The Lychee
By: Kayla McLean
Info on Lychees
The Lychee, originated in china is the most known fruit of the soapberry family. This tropical fruit grows from a slow growing tree that can go from 30 feet to 100 feet. These tropical fruits are aromatic, oval, heart-shaped or nearly round. They also have a thin leathery, rough skin that is easily peeled when fresh. The flesh is glossy translucent-white or pinkish, its tastes resemble that of a grape mixed with a strawberry and a watermelon but sweeter and also covers the seed and also high in Vitamin C, Potassium, Copper, and Thiamin . The lychee grows well in low elevations and along rivers and near the seacoast. There are over 100 variations of the Lychee grown in China.
Ways Lychees Can Be Cooked
- Addition to fruit salads and desserts
- Sweet and Sour sauces
- Mixed into drinks (Martinis, Magaritas, Smoothies)
- Baked into muffins and breads
Some Recipes That Have Lychee
Lychee Salsa
Total Time: 15 mins
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Serves: 8
Yield: 2 cups
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh or canned lychees, pitted,peeled & diced
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients together.
Cover tightly and refrigerate at least 3 hours, or overnight
Lychee and Pineapple Stir-Fry Sauce
Total Time: 15 mins
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
1/4 cup soy sauce
Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine lychee juice, pineapple juice, oil, garlic and ginger over medium heat.
Combine 2 tablespoons of pineapple juice and corn starch in a separate bowl and stir until the corn starch dissolves.
Add cornstarch to saucepan and turn heat to high. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring often.
Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer mixture for 4 -6 minutes or until thick.
Add to meat or vegetables that are 75% cooked in a wok and stir to coat
Lychee Lime Sparkler
Total Time: 10 mins
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Serves: 6
Yield: 6
Ingredients:
20 ounces lychees in heavy syrup
Directions:
Drain the lychees and reserve the syrup; set aside six lychees for decoration.
Place the remaining lychees, limes and sugar into a large ziplock bag; crush with a meat mallet or rolling pin until the fruit turns pulpy; strain the juices into a large jug; add the reserved syrup; cover and refrigerate.
Just before serving, add the sparkling wine; pour into champagne glasses; decorate with the extra lime slices and a lychee, and serve.
Interesting Facts about Lychees
- In India and China the Lychee trees were grown in an air-layering method
- Lychees were first recordedin 1059AD