3 New Winter Fruits to Try Today

It’s tough to fit healthy eating into the Winter season. Vegetables are easier, but it’s hard to get fruits in when berries and summer produce are expensive and the quality isn’t great. Here are 3 new winter fruits to try today to jazz up your diet.

This is a great time of year to step out of your comfort zone and try some unusual new winter fruits.

Last week in my culinary class we tried a variety of fruits as part of our experience. These winter fruits are delicious and there are many ways you can use them.

3 New Winter Fruits to Try Today

Pomegranate

Season: September – December, peak season October

 

Pomegranate can be really intimidating if you’ve never eaten one before. Years ago, my family purchased one not knowing how to eat it. We cut it open and dug in, not knowing the seeds are the good part and the rind is not good. We thought it was disgusting!

Pomegranates can be hard to find, but it’s worth the search. You can purchase pomegranate seeds individually packaged. These are expensive, but it is convenient. There is a method for getting seeds out of the fruit easily, which I will share in my next blog post.

Pomegranate seeds are good just to eat plain, in a salad, or on top of yogurt.

Check out this blog for my One Minute Trick to Quickly Remove Pomegranate Seeds

Blood Orange

Season: December to April, same as all oranges

Blood oranges taste similar to similar to regular oranges but are sweeter. They are more like a cutie or tangerine. The color is magnificent. At Bronco stadium where I work, we use these for parties as a winter garnish often because of the bright, gorgeous color.

Be careful because the juice will stain your clothes.

 

Pomelo

Season: November to March

When you see a fruit at the grocery store that looks like a HUGE yellow or green grapefruit, you are probably looking at a Pomelo. Do not be intimidated by this fruit.

Pomelo is similar to a grapefruit but slightly sweeter. It can be seasoned with agave or sugar if needed. Try eating plain, or using slices in a winter fruit salad.

Bonus!

Asian Pear

Season: September-October

While a member of the pear family, an Asian Pear is much more like an apple. These fruit are more crisp like an apple, but have a taste similar to a pear.

Besides eating plain, Asian pears are wonderful in salads because they hold their crispness.

Asian Pears are great for poaching. At work, we poached pears in sugar and red wine. Leave the pears whole and they turn an amazing purple color on the outside yet stay white on the inside when you cut into them.

Asian Pears are expensive (their peak season is short) so plan on these being a splurge, but it’s worth it.

 

Star Fruit

Season: August – February

People may worry when they see starfruit turn a brown color on the outside, but that is actually when they have the best flavor. Cut a starfruit horizontally to see the beautiful star-shaped design.

Eat a star-fruit whole. You do not need to cut off the skin.

Star-fruits are good to eat plain but especially make a fun addition to salads.

 

DOUBLE BONUS! Jackfruit

For the really adventurous, check out Jack Fruit. You’ll probably need to head to an Asian or specialty market for this unusual fruit.

Jack Fruit is a really large fruit that is purchased in sections. You do not purchase a whole jackfruit because it’s so big! Only the yellow flesh is eaten. Do not eat the seeds. This makes it a tricky fruit to work with, but if you are adventuresome, you will enjoy trying it.

Supposedly within each fruit, there is a different flavor. For example, one section might taste similar to strawberries and bananas, while another tastes similar to pineapple. I tried a jackfruit and my section tasted like strawberry/banana. The texture is unusual. Some people in my class really liked it and others didn’t.

Be brave, step out of your comfort zone a little, and try some new fruits this winter season. You’ll enjoy a variety of flavors, and your body will thank you, too.