Difference between revisions of "Eat a Lychee"
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== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Eating Fresh Lychee=== | ===Eating Fresh Lychee=== | ||
| − | #Choose a ripe lychee. Find a firm fruit, that gives a little when squeezed without collapsing or leaking. A relatively smooth skin is also a good sign, with slight bumps instead of major raised nubs.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m8j3nY3I2c</ref> Hard, unripe fruits are edible but won't have as strong a taste. A wet, soft fruit is overripe, and may be fermented (edible with a different, strong taste) or rotted (unpleasant). Crushed or soaked peels are almost always rotted.<ref>http://www.malcolmgin.com/blog/2011/08/08/how-to-eat-lychee-and-longan/</ref> | + | #Choose a ripe lychee. Find a firm fruit, that gives a little when squeezed without collapsing or leaking. A relatively smooth skin is also a good sign, with slight bumps instead of major raised nubs.<ref name="rf1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m8j3nY3I2c</ref> Hard, unripe fruits are edible but won't have as strong a taste. A wet, soft fruit is overripe, and may be fermented (edible with a different, strong taste) or rotted (unpleasant). Crushed or soaked peels are almost always rotted.<ref name="rf2">http://www.malcolmgin.com/blog/2011/08/08/how-to-eat-lychee-and-longan/</ref> |
#*Different varieties have different skin colors, but most are red, orange, or yellowish when ripe. Brown fruits have usually gone bad. | #*Different varieties have different skin colors, but most are red, orange, or yellowish when ripe. Brown fruits have usually gone bad. | ||
#Peel the end of the lychee. Grasp the nub of the stem and peel away the pink or yellowish-brown skin at one end. The white, semi-translucent flesh inside is the edible portion of the fruit. You may want to peel the fruit over a bowl to catch the dripping juice. | #Peel the end of the lychee. Grasp the nub of the stem and peel away the pink or yellowish-brown skin at one end. The white, semi-translucent flesh inside is the edible portion of the fruit. You may want to peel the fruit over a bowl to catch the dripping juice. | ||
| − | #*If the lychee has been left out a while, the skin will be harder and tougher to peel. Use your fingernail, teeth, or a knife to cut a slit. Soaking the fruit will make it easier to peel as well.<ref | + | #*If the lychee has been left out a while, the skin will be harder and tougher to peel. Use your fingernail, teeth, or a knife to cut a slit. Soaking the fruit will make it easier to peel as well.<ref name="rf2" /> |
#*Completely transparent flesh, mottled flesh, or yellow-brown flesh mean the lychee may be fermented or rotten. | #*Completely transparent flesh, mottled flesh, or yellow-brown flesh mean the lychee may be fermented or rotten. | ||
#Squeeze or tear off the skin. A perfectly ripe lychee has a soft skin that separates easily from the flesh. You can gently squeeze these fruits to pop out the flesh inside. If this doesn't work, just tear off the skin in small pieces using your fingers.<ref name="The Complete Book of Fruit"> Pijpers, Dick, Jac. G. Constant, and Kees Jansen. ''The Complete Book of Fruit''. NY: Gallery Books, 1986.</ref> | #Squeeze or tear off the skin. A perfectly ripe lychee has a soft skin that separates easily from the flesh. You can gently squeeze these fruits to pop out the flesh inside. If this doesn't work, just tear off the skin in small pieces using your fingers.<ref name="The Complete Book of Fruit"> Pijpers, Dick, Jac. G. Constant, and Kees Jansen. ''The Complete Book of Fruit''. NY: Gallery Books, 1986.</ref> | ||
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#Dig out the seed. A large seed lies in the center of the fruit. Gently tear apart the flesh with your fingers, pick out the glossy brown seed, and discard it. The seed is slightly poisonous. | #Dig out the seed. A large seed lies in the center of the fruit. Gently tear apart the flesh with your fingers, pick out the glossy brown seed, and discard it. The seed is slightly poisonous. | ||
#Eat the fruit. Fresh lychees have sweet, crisp, juicy flesh, with a signature scent that you can't find in the canned product. Enjoy it raw, or keep reading for more uses of this fruit. | #Eat the fruit. Fresh lychees have sweet, crisp, juicy flesh, with a signature scent that you can't find in the canned product. Enjoy it raw, or keep reading for more uses of this fruit. | ||
| − | #*A thin, brownish membrane lies on the interior of the flesh, where the seed was. Just eat this with the rest of the lychee. It adds a slight crunch without affecting the flavor. Removing it tends to squeeze out a lot of the tasty juice.<ref | + | #*A thin, brownish membrane lies on the interior of the flesh, where the seed was. Just eat this with the rest of the lychee. It adds a slight crunch without affecting the flavor. Removing it tends to squeeze out a lot of the tasty juice.<ref name="rf2" /> |
| − | #Store extra fruit. Refrigerate lychee wrapped in a dry paper towel, inside a perforated plastic bag or a container with the lid left ajar. They can last up to a week this way, although the rind may turn brown and hard. Throw away the fruit if it turns grey.<ref>http://www.chefscatalog.com/promotion.aspx?promoid=Lychee-in-season</ref> | + | #Store extra fruit. Refrigerate lychee wrapped in a dry paper towel, inside a perforated plastic bag or a container with the lid left ajar. They can last up to a week this way, although the rind may turn brown and hard. Throw away the fruit if it turns grey.<ref name="rf3">http://www.chefscatalog.com/promotion.aspx?promoid=Lychee-in-season</ref> |
| − | #*If you can't eat them all within that time, freeze the rest whole and unpeeled, in a sealed zip-locked bag. Run warm water over the frozen lychee for 15 seconds, then peel and eat. Partially thawed lychee have a texture similar to sorbet.<ref | + | #*If you can't eat them all within that time, freeze the rest whole and unpeeled, in a sealed zip-locked bag. Run warm water over the frozen lychee for 15 seconds, then peel and eat. Partially thawed lychee have a texture similar to sorbet.<ref name="rf3" /> |
===Using Lychee in Recipes=== | ===Using Lychee in Recipes=== | ||
#Add to a fruit salad. This obvious option is perfect for summer. Because lychee lose juice rapidly when peeled, add them at the last minute. | #Add to a fruit salad. This obvious option is perfect for summer. Because lychee lose juice rapidly when peeled, add them at the last minute. | ||
#Stuff the lychee. Carefully peel the lychee fruits and remove the seed, without tearing the flesh. Mix minced nuts, honey, and/or ginger into a soft cheese, such as cream cheese or chenna. Gently push open the lychee with your thumb, and fill with a small spoon or chopsticks. | #Stuff the lychee. Carefully peel the lychee fruits and remove the seed, without tearing the flesh. Mix minced nuts, honey, and/or ginger into a soft cheese, such as cream cheese or chenna. Gently push open the lychee with your thumb, and fill with a small spoon or chopsticks. | ||
| − | #*You can even stuff the lychee with savory foods, such as a [[Make-Chicken-Stir-Fry|chicken stir fry]]. Make sure all ingredients are finely minced, and broil the lychees for 2–3 minutes after stuffing.<ref>http://theasiangrandmotherscookbook.com/2012/02/27/sweet-and-savory-stuffed-lychees/</ref> | + | #*You can even stuff the lychee with savory foods, such as a [[Make-Chicken-Stir-Fry|chicken stir fry]]. Make sure all ingredients are finely minced, and broil the lychees for 2–3 minutes after stuffing.<ref name="rf4">http://theasiangrandmotherscookbook.com/2012/02/27/sweet-and-savory-stuffed-lychees/</ref> |
#Garnish cocktails. Add a skewered, pitted lychee fruit to margaritas or other light cocktails. Or try something new with the [[Make-a-Lychee-Sake-Martini|lychee sake martini]] or novelty [[Make-a-Mad-Eye-Martini|Mad Eye martini]]. | #Garnish cocktails. Add a skewered, pitted lychee fruit to margaritas or other light cocktails. Or try something new with the [[Make-a-Lychee-Sake-Martini|lychee sake martini]] or novelty [[Make-a-Mad-Eye-Martini|Mad Eye martini]]. | ||
| − | #Chop up for a salsa. Soft, sweet lychee adds a bold dimension to spicy or sour salsas. Try a simple salsa of avocado, lychee, and red onion, with your [[Make-Salsa|salsa]] toppings of choice.<ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128951468</ref> | + | #Chop up for a salsa. Soft, sweet lychee adds a bold dimension to spicy or sour salsas. Try a simple salsa of avocado, lychee, and red onion, with your [[Make-Salsa|salsa]] toppings of choice.<ref name="rf5">http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128951468</ref> |
| − | #Cook lychee in hot dishes. To make [[Make-Lychee-Chicken|lychee chicken]] or another hot, savory dish, add the lychee to a stir fry or roasting pan just a couple minutes before the dish is done. Lychee pairs particularly well with cinnamon, ginger, or honey.<ref | + | #Cook lychee in hot dishes. To make [[Make-Lychee-Chicken|lychee chicken]] or another hot, savory dish, add the lychee to a stir fry or roasting pan just a couple minutes before the dish is done. Lychee pairs particularly well with cinnamon, ginger, or honey.<ref name="rf3" /> |
== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
| − | *Grocery store lychees are often old or poorly cared for. Ask what day the store receives the next shipment, or find a small grower that ships directly to consumers.<ref>http://www.lycheesonline.com/findingfreshlychees.cfm</ref> | + | *Grocery store lychees are often old or poorly cared for. Ask what day the store receives the next shipment, or find a small grower that ships directly to consumers.<ref name="rf6">http://www.lycheesonline.com/findingfreshlychees.cfm</ref> |
*If the fruit interior doesn't match this description, you may have a related fruit, such as a rambutan, quenette, longan, or pulasan.<ref name="The Complete Book of Fruit"></ref> | *If the fruit interior doesn't match this description, you may have a related fruit, such as a rambutan, quenette, longan, or pulasan.<ref name="The Complete Book of Fruit"></ref> | ||
| − | *Some fruits fail to pollinate fully, producing a thin "chicken tongue" seed. If you find one, you've lucked out — the fruit fills the gap with more flesh.<ref>http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/lychee.html</ref> | + | *Some fruits fail to pollinate fully, producing a thin "chicken tongue" seed. If you find one, you've lucked out — the fruit fills the gap with more flesh.<ref name="rf7">http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/lychee.html</ref> |
*Lychees are also available dried or canned. | *Lychees are also available dried or canned. | ||
