Have you heard of the Jamaican custard apple? I think it recently became my favorite fruit! The custard apple is a moist and flavorful fruit originally from the West Indies, with a long list of health benefits. Exotic right?
Wait until you see how it looks-it is shaped like a heart with a fleshy and creamy white custard.
People typically mistake it with the sweetsop, another similar food also found in the Caribbean, but the Jamaican custard apple tastes very different. This fruit is widely used in traditional and contemporary Jamaican cuisine.
What is a Custard Apple?
Also known as bullock’s-heart or Jamaican apple, the custard apple is a tropical fruit typically found in the Caribbean, Central, and South America. It can also be spotted in some Asian and African regions as it grows only in damp areas.
The taste of a fresh custard apple is very sweet and has a delicious fragrant smell. They need to ripen before you can eat them and tend to be very soft. Usually, the custard apple season starts late summer to early fall. Thus, it is just around the corner!
Health Benefits & Nutritional Value
As I mentioned above, this fruit has a long list of health benefits! To start off the custard apple calorie count is very low, as it is 95% water. When compared to other tropical fruits’ calories, it is similar to those found on a mango– 60 to 75 calories depending on the size.
It is also a great source of Vitamin C and B-complex vitamins. Moreover, custard apples have anti-cancer properties and are high on fiber and antioxidants.
Recent scientific studies have also found custard apples may:
- Help reduce the amount of ‘bad’ cholesterol in our bodies
- Have anti-cancer properties
- Protect the organism against various infectious agents
- Help reduce headaches and migraines
- Decrease chances of suffering from heart disease
- Aid control blood pressure while boosting circulation
- Improve vision
- Act as a natural anti-inflammatory
- And more
Custard Apple Recipes
Let’s have a look at some custard apple recipes:
Custard Apple Smoothie
As you can see, including this exotic fruit into your diet can go a long way. So, if you are a #smoothiefan like me, I am sure you are going to love this delicious drink recipe. The best part is that it is super easy to make and will only take a few minutes off your day.
Ingredients & Utensils:
- 2 large red custard apples
- ½ lime
- Teaspoon of honey
- Ginger (optional)
- 2 cups of water
- Mint leaves (for decoration)
- Ice
- Blender
Preparation:
- Cut the custard apples into small slices, it is okay to leave the skin on as it is a great vitamin source.
- Add the cups of fresh water to the blender, followed by the apple slices and the honey.
- Once it is mixed, add ice and ginger to taste and blend on ‘high.’
- Garnish with a few mint leaves before serving.
Custard Apple Sorbet
In case smoothies are not your thing, you can try making this fresh custard apple sorbet. Great for warm summer days!
Ingredients & Utensils:
- 3-4 fresh custard apples
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- Honey
- 3 ginger cookies
- Blender
- Freezer
Preparation:
- Peel the custard apples and cut them into small cubes. Remember to throw away all the seeds.
- Blend the apples with the lemon juice until smooth.
- Carefully, take all the mix out of the blender and into a glass bowl.
- Put it in the freezer for 90 minutes
- Take it out and stir in 20-minute intervals until you reach the desired consistency
- Drizzle honey before serving and garnish with the ginger cookies.
Wrapping it up!
Now that you know what a Jamaican custard apple is and are familiar with all of its health benefits, I hope you make one (or both) of the fresh and exciting recipes I shared with you today. What are you waiting for? Run to your nearest market and buy yourself some fresh custard apples to brighten your day!
