Portions: 6 servings Calories: 158kcal |
If you love combining fruits with your savory dishes this Serrano ham and carambola or star fruit salad recipe is a colorful summer dinner salad with few but beautiful ingredients that will impress your family and guests. I also found you 25 magnificent starfruit recipes to enjoy this beautiful fruit.
Why I ❤️ it • Recipe • Ingredients • Preparation
Why I ❤️ it
As a denizen of a tropical corner of the world, I am very spoiled when it comes to fruits, and I love adding them to savory dishes. This beautiful salad is a symphony of flavors (from the strong Serrano ham to the mild carambola), and gorgeous colors.
Carambolas are a fruit with a very mild taste, with only a hint of sweet. It is mostly appreciated for its stunning shape (a star, as the name suggests). Whenever I see it in the supermarket I can't contain myself from buying some.
Serrano and star fruit salad recipe
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Utensils and tools
Ingredients
For the dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 sprigs parsley
- ¼ teaspoon white granulated sugar
For the salad
- 1 iceberg lettuce, (see notes), washed, and spinned-dry
- 2 star fruit, cut into fine slices
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into fine strips
- 4 ounces Serrano ham, [113 gr] of, sliced then shredded into thin pieces
Preparation
Before starting, please make sure you have all the ingredients and utensils ready.
Step 1
For the dressing: Combine all the dressing ingredients (olive oil, vinegar, salt, parsley, sugar) in the mixing cup. Using a stick blender process until you obtain a uniform mixture.
Step 2
To make the salad: Arrange all the ingredients for the salad (lettuce, star fruit, pepper, ham) on a serving plate. Serve alongside dressing.
Variations
This is a salad that work with several other fruits, so if you don't have carambola, you can use apple or pears (sliced very thinly) instead of carambola. You can also add other vegetables to it, like thinly-sliced cucumbers, black olives,
Make it sparkle like jewelry with some pomegranate seeds, if you have it.
Top tips
Use whatever type of green lettuce you prefer. I used this one because I love the taste and looks. Other good choices are arugula, romaine and curly endives.
Serving suggestions
This is a marvelous summer salad recipe, perfect for dinner al fresco, but can also be served as a light dinner for two.
Nutritional information
Calories: 158kcal - Carbohydrates: 8g - Protein: 7g - Fat: 11g - Saturated Fat: 2g - Cholesterol: 10mg - Sodium: 578mg - Potassium: 221mg - Fiber: 2g - Sugar: 5g - Vitamin A: 1090IU - Vitamin C: 38.3mg - Calcium: 19mg - Iron: 0.8mg
What's star fruit?
Carambola, starfruit or star fruit is the fruit of the tropical tree averrhoa carambola. The yellow fruit has a pear-like consistency and a very mild flavor. When cut the slices have the shape of stars, hence the name.
Health benefits of starfruit
Carambola is rich in antioxidants, potassium, vitamin C, low in sugar, sodium and acids. It is a good source of antioxidant polyphenols.
Note that carambola should not be consumed by those suffering from any type of kidney disease, and people on certain medications. You may want to talk to a health professional about it.
How to eat star fruit
Star fruit can be made into salads, juices, drinks, chutneys and desserts. And, of course, you can eat the fruit on its own too.
Starfruit recipes
If you wanted to know how to eat star fruit (aside as just a fruit), you'll be amazed at all the things that can be done with the carambola fruit.
- Starbucks-inspired lemonade starfruit kiwi refresher mocktail
- Apple and starfruit juice
- Keto vegetarian star fruit chips
- Carambola iced tea
- Starfruit popsicles
- Fruit salad with starfruit
- Ginger, lemon and star fruit tea
- Spinach, mango and starfruit smoothie
- Green tomato, avocado and star fruit salad
- Orzo and star fruit salad
- Carambola chutney
- Strawberry starfruit smoothie bowl
- Carambola wine
- Star fruit pickle
- Carambola green juice
- Cinnamon starfruit tart
- Starfruit salad dressing
- Carambola strawberry jam
- Star fruit juice
- Fennel, mint and starfruit infused water
- Starfruit cake
- Keto starfruit bake
- Starfruit salsa
- Pineapple starfruit tequila
- Carambola juice
- Carambola and kiwi jam
FAQs
How to cut star fruit?
Star fruit can be cut into slices, that will have the shape of stars. For some preparations you may want to dice it or cube it. You do not need to peel it.
How do eat a star fruit?
Star fruit can be eaten as any other fruit, just wash it and slice it.
Is star fruit good for you?
Starfruit is a good source of several vitamins and micronutrients, however, it can interact with some medications, and can be harmful to people with kidney conditions. Consult your doctor about it.
What's star fruit in Spanish?
Star fruit is carambola in Spanish.
How to tell if starfruit is ripe?
Starfruit turns a light yellow color when it's ripe.
Print card
This is just a printer-friendly summary, some useful details are found in the recipe above.
Serrano Ham and Star Fruit Salad +25 Carambola Recipes
Ingredients
For the salad
- 1 iceberg lettuce , (see notes), washed, and spinned-dry
- 2 star fruit , cut into fine slices
- 1 red bell pepper , cut into fine strips
- 4 ounces Serrano ham [113 gr] , sliced then shredded into thin
For the dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 sprigs parsley
- 4 teaspoon sugar (white, granulated)
Instructions
For the dressing
- Put all ingredients in the mixing cup. Using a stick blender process until you obtain a uniform mixture.
For the salad
- Arrange all the ingredients for the salad on a serving plate. Serve alongside dressing.
Notes
Originally published on Jul 18, 2014
Marina
Very good and also useful to read.
Thank you.
Amalia
Beautiful recipe, I googled some recipe with carambola and found this one.