Star fruit

Carambole

What it is

Its sharpness is oxalic acid rather than the citric acid behind every other sour fruit in the kitchen, and it also carries a neurotoxin, caramboxin, that healthy kidneys clear without trouble — people on dialysis are told to avoid it outright. Cut across, the five ridges give the star that is the whole reason the fruit travels.

In the kitchen

Pare the brown edge off each of the five ridges before slicing, or the star tastes woody. Cut at about 3 mm: thinner and it goes limp, thicker and the waxy skin squeaks against the teeth.

Goes with

Chili pepper Lime Fish sauce Shallot Mint Shrimp Cucumber White sugar

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