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Freaky Fruits for Fall

Fall is in the air, which means it’s time for cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, and creepy food treats. Want to confound and befuddle your friends family members – and expand their horizons? Try setting a table with some of these freaky fruits (courtesy of Melissa’s Produce).

Can you name them all? Aw, heck, we’ll make it easy for you. Clockwise from top left: Buddha’s hand, cherimoya, cactus pear, dragon fruit, longans, and sweet dumpling squash. Let’s take a closer look at a few of them.

Longans

First, what’s the deal with these longans – and why do they look so much like eyeballs? Longans (often known by their Chinese nickname, dragon eyes), are close relatives of lychees and rambutan. They have a rough, papery skin and a smooth white fruit underneath (with an “eyeball” seed in the center). If you slice around the “equator” of the outer skin, the white fruit pops out easily – and all you need to do is remove the center seed. The taste of the juicy white flesh is similar to a grape that has been peeled.

Buddha’s Hand

Next, the Buddha’s hand is actually a variety of the citron – a citrus fruit related to the lemon. They’re probably more useful for decorating than for eating, but you can grate them and use them for any recipe that calls for lemon zest. (If your friends are repulsed by them, have them deeply inhale the citrus fragrance. They will immediately feel soothed and comforted.) P.S. Want a great Buddha’s hand recipe? Try our Buddha’s Hand Lemon Drop Cookies.

Cactus Pears

Next, you probably want to know more about these cactus pears (also known as prickly pears). These fruits come from a variety of cactuses. Inside, they have a sweet red seedy flesh. They’re usually served peeled and cubed in a fruit salad (or the juice is used for Halloween “blood”). Additionally, they make a beautiful pink juice or simple syrup (frequently used in cocktails).

Dragon Fruit

Last but not least, there are these beautiful/scary dragon fruit. Peel back the thick mango-like peel and you’ll find a juicy seeded fruit with either white or brilliant magenta flesh. The taste is similar to that of a kiwi – but the color is like nothing you’ve seen on your plate before. If you love dragon fruit, you’ll love this colorful Dragon Fruit Dessert. (It’s dairy-free and vegan!) Furthermore, you can use them to make super-creepy Dragon Shakes for Halloween.

We’re going to be making things with these and more “freaky fruits” in the next few weeks, so stay tuned for more. And let us know if you’ve tried any of these and what you think!

Blogger disclosure: Melissa’s sent us these fruits to sample; we did not receive compensation for this post. Additionally, all opinions expressed are our own.

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