“As if I wasn’t already in a dream living on the beach in Costa Rica doing yoga every day – I also get to eat delicious, freshly-picked fruits every day.” – overheard at Blue Osa
No tropical dream is complete without a healthy serving of nature’s candy. Here at Blue Osa, our food farm is overflowing with the verdant greens and juicy fruits that grow abundantly from the rich, humid soil of Costa Rica. From coconut to pineapple to papaya, we’ve got all the tropical desserts your heart could desire.
But perhaps none are dreamier than the yellow-green, tart-n-sweet star fruit.
Photo credit: Maria Hillier Photography
Also known as carambola, the star fruit is native to the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. In Vietnam, the star fruit tree was even a source of folklore and tales that taught children humility, generosity, and gratitude. Like many tropical edibles, it eventually made its way to the Americas, and it does particularly well in places like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Hawaii.
Its sweet, luscious flavor is accented with a delightful citrusy zing, and its beautiful shape, when sliced, resembles the stars we wish upon at night. The star fruit tree itself is so beautiful, with its green and yellow star-shaped ornaments and bright purple flowers, that it’s often used decoratively. Personally, that tree would last about an hour in my yard before I gave in and ate all of its delicious decorations, but it does have a majestic quality to it.
Star Fruit Health Benefits
Like many tropical fruits, the star fruit has some powerful healing properties and health benefits. It’s low in calories (only about 30 per fruit), but it packs a punch when it comes to antioxidants, fiber (improving digestion) and potassium (helping with blood pressure). It’s also low in sugar, so your blood sugar won’t spike. It’s got TONS of vitamin C (about 75% of your daily value in one cup) so it helps to fight infections and create collagen (healthier skin and hair!).
Photo credit: Maria Hillier Photography
If you’re looking for some spiritual healing, look no further. In dreams, the carambola is said to symbolize lust and sexuality. In reality, it’s been used in parts of south Asia to increase sex drive in males. Personally, I get one glimpse of a luscious star fruit and I find myself instantly lusting…for a slice of Blue Osa’s star fruit pie.
If you’re wondering how to eat star fruit, here’s your answer – in a pie! If you’re looking for recipes with star fruit, they’ve got one of the most decadent and delicious carambola recipes for you. While delicious eaten solo, a star fruit dessert recipe elevates this fruit to a completely new level. Its tart and sweet flavor makes it the perfect base for any dessert recipe, but it’s especially suited for a star fruit pie.
Photo credit: Maria Hillier Photography
Straight from Blue Osa’s chef/kitchen magician Rafa, I give you the star fruit pie recipe of your dreams.
Rafa’s Star Fruit Pie Recipe
Photo credit: Maria Hillier Photography
Ingredients:
For the crisp:
1 ½ package of Galleta Maria (or similar sweet biscuit)
¼ cup butter
½ cup sugar
For the filling:
1 can of condensed milk
2 egg yolks
1 whole egg
¼ cup start fruit juice
10 star fruits
For the topping:
Whipped cream
2 star fruits for decoration
Photo credit: Maria Hillier Photography
Preparation:
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees
- Combine the crisp ingredients (sweet biscuits, butter, and sugar) in a food processor and blend until smooth
- Grease a round Pyrex pie pan and pour the crisp mixture in, pushing it down into a crust
- Bake for about 5-10 minutes, until slightly baked
- Mix the two egg yolks at medium speed for a minute, and then add the whole egg and condensed milk and mix until combined
- Add the star fruit juice
- Pour this mixture into the pie crust
- Cut the 10 star fruits into slices and place them over the top of the liquid filling
- Bake for another 25-30 minutes
- Let the pie cool briefly, and then cover the top with a thin layer of whipped cream
- Slice the remaining 2 star fruits and use the pieces for decoration
Photo credit: Maria Hillier Photography
NOTE: If you have start fruit jam, you can add a little over the start fruit slices
Photo credit: Maria Hillier Photography
Enjoy! Looking for more delicious recipes like this one?
About The Author
Elizabeth Aldrich is a lifelong traveler and freelance writer specializing in arts and entertainment, travel and lifestyle, and finance and business writing. She’s written for outlets as varied as Rawckus Music & Arts Magazine, Credit Karma, Sweden Tips, and Engadget. Elizabeth has a knack (read: obsession) for finding the best deals, travel hacks, and hidden gems everywhere she goes, which she blogs about at Temporary Provisions. You can find her playing the urban romantic in NYC, downing Stumptown coffee in her hometown of Portland, OR, or retreating from the madness in the rain forests of Costa Rica. To see more of her work, visit her at www.elizabethaldrich.com.
