With plenty of incredible foods making their way into mainstream health culture, soursop (or the ‘custard apple’) is one of the newest hot arrivals on the block. Many plant-based eaters are already satisfied with the variety in a vegan diet. However, trying new and unfamiliar foods can be a great way to inject fresh ideas and flavors into your meals.
In addition, these new ingredients can provide some special benefits that you may be wanting more of in your diet. Enter soursop!
So What is it?
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Although its name may sound less than enticing, soursop is actually quite an amazing fruit. It grows in tropical areas with high humidity such as South America and features a spiky green exterior. With a flavor that is both sweet and tart, soursop can be a welcome addition to your diet. It’s also able to blend seamlessly into tons of recipes, making it easy for you to get creative.
Nutrients and Benefits
Often referred to as a superfruit, soursop has long since been used by traditional cultures for its reported medicinal attributes. Aside from these uses, it also has some advantageous nutrients which make it even more enticing. Here are a few benefits, vitamins and minerals that you can expect to get from soursop.
The first plus is soursop’s antioxidant levels, as well as potassium and phosphorus content. In addition, this offers vitamin C and vitamin D which are good for immune functions and nutrient absorption.
Soursop is also high in fiber, making it great for digestion. Because soursop has the ability to help fight parasites, it is effective at cleansing the stomach as well. The iron and calcium in this fruit are also used for blood and bone health.
Another valuable characteristic of soursop is its use in pain relief. Thus, it can provide analgesic assistance if you have a wound that needs some help in the healing process and also helps guard against infections. On top of this, soursop is anti-inflammatory.
Soursop is also recognized for being a great option for those with diabetes. This is because it can help to lower blood sugar.
In terms of external benefits, you may consider using soursop to improve skin quality. This effects can take place whether you choose to use it topically or take internally.
Where to Find, Selection, and Storage Tips
Soursop can be found at local specialty stores as well as online. You may see it referred to as graviola or custard apple as well, which are other names for this same fruit. However, your best course of action is often to track it down at a local farmers’ market, where you can choose your favorite and ask any questions necessary.
You can pick out the best one by searching for a piece that is a deep green in color with minimal bruises. When they aren’t yet ripened, your soursops are fine to keep at room temperature and then you can stick them in the fridge for a few days once they’re ready.
Ways to Eat Soursop
You can transform soursop in plenty of different ways depending on what you’re looking for. If you aren’t in the mood to test out recipes, just split it in half and enjoy with a spoon. You can also brew yourself a simple tea with sliced soursop to sip on throughout the day for added benefits.
Alternatively, you can also have fun integrating soursop into tons of delicious meals. For example, try it out in this Soursop Sorbet as a delicious new twist on your usual cold treat.
Here are a few other recipe suggestions to get you started:
Add it seamlessly to your smoothies. Soursop works great in blends like a Green Strawberry Basil Banana Smoothie or this Pineapple Crush Smoothie. The flavor of soursop should complement these other ingredients beautifully. If you’re looking for a dessert, you should try this Raw Custard Apple and Apricot Cheesecake! It is tangy, delicious, and the soursop really takes center-stage.
Raw Triple Layer Mango Dragon Fruit Cake
Try including it in baking too! For a new twist on your cakes and pies, add soursop to the mix to set your dishes apart as well as additional health perks. Some great options to suit this ingredient are Raw Triple Layer Mango Dragon Fruit Cake or some Clementine Cheesecake. This is sure to impress your guests on a special day or just as a guilt-free reward to yourself.
For more on soursop and related options, check out Why You Should Try These 6 Powerpacked Unique Fruits and Veggies. Also, be sure to download the Food Monster App, which you can find on both Android and iPhone, in addition to Instagram and Facebook! The app features over 10,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes to help supply you with new healthy recipes each day.
Lead Image Source: Paulo Vielela/iStock
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