the place where I was born, in Africa.

[Sunila Galappatti]

Just an hour ago I pressed some cherimoya (they weren't tender enough) in a supermarket here in Sri Lanka and thought of you.

That was before I logged on to your blog and found this.

[Cathy]

I live in Chile, South América. Chirimoyas, as we call them, are a spring and summer staple.
A favourite chirimoya dessert is called "Chirimoya Alegre", wich roughly translates to "Merry Chirimoya", and it is just oh-so-simple but delicious.
Peel, seed and roughly chop desired amount of chirimoyas, cover with orange juice (natural and just made), add sugar to taste. Chill for 30 min. and enjoy.

[vanessa]

shall definately be adventurous and try a custard apple when I next see one, as I love custard!
A Marks and Spencers simply food opened in our town recently, and the one thing I will buy from there is their fruit..... it's expensive....... but it's ripe and delicious, worth the bit extra. Hugo gets a ripe melon from there, chops it up, shreds some parma ham, or serrano ham, dumps them all on a large plate, and we both grab a fork and tuck in, yummy!