Caloric content and chemical composition of the fruits of the pentagonal melon tree. Useful properties, harm and contraindications for use. How is an exotic fruit eaten? Babako recipes. The benefits of individual components of babako are presented in the form of a table:
| Substance | Target |
| Vitamin A | Vision, metabolism, immunity, acne treatment, hormone synthesis, cholesterol control |
| Vitamin C | Skin, hormone synthesis, blood clotting, elimination of toxins, absorption of iron and calcium |
| Calcium and Phosphorus | Teeth, vascular tone, blood clotting, quality of nails and hair, growth and development in childhood |
| Water, fiber | Digestion, metabolism, cell hydration, vital activity of beneficial intestinal microflora |
| Sodium | Heart and blood vessels, pressure level, absorption of carbohydrates |
| Potassium | Nervous system, metabolism, tone and activity of mental processes, prevention of ulcers and arrhythmias |
| Papain | Digestion of food, improvement of the oral cavity, the fight against plaque |
Contraindications and harm babako
Ripe fruits of the pentagonal melon tree, collected in ecologically clean areas and thoroughly washed, have practically no contraindications.
The only precaution to keep in mind is the risk of allergies after tasting.
Given the high amount of the proteolytic enzyme papain, excessive consumption of the fruit can cause mild mouth irritation. Such harm to the fruits of the pentagonal melon tree is insignificant - the sensations are similar to "burns" by hot food and quickly pass.
Since vegetable exot is extremely low in calories, you can not be afraid of its use during diet and weight loss. This fruit will only benefit.
How is the fruit of the pentagonal melon tree eaten?
Like many other fruits, the fruit of the melon tree is best eaten as fresh as possible, fresh from the tree. It doesn't matter if they were stored for several days in a cool place, out of direct sunlight. This can be the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or a specially equipped room. In the future, it is better to resort to suitable canning methods, since the fruit can spoil.
The peel of the babako should be uniformly dense, uniformly colored, without spots and “bald spots”. How do you eat the fruits of the pentagonal melon tree to get the most out of it? If you subject the fruit to heat treatment, some of its valuable properties will certainly be lost. However, many useful substances will still remain in compotes, juices, jams, wines and other ready-made dishes.
Babako is sometimes added to meat to give it extra softness. Desserts made from fresh slices with added sugar, honey, milk and nuts are popular in South America.
Babako recipes
Culinary masterpieces with the fruits of the pentagonal melon tree are not too numerous, since the taste of the cooked fruit is significantly inferior to the fresh analogue. Babako will find ideal application in desserts, fresh juices and salads.
Recipes with delicious babako dishes:
- Fruit and vegetable salad … To get a finished meal, simply mix all the ingredients listed below. Babako needs to be peeled and cut into large pieces, divide the cherry tomatoes into neat halves, peel and chop from the cucumber. Wash and grate the carrots, tear the lettuce leaves by hand (as in the classic Caesar salad), slightly crush the basil leaves so that they release the aroma. Do the same with mint leaves, finely chop white onions. For decoration, you can use fresh flowers of nasturtium, sesame seeds. For dressing, take macadamia oil with lemon juice, in a ratio of 3 to 1. It is better to choose a clear match of ingredients according to your taste, depending on which vegetable or fruit you like best.
- Summer jam … For this recipe with the fruits of a pentagonal melon tree, we need 1.5 kg of ripe babako fruits, 1 glass of water, juice from 2 lemons, 1.5 kg of sugar. The fruits are washed, peeled, cut into pieces and poured over with water, boiling over medium heat until soft (takes about 15 minutes). After that sugar is added in small portions and its complete dissolution is achieved. Next, pour in the juice of lemons, bring to a boil and turn off the heat. At the end, they are poured into sterilized jars and sealed.
- Indian chutney sauce … Prepare 25 mint leaves, 1 fresh green chili (chopped), 1 tbsp. l. white caraway seeds, 1 tbsp. l. mustard seeds, salt to taste, water as needed, a small babako fruit. Wash the fruits, cut into "stars", put in one container with the rest of the ingredients and process with a blender until smooth. Add boiled or purified water if the sauce is too thick. Chill and serve with your side dish.
- Topping syrup … For one medium-sized babako fruit, take 1.5 cups of white sugar, water as needed, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 cups of orange juice. Wash the fruit, remove the peel, cut into slices. Place all ingredients in a large container and simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the cinnamon stick, cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. This syrup can be served as part of a delicious drink or cocktail, as an ice cream topping, or as a stand-alone dessert.
Interesting facts about the pentagonal melon tree
Individual fruits of the plant can reach 2 kg, but its average weight is 400-600 grams, with a diameter of about 10 cm. Fruits do not tolerate transportation well and quickly lose their presentation if damaged.
Unlike papaya used to warm tropical climates, babako can survive in greenhouse conditions even at 10 ° C at night and 12-18 ° C during the day. At the same time, the fruits will ripen quickly and evenly.
Babako is most popular in Ecuador, where it blooms profusely from October to March. At the time of intensive growth, the fruit can make the tree so heavy that the latter will need support for support. To get smaller and more demanded fruits for sale, the plants are planted close to each other. Usually farmers do not wait until they are fully ripe, harvesting half green, with the help of secateurs. This is done because yellow fruits easily fall to the ground and are damaged.
A curious feature of the fruit pulp of the pentagonal melon tree is the complete absence of seeds.
Successful acclimatization and cultivation of Babako for sale were carried out in New Zealand, the warm US state of California, some regions of England, the Channel Islands, Italy (Sicily and Calabria), Israel, and the Middle East.
Traditional uses of the fruit include treating warts by applying sticky juice over the affected area. The benefits of the fruit of the pentagonal melon tree were known to the Inca tribes, who used the pulp to treat obesity and stress, as a means of increasing immunity, against infections and allergies. The pulp of the plant helps prevent constipation and relieve diabetes.
Watch a video about babako:
Babako is an excellent source of vitamins C and A, which help in wound healing and support the functioning of many body systems. The fruit is rich in riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, sodium, calcium, potassium, magnesium and other essential components. It contains a significant amount of the enzyme papain, which helps to naturally speed up protein digestion. The consumption of babako helps control heart rate and blood pressure and counteracts the negative effects of oxidative cell damage.
