Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
Iceberg Lettuce
It is the only lettuce type that does not occur in red form as well as green. Iceberg is the given name to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods.
Seasons/Availability
Pepino melons make sporadic appearances in the marketplace beginning in spring.
Current Facts
The word "Pepino" is Spanish for cucumber and appears to be universal with slight variations of spelling or added epithets, such as "Pepino dulce" or sweet cucumber. Other names include tree melon and melon pear. This name "Pepino" is also used in parts of South America for the cassabanana. It is the fruit of a small evergreen shrub. In fact, it is mis-labeled as a melon, when it acually is classified as a berry within the nightshade family, ie: tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants.
Description/Taste
The Pepino melon has a light-yellow to light-green skin, streaked with purple variegations. The flesh, when ripe is golden yellow with a narrow seed cavity. The Pepino melon is entirely edible: skin, flesh, pulp and seeds. The yellow interior is fine-grained and sweetly aromatic, intensifying as it ripens. Its flavor can be described as a mix of banana and pear, with a slightly bitter bite. Its size is inconsistent and can be as small as a plum or as large as a papaya.
Applications
The skin of the Pepino melon is edible but if tough and unpalatable it can easily be peeled away. Ripen at room temperature. Pair with lemons or limes, sweet basil, honey, chiles, chayote and coconut. Serve in fresh salads and sauces. Store ripe Pepino melons in a plastic bag in the refrigerator up to three days.
Geography/History
Native to temperate Andean areas of Chile and Peru, Pepino melons are also cultivated in other regions of South and Central America, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Pepino Melon. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Exquisite Corner |
|
Pepino Melon Dal Curry |
| Nuts About Fruit |
|
Pepinos A L'Orange |
