Page 12 - HOH

Saturday 25 February 2023 locAl
A10

Fruit Loose & Veggie Boost

Fresh fruits make a tropical cream or orange colored. depends on the amount
holiday’s picture complete. Kenepa strengthens the of rain it gets. Red Shima-
Whether you see the man- immune system, and pre- rukus tend to taste better
go’s hanging in the trees or vents the reproduction of than orange. The fruit has
the fresh fruit cocktail on the bacteria and viruses in the super power: a true vi-
side table of your pool bed, body. This fruit is highly rec- tamin bomb. Adults only
the link is there: you are in ommended to treat lung need to eat 3-4 of these
the tropics. Aruba grows infections and urinary tract berries to meet their daily
her own fruits and veggies infections. It also helps to recommended amount of
and there are some pretty cure insomnia and rejuve- Vitamin C. Season: Rainy

out-of-space local species nates the nervous system. months (Oct-Jan).
you may never had heard Season: the fruit typically
of, but really healthy and ripen during the summer. Tamarind
delicious. A delicious, sweet fruit that
Druif has a wide variety of uses
Mispel There is no chance you and applications, both for some of the damaging ef- Besides stir-fry, soups and
This is a fruit with a charac- did not bump into one of medicinal and culinary pur- fects of stress. Additionally salads, the long bean is a
ter (5-10 cm/2-4 inches). the sea grape trees while poses. It is a medium-sized this veggie is rich in two of good choice for stewing,
It does not ripe until it is spending your vacation on bushy tree with evergreen the most basic elements braising (to remain chewy
picked or falls off the tree. Aruba. The sea grape plant leaves and fruit that devel- needed for healthy diges- and firm), sautéing, shal-
Mispel is hard with a sand- is often used in ocean-side ops in pods characterized tion: water and fiber. Sea- low frying, and deep fry-
paper like texture when im- landscaping in sandy soil by long, brown shells. In- son: year- round. ing. With cooking, the long
mature, soft and juicy when right on the beach and it side is a sticky, fleshy, juicy bean’s bean flavor intensi-
ripe. It's technically a berry, produces clusters of fruit pulp, which is the Tamarind Jambo fies. Long beans are low in
but contains a skin similar to that resemble grapes. Are fruit. Both sweet and sour Family of Okra, also known calories, about 45 calories
that of a kiwi. It's grainy and sea grapes edible? Yes, in taste, the fruit contains a as ‘lady’s fingers’: a green per cup, and rich in vitamin
sweet, with a light, musky they are. Animals enjoy sea significant level of vitamin flowering plant. Okra be- A and also contain vitamin
flavor. The sap or gum from grapes and humans can C, as well as vitamin E, B vi- longs to the same plant C and potassium. Season:
the tree is also a source of eat them as well, and they tamins, calcium, iron, phos- family as hibiscus and cot- year-round.
'chicle' the original ingredi- are used to make jam. They phorous, potassium, man- ton. A classic favorite dish
ent used to make chewing contain very low calories ganese, and dietary fiber. in Aruba is Sopi di Jambo. Pompuna
gum. Rich in tannins, anti- and sugar, enabling good There are also a number of It has long been favored In the endless summer of
oxidants shown to contain bacterium to digest food organic compounds that as a food for the health- Caribbean living we only
anti-inflammatory com- and excrete waste quickly make tamarind a power- conscious. It contains po- have to concern ourselves
pounds, and vitamin C, es- which is effective in pre- ful antioxidant and anti-in- tassium, vitamin B, vitamin with a wet season and a
sential for healthy immune venting constipation. Sea- flammatory agent. Season: C, folic acid, and calcium. dry season. Still we do in-
function. Season: year- son: Sep-Oct. March. It’s low in calories and has a dulge heavily in the plea-
round. high dietary fiber content. sures of pumpkin and enjoy
Shimaruku When it comes to veggies Recently, a new benefit of Caribbean pumpkin reci-
Kenepa Maybe Aruba’s most popu- the island certainly offers including okra in your diet pes year round. A popular
Ovoid green fruit that lar wild fruit tree. You may a home-grown selection. is being considered. Okra dish in Aruban restaurants
grows in bunches on trees have noticed cars at the They taste delicious and has been suggested to is Sopa Di Pompuna, don’t
up to 30m high. The fruit is side of the road and peo- have their specific talents help manage blood sugar miss it. This dish is made of
related to the lychee and ple picking those red ber- to boost your immune sys- in cases of type 1, type 2, pumpkin soup, and pars-
have tight, thin but rigid ries. Well, that’s Shimaruku. tem. Start the day with a and gestational diabetes. ley. Pumpkins are rich in
skins. Inside the skin is the The local habit to stop for ‘batida’ (smoothie) en- Season: year- round. flavonoid polyphenolic
tart, tangy, or sweet pulp these delicious fruits goes riched with a local veggie antioxidants such as xan-
of the fruit covering a large from generation to genera- touch or select your restau- thin, lutein and carotenes
seed. The pulp is usually tion. Its fruit’s degree of sour rant that offers local vege- Bonchi' Cunucu and also contain vitamins.
table dishes to get the real A long, small bean, boiled Pumpkin seeds are a good
pure taste of it. for a side dish or snack. source of omega-3 fatty
Konkomber chiquito Long beans have a chewy, acids, vitamins, minerals
crunchy texture–more so and proteins. Pumpkins
This is a sort of local squash, than snap beans–and a are used to make desserts,
but looks like a cucumber flavor reminiscent of the dry breads and soups.q
with prickly skin. The taste navy bean or asparagus.
however is bitterer than the
cucumber and the vegeta-
ble is smaller in size but big-
ger in width. Inside is a soft,
fleshy pulp and seeds, just
like the cucumber. Konk-
omber chiquito is grown in
the island and used in sal-
ads and ‘stoba’ (stew) or
on its own in vinegar. The
veggie contains multiple B
vitamins, including vitamin
B1, vitamin B5, and vitamin
B7 (biotin). B vitamins are
known to help ease feel-
ings of anxiety and buffer