A lot of the most popular fruits in the world are round, and that’s because of the way the cells develop as the plant grows. But many fruits are not round, which is ideal for a healthy diet. So if you want to mix up your diet and move away from your typical round fruit like mango and mandarin orange to try more exotic fruit, these might be worth exploring. Here are nine of the best non round fruits to try.
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9 Fruits That Are Not Round for You to Try.
Dragon Fruit
The colorful dragon fruit grows on a cactus native to Central America. The edible fruit is contained within the skin, a bright fuchsia color with green-tipped scales. The dragon fruit has a soft white or red pulp with dozens of tiny black seeds.
Dragon fruit tastes like a sweet pear or kiwi. This fruit is a good source of fiber and iron, with around 60 calories per 100g. A portion also contains 10% of your recommended daily allowance of magnesium, plus antioxidants and 1.2g of protein. The dragon fruit is very nutrient-dense.
To select a good dragon fruit, look for brightly colored skin. In addition, the fruit shouldn’t be too soft or squashy but flexible when squeezed. The easiest way to eat a dragon fruit is to slice it in half. Then, you can scoop the flesh out using a spoon.
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Banana
The banana is the most obvious and well-known of all the fruits that are not round. A strong outer peel is easily removed to reveal the soft flesh inside. Available for a low price, the humble banana provides a long list of health benefits.
The average banana provides 10% of your daily potassium and fiber requirements. Bananas also contain antioxidants and naturally occurring proteins that may help stave off some cancers. A typical banana has around 100-120 calories.
To find a good banana, look for slightly green or completely yellow skin. If the skin is very green, the banana isn’t ripe, will be too complex, and might taste powdery. If the bananas age, they will develop brown patches and be too soft and mushy. Once you’ve peeled a banana, you can eat it as it is or might choose to mash it or slice it.
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Prickly Pear
In Disney’s The Jungle Book, Baloo the bear sings, “Don’t pick the prickly pear by the paw. Instead, when you pick a pear, try to use the claw.” That’s sound advice, given that the prickly pear is a cactus that goes by the scientific name Opuntia. The cactus grows edible, similar to dragon fruits, with bright pink skin but lacking the leafy green scales a dragon fruit’s known for. Instead, it’s surrounded by cactus thorns, though these are removed before the fruit is put on sale.
Prickly pear tastes a little like watermelon but also with a faint hint of bubblegum. The inner flesh is a bold pink, just like the outside. You can eat raw fruit, though some people like to boil or grill it. However, be aware that, in large doses, this fruit can lead to loose bowel movements.
The prickly pear is said to have anti-inflammatory properties. This makes the fruit, amongst other things, a helpful hangover cure. In addition, it’s high in fiber, and a typical fruit contains less than 50 calories.
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Durian
Far from being a tasty snack, durian fruit is widely considered to be the fruit with the most disgusting smell. The smell of durian fruit is often described using words like ‘rotten’ and ‘sewage.’ Despite this, this fruit is an enjoyable snack if you can get past the smell.
You’ll find yellow or white flesh underneath the durian’s spiky green exterior. This flesh has a soft custard-like texture and a very unusual taste. Expect to taste hints of garlic, cheese, and nuts, with a subtle caramel flavor.
A typical durian might contain as many as 700 calories. However, this fruit also contains a wealth of vitamins and minerals. These include large doses of magnesium, vitamin C, fiber, and protein. It’s one of the most nutritious foods in the world. The durian fruit can also help to prevent heart disease and cancer, with a low glycemic index and antibacterial properties.
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Jackfruit
The jackfruit is a giant fruit, up to 1m in length. It has bumpy skin in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow, and green, underneath which you’ll find individual bulbs like large orange garlic bulbs to eat. The ripened jackfruit has a pleasantly tropical flavor, though it’s very bland until it’s ripened. It’s also relatively dry and slightly stringy. The orange bulbs can be shredded and torn, then used in cooking as a meat replacement with a similar texture to pulled pork.
Preparing a jackfruit can be challenging. Most people buy this fruit already prepared and served from a tin. The fruit has a thick outer skin and very sticky sap.
Jackfruit, while often used as a meat replacement, could be a better source of protein. 100g of jackfruit contains around 100 calories, less than 2g of protein, and many carbohydrates. 92% of a jackfruit’s calories come from carbohydrates specifically. Despite this, jackfruit contains several antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. It’s also a great source of vitamins A and C.
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Eggplant
A colorful purple fruit that is sometimes confused for a vegetable, the eggplant is a spongy fruit usually cooked before it’s eaten. This fruit contains iron and calcium, strengthening muscle and bones, antioxidants, and fiber. The eggplant is an excellent addition to anemic individuals’ diet, helping combat this common medical condition.
When buying an eggplant, look for smooth and shiny skin. The eggplant should be relatively firm, with the inner flesh pale and soft. Any brown patches should be removed, as these overripe parts are bitter.
Eating eggplant often includes fried, lightly-salted slices or grilled eggplant brushed with olive oil. You can also roast eggplant whole.
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Starfruit
The starfruit is so named because each slice is star-shaped when cut into slices. This yellow-green fruit is native to Asia but grows in other warm climates. When you bite into starfruit, you should expect a sweet and sour flavor combination – they are sometimes mistaken for citrus fruit. However, these juicy fruits contain vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants.
Great nutritional benefits come without high calories, with the average starfruit having less than 40 calories. To pick the best starfruit, look for firm flesh and yellow or slightly green coloring. A very yellow fruit, with bits of brown, is overripe and will not taste as pleasant.
To prepare your starfruit, cut it into slices and enjoy its natural star shape. Next, use a knife to dig out the seeds, then eat fresh or blend them into a smoothie.
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Rambutan
The interesting rambutan is native to Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. This fruit is red, with soft spikes, often with green or yellow tips. The spikes make the rambutan look hairy. However, this fascinating fruit underneath the skin contains soft and smooth white flesh to eat. The taste of rambutan can be likened to a cross between juicy strawberries and grapes.
Rambutans are high in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants. As a result, they can support a healthy immune system and help prevent anemia, thanks to their high iron content. The average rambutan contains around 75 calories.
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Noni Fruit
Like durian, the noni fruit has a slightly unpleasant scent. It smells and tastes like rotting cheese when eaten raw and unprepared. As a result, most people use the noni fruit only when preparing drinks and smoothies. Here, the bitter and distinctive taste is balanced by other juicier and sweeter types of fruit.
The noni fruit has many health benefits, including an effective natural painkiller. In addition, it stimulates the production of serotonin – the happy hormone – and melatonin for better sleep. It also contains antibacterial agents, helping to boost immune responses.
The noni fruit is a famine fruit, sometimes called a ‘starvation fruit.’ Those that live where it grows will only usually eat it if they have no other option; however, its unusual flavor can be masked with the most modern preparation tools. Then, you can enjoy the noni’s health benefits without the overwhelming taste of cheese.
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Which of these non round fruits have you tried? Leave a comment with your favorite.