What is passion fruit?
When in Hawaii, I hound farmers markets in my search for lilikoi, what the Hawaiians call passion fruit. These thick-shelled fruits may be yellow, green, or even reddish-brown in color. They may be smooth-skinned or all wrinkled and puckery. Makes no difference. When you cut into one you’ll see lots of small black seeds surrounded by a bright orange pulp The seeds are edible and lend a pleasant crunch. I think I fell in love with passion fruit before I even tasted it. I say this because when I did finally eat some, mingled with papaya, I felt as if I were reliving a forgotten moment from the past: the tang, the seeds, the color, the absolutely unique flavor and aroma, all seemed like long-lost friends. Has a déjà-vu moment like this ever happened to you?
What can you make with passion fruit?
Ever since that first taste I’ve been hooked on everything passion fruit, including mustards, barbecue sauces, syrups, salad dressings, jellies, ice cream, martinis, and more. For breakfast, I scoop the seeds out of a cut papaya, dice some fresh pineapple and banana, and mix the fruits with the innards of a passion fruit. I squeeze lime juice onto the papaya halves and pile the fruit into their cavities. For desserts and sauces, I need just the passion fruit juice without the seeds. I’ll scrape the seeds and pulp from 12 or so lilikoi into a blender jar and blend for 15 to 30 seconds to separate the seeds from the orange pulp. I pass the seeds and pulp (now liquefied into a juice) through a fine strainer and that’s it. I have a supply of passion fruit juice that I can either use right away, refrigerate for a day or two, or freeze to use in the future. I like light and creamy pies that pack a lot of flavor, and Passion Fruit Chiffon Pie is something I make often both in Hawaii and when I’m at home in Montana. Chiffon pies get their lightness from whipped egg whites and heavy cream. Gelatin, just enough to set the filling, gives the pie structure. Fully bake a crust for a 9-inch pie. Just use a favorite recipe of yours. Make the filling, and you’re set for a terrific tropical treat.
What if you don’t have access to fresh passion fruit?
Aunty Lilikoi to the rescue! Located on Kaua’i, Aunty Lilikoi will ship her products to you. A 10-ounce bottle of passion fruit juice costs $8.00 That’s about 1 1/4 cups. You use it straight from the bottle. Freeze what you don’t use and it’ll be ready when you’re ready for it. Here’s the link to aunty Lilikoi’s Passion fruit Juice: http://bit.ly/2lRikPi