Pork and apple. Chicken and apricot. Lamb and mint. Kiwano and salmon. Ok – we’ll admit the last one isn’t quite as well-known as the others (yet!). But fruit has a long and delicious history of fantastic food pairings. Sometimes they don’t seem to make sense…until you take that first mouthful, and everything falls right into place. In today’s blog we’re taking a deep dive into the best foods to pair Kiwano with.

Cool, refreshing, and exotic, Kiwano brings out the best in a range of foods. Like other tropical or exotic fruits, including pineapple and mango, it can do savoury just as well as sweet. And it really shines when paired with a bit of chilli heat, which makes it a great ingredient in Mexican and Asian style dishes.

 

What makes a great food pairing?

 

There’s science behind why something savoury tastes so good when matched with something sweeter. Registered dietitian and chef Jessica Swift explained to the “Eat This” blog that the taste receptors responsible for transporting glucose to sweet taste cells can only do so with sodium present. She says this could be the reason why we respond so well sweet/salty combinations – salted caramel being just one example.

There’s also the well-known pairing of something hot with something cool. Think sour cream with chili, raita with curry or warm cookies with milk.

Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal rose to fame in the 1990s with his weird and wonderful sweet/savoury food pairings, which he based on the molecular similarity of two foods. Snail porridge and crab ice cream were just a couple of his more famous creations that explored the complex ways we experience taste and textures. His genius is not limited to the high-end –  according to Wikipedia he also invented the triple cooked chip (in our opinion the most delicious food pairing of fluffy and crispy ever created).

 

So what makes a great match for Kiwano?

 

Let’s start by explaining the taste. Some people describe Kiwano as citrusy (which might be why it works well in the same situations as lime and lemon) others describe the flavour having notes of kiwi or a hint of banana. We describe it to newbies as a subtle and refreshing combination of banana, passionfruit, and lime.

Then there’s the texture. Inside the bright orange skin is a vibrant green pulp, which is the part you eat (the skin doesn’t really have much flavour at all and is quite tough). The pulp is comprised of hundreds of green jelly-like globules which encase a tiny slim white seed. Cool and slippery, it really is like nothing else out there! Hungry yet Let’s get started.

 

Here are our top 10 best foods to pair with Kiwano:

1. Chilli

 

 

This delicious pairing is of the classic “cool/hot” family. Dried chilli flakes, finely chopped red chili or even a shake of tabasco sauce all work brilliantly with the cool citrusy pulp of Kiwano. Try our recipes for Chili Kiwano or Sweet and Sour Kiwano – super easy to make and packed to the roof with flavour.

 

2. Salt

 

 

A pinch of sea salt brings out the best in Kiwano’s delicate fruity flavour. The same reason why it makes such a delicious fresh ‘n fruity margarita.

 

3. Salmon

 

 

The next time you have salmon, try a dollop of Kiwano instead of a squeeze of lemon. It provides that same fresh contrast to the oily fish – and adds in an interesting cool texture. For a super quick and flavour packed dinner, layer slices of pickled ginger over hot smoked salmon, with a dollop of Kiwano pulp on top. Or try this delicious Kiwano Ceviche.

 

4. Tomato

 

 

What the? Yep, there’s always one food pairing that’s a bit of an eyebrow-raiser. But Kiwano and freshly chopped tomato make an amazing match in this Kiwano fresh salsa. The Kiwano gives the classic salsa a fresh fruity depth. And because it’s not an overly sweet fruit it melds beautifully with all the classic salsa ingredients.

 

5. Lime

 

 

Kiwano and Lime are friends that brings out the best in each other. Lime enhances Kiwano’s citrusy notes, while Kiwano provides a mellower fruity contrast to the lime’s tartness. Together these two create deliciously refreshing drinks. Try infused water with slices of lime, Kiwano and mint – or if the occasion calls for it, a Kiwano Daiquiri.

 

6. Pineapple

 

Pineapple is Kiwano’s tropical best friend. As quite a sweet fruit (10gm naturally occurring sugars per 100gm where Kiwano only has 3.8gm per 100gm), Kiwano’s cool, citrusy side is a great match for the richer pineapple. One of our favourite smoothies is this Kiwano Colada. We also love this pair with a hit of chilli and red onion in our Kiwano and Pineapple salsa – amazing with freshly grilled seafood (think dolloped on grilled lobster or fresh white fish). It’s also fantastic on grilled pork or just scooped onto corn chips.

 

7. Vanilla ice cream

 

 

Here the cool, fruity and jelly-like Kiwano contrasts with the creamy richness of the ice cream. When it comes to the best foods to pair with Kiwano, it doesn’t get much easier than squeezing half a kiwano over the best vanilla ice cream you can find. What’s more, the colour combination is stunning! We often serve this as a quick dessert. Just wait until you get to slurp down that last little melted puddle of Kiwano and ice cream at the end of your bowl. Yum.

 

8. Greek yogurt

 

 

The same rich/fresh contrast as above but a healthier version! Another way to hit even more of those taste buttons is to add a layer of crunchy granola on top.

 

9. Avocado

 

 

You might have guessed we’re on a little theme in the second half of this list – because it is so light and refreshing Kiwano pairs well with the richer avocado. We make a nutrition-packed, lighter version of guacamole by stirring in the pulp of one Kiwano (adding a dose of magnesium and potassium to the Vitamin E, C and folate found in avocado).

 

10. Gin

 

 

Ok…not technically a food. But we couldn’t have this list without it! Infusing gin with Kiwano pulp gives a clean, lightly fruity twist to the average GnT, plus adds nutrients. A wedge of Kiwano also looks amazing as a garnish. One of our favourite gin cocktails to make with Kiwano is the Kiwano Reeves – fresh and mysteriously fruity, it’s also easy to make for a crowd.

 

There you have it – our top 10 best foods to pair with Kiwano. Of course, this list is not exhaustive! Kiwano pairs so well with almost any creamy dessert, you can also use it in a big range of smoothies, juices, salads, sauces, as a garnish, with meats, seafood, tacos and so much more.

For more inspiration visit our Instagram page to see what other foodies have been creating with this special fruit.