Fruits Info

What is it about the summer months that stir up a spirited streak in the otherwise mild-mannered food geek? Sure, the farmers markets run over with heirloom tomatoes and just-picked stone fruit, but there's amazing about the more obscure produce that unleashes our inner Iron Chef. So read along and dazzle your foodie friends with esoteric information about corn fungus tacos and candied Buddha's hand.

FRUITS

Buddha's hand

Strange facts If the 5,000 fingers of Dr. T were crossed with a chiefly bumpy lemon, it would almost certainly look like this semitropical citrus fruit. The mutant variety of the citron is a favorite in Asia, and fable says that it was carried from India to China by monks for whom the alien-looking fruit was a sign of health and happiness. The mad scientists at new Alameda tiki bar Forbidden Island are bringing inner calm to bar goers everywhere with their drink Buddha's Palm, a riff on the Arnold Palmer that include Hangar One's citron Buddha's hand vodka.

Prep tips since the inside of the Buddha's hand is nearly all pith and has small fruit, it is most prized for its peel, which can be candied or tested. Throw candied zest into approximately any custard-based dessert, from panna cotta to homemade ice cream, for a surprising and agreeable textural and flavor contrast. Chef Mourad Lahlou from Aziza sprinkles Buddha's hand zest on his slow-cooked taglines'. Lazy cooks could just put the exotic-looking fruit on the counter or hang it in the closet for a natural air freshener. Trust us, everyone would be asking about that new scent you're wearing!

Fresh finds when shopping for this fragile fruit, take note of vibrant, firm specimens with glossy peels. Also, check every crevice cautiously for signs of mold or softness. Hamada Farms sells Buddha's hand at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, and it's also obtainable at Rainbow Grocery and Berkeley Bowl.