Sunday, July 31, 2011

Black Sapotes are totes awesome.

Back in October 2007 I posted about the delicious tropical fruit, the Black Sapote.  At the risk of being repetitive, I'm going to do another post about this fab fruit -- it was nearly 4 years ago, and I have new things to say this time anyways! In October 2007, and for maybe a year or more, Andy and I were going through a phase where we bought them nearly every week.  Then, for some reason, we stopped buying them.  Until a few weeks ago, when I saw a basket of $1 sapotes at the market, and I said, "We're getting one".  Andy picked a big one, but then the stall-holder pulled out an even BIGGER one from the back of her truck.  So we bought two.

I put it next to a gift card, so you can see how big they are.


Black Sapotes are hard and green when you buy them.  You can't buy them much riper than this, because they are too delicate -- even picking them up can be tricky, so transporting them ain't gonna happen. Look at what happens to the bottom when they go ripe -- the weight of the fruit pushes down, and the bottom goes super flat.
Just ignore all the mess in the background.

You can slow the ripening process by putting firm sapotes in the fridge until a few days before you want them to ripen.  Then, once you bring them back to room temperature, they finish ripening and away you go.
The big one ripened much quicker than the littlie.

Black Sapote also makes a yummy port, so if you're ever in Far North Queensland you should treat yourself to a tasting at Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery.

Black Sapote is, as I said in 2007, also known as the Chocolate Pudding Fruit.  However, they don't really taste all that chocolatey.  If you think really hard about it, you can faintly taste a bit of chocolate, but that may just be imagined.  It's hard to say.  What they do taste like is yummy - sort of persimmony, which is unsurprising since the two fruits are in the same family.

So what things can you do with a Black Sapote?  This is what we've done recently...

1) In a pie. Scoop the flesh, separating out the seeds.  Mash or blend it up with a splash of Cointreau. 

Pour into a pre-baked Granola Nut Crust (the best recipe from The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook, in my opinion).  Chill, and eat.
This was actually a bit of a fail, because I didn't mix anything, like agar, into the fruit to make it set.  So instead, I put it in the freezer.

2) In ice cream.  I made an easy-pants custard with coconut milk simmered with a cinnamon stick, and then a bit of corn flour.  Once it cooled, I blended in the flesh of a Black Sapote, took out the cinnamon, and churned it in the ice cream maker.  Cinnamon + Sapote = a super yummy flavour combo.

3) With a spoon.  Still the easiest, and possibly the best way to eat sapote -- straight up.


Have you ever tried a Black Sapote?  Were you convinced of their chocolate-likeness, or a skeptic like me?

11 comments:

Hannah said...

Swoon! To be honest, I'd probably prefer they didn't taste vaguely chocolatey, because I don't like vague chocolatiness :P But OHMYHEAVENS that tart!! Also, are they also in the same family as custard apples?

Kari said...

I'm so glad you did repeat a Sapote post - I wasn't reading blogs in 2007, but my imagination is certainly captured by this fruit. I'll have to look out for it! Thanks :)

the little one said...

Wow. Never heard of this fruit. Thank's for the education!

Vegan Miam said...

Interesting to see vegan foods in Australia! :) I've been to Sydney and really love their grocery products that are vegan-friendly! xxx from Vienna. P.S. added you on Yummy Bloggers on my blog, look forward to reading you.

Unknown said...

wow, this is SO weird. i never thought those would be brown inside.
i'm always up for trying new things though, so i'd definitely try them if i see them somewhere!

Susan said...

I've had one once, I got them from the West End Markets. I agree, any chocolate flavour is really very subtle, but they were dlighfully persimmon-like! I just ate my plain to experience the fruit fully. They sell them there a lot though, so next time I might get some to make some of the pie and ice-cream, they sound great!

Get Skinny, Go Vegan. said...

Seriously cool. I need to find these!

leaf (the indolent cook) said...

I want to try this! I've seen them around before but didn't buy them. Must do so next time. Love your list of ideas!

Karine Fontaine said...

When I was living in Nicaragua, I was going literaly crazy for Zapotes. When they were on season, I was eating about 3 a day. But, there, they were brown from the oustide and kind of orange/red on the inside.

I was eating it with oatmeal or doing a shake with soymilk.

Enjoy!

di said...

Black sapotes are fabulous in smoothies. I make mine with rice milk, add a banana and some seed / grain mix like LSA. Many variations I'm sure.

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