The ‘trendy’ kiwi fruit

Press, 26 November 1980, Page 13

The ‘trendy’ kiwi fruit

Alison Hoist’s

Food Facts

What do you do with kiwi fruit? I’ve often been asked this question, in and out of New Zealand. An American food magazine I read recently considered “kiwis” (not kiwi fruit) as one of the “trendy” foods of the 1970 s in North America. I don’t have a list of kiwi fruit recipes, because I think kiwi fruit are best served simply. I don’t cook them. I think .it spoils their colour, flavour and texture. There is a big difference between hard, pale-fleshed, unripe kiwi fruit, and softer, sweeter, ripe fruit. I have found that I can sometimes keep kiwi fruit at room temperature for six to eight weeks before the}- are really ripe. At this stage you can peel off the thin brown skin .with vour fingers — you don't need to cut off any of the green part, the flesh itself is then darkish green and very' sweet. Perhaps some of my kiwi fruit ideas will be new to you. I think they are all worth trying.

KIWI RELISH Pour dressing made from equal quantities of oil and mild vinegar over sliced kiwi fruit and chopped spring onions or very thinly sliced large onions. Serve with cold lamb, on lettuce as a side salad, or as a side dish for curry. KIWIS IN RUM Sprinkle slices of kiwi fruit with castor sugar. 1 to 2 tablespoons rum for each kiwi fruit and leave to stand for 30 minutes beofre serving at room temperature. KIWI COMPOTE Serve on Oriental fruit salad made with sliced kiwi fruit, canned mandarins and lychees, in lychee syrup.

GREEN DRAGON Sprinkle sliced kiwi fruit with cinnamon, sugar, and finely chopped crystallised giner. Serve chilled, with vanilla flavoured whipped cream flavoured with ginger syrup. KIWI TOPPING Select really ripe kiwi fruit. Mash with a fork, sweetening with castor sugar only _jf necessary. Serve as a topping for ice cream or cheesecake. Notes: Kiwi fruit can be frozen, sliced, with sugar. It is best to use fairly ripe fruit for this. Sometimes the thawed fruit has a slight after taste. Uncooked kiwi fruit cannot be set in gelatine mixtures. because they contain enzymes which break down the gelatine. Kiwi fruit can be pureed and used as a meat tenderiser, like pawpaws.