Passion Fruit, What's and How's
How to Eat Passion Fruit
Eating a passion fruit can be pretty straight forward. The first step is to wash and dry the fruit to remove any pesticides or preservatives. Then simply cut it in half, scoop out the pulp, and eat (some people like a little sugar sprinkled over to cut through the sourness. Other people love the bit of sourness). Avoid scraping the white part of the inside of the skin which is bitter (like the pith of citrus fruit).
What Does Passion Fruit Look Like?
The most common passion fruit are purple and small round/oval, or yellow and slightly larger. If they are green, they are not ripe. They have a thick waxy rind that wrinkles as the fruit ripens. Inside is pulp which is a combination of orange-colored juice and small, crunchy seeds.
The most common passion fruit are purple and small round/oval, or yellow and slightly larger. If they are green, they are not ripe. They have a thick waxy rind that wrinkles as the fruit ripens. Inside is pulp which is a combination of orange-colored juice and small, crunchy seeds.
Passion fruit comes from a type of flower, called (reasonably) a passion flower. They are a tropical fruit and common to South America, Australia, and South America but also grow in sub-tropical climates including Florida and California. They have a tough outer rind and juicy, seed-filled center. You have to get past the fact that the insides look like gelatinous goop…the taste is fresh and amazing.
How Do I Know When Passion Fruit is Ripe?
Passion fruit is most ripe when it appears all wrinkly and is a dark purple or dark yellowy to red in color, definitely not what you are usually looking for in a ready-to-eat fruit, but this is how Passion Fruit ripens.
Green passion fruit are unripe and can be left on the counter for 3-7 days to ripen. As with all fruit, avoid fruits that have bruising or discoloration, or any signs of mold or decay (but you want the wrinkles here!)
How Do I Know When Passion Fruit is Ripe?
Passion fruit is most ripe when it appears all wrinkly and is a dark purple or dark yellowy to red in color, definitely not what you are usually looking for in a ready-to-eat fruit, but this is how Passion Fruit ripens.
Green passion fruit are unripe and can be left on the counter for 3-7 days to ripen. As with all fruit, avoid fruits that have bruising or discoloration, or any signs of mold or decay (but you want the wrinkles here!)
What does Passion Fruit Taste Like?
Passion fruit has a sweet, but also a tart flavor, and a fragrant aroma, which adds to the eating experience. It’s hard to compare them to another fruit since they are so unique but if pressed: think a little like a kiwi, a little like pineapple. You simply have to try and tell me how you feel about it, seriously!
Passion Fruit Seeds, Can You Eat It?
Yes! They are the tart part of the passion fruit. Some people like to chew them up, while others swallow the seeds whole. You can blend them into a passion fruit puree as well. The seeds have a lot of fiber and in moderation can be good for digestion.
Passion Fruit Seeds, Can You Eat It?
Yes! They are the tart part of the passion fruit. Some people like to chew them up, while others swallow the seeds whole. You can blend them into a passion fruit puree as well. The seeds have a lot of fiber and in moderation can be good for digestion.
How Do I Cook With Passion Fruit?
There are definitely more ways to use passion fruit other than eating raw and drinking the juice straight-up. Passion fruit is actually quite versatile in savory and sweet dishes, as well as beverages.
Passion fruit marinades and sauces go extremely well with fish, shrimp, or chicken, giving these proteins a tropical island-ish flavor.
Passion fruit shows up a lot in both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Mix some puree with sparkling water for a refreshing and simple mocktail, or add the puree to fruit smoothies. On the boozy side, you could combine passion fruit pulp with different alcohols for cocktails. Try passion fruit puree or juice with coconut rum, ginger ale, and pineapple juice. Or stir some into vodka with a generous splash of lime juice.
Passion fruit is most often encountered in desserts. Passion fruit can be baked into cakes and tarts, or used in ice creams, sorbets, or granitas. Passion fruit also lends fantastic flavoring to curds and custards, mousse, fruit butter, and puddings.
Check out our Recipes Page to keep busy in the kitchen!
How Do I Store Passion Fruit?
If your passion fruit is not ripe, it can be left out on a counter for 3-5 days to ripen. The best way to get the longest life out of your ripened passion fruit is to store them in the crisper or vegetable drawer of your refrigerator. This way, they can last approximately 1 week.
Passion fruit puree, juice, or pulp freezes really well. So if you get your hands on lots of passion fruit and want to make it last, make a batch of juice or puree and freeze it.
ALWAYS REMEMBER --- SHARE THE PASSION