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Tamarillo is popularly called the tomato tree. The fruits of overseas berries taste like tomatoes we know. The plant is gaining popularity among gardeners due to its high yield and unusual taste. What is tamarillo, and how to use it in cooking, you will learn from our article.
Origin and territory of cultivation
Tamarillo family – South America. It later spread to tropical North America. And in New Zealand, the cultivation of the plant has become massive. New Zealand farmers in the middle of the XNUMXth century became the main suppliers of tamarillo to Europe and the USA. European gardeners became interested in an unusual fruit and began to cultivate it on their territory.
At the moment, tamarillo is grown in greenhouses throughout Europe, the USA and Our Country. Despite this, the tomato remains exotic, as its cultivation requires special climatic conditions.
Video «Introduction to tamarillos»
From this video you will learn about the beneficial properties of the tomato tree, the intricacies of its choice and some recipes for making tamarillo.
Description of tamarillo
Tamarillo belongs to the Solanaceae family. It is an evergreen shrub and sometimes a tree. Under natural conditions, its height reaches 2–3 m. In greenhouses, it most often grows to 1–1,5 m. The leaves are large, shiny, oblong. The trunk near the root can become woody. Plant life expectancy with proper care – from 10 to 15 years.
Shape and color of ripe fruit
Ripe tamarillo berries are smooth and egg-shaped. Fruit length is 6–10 cm. They grow in clusters of 5–10 pieces. on each. The skin color is orange, red, yellow, sometimes purple.
The flesh is yellow, with dark pink streaks. Thin black seeds are arranged in two semicircles.
Types of tamarillo
There are three main types of tamarillo, which differ in the color of the ripe fruit.
- Red is suitable for eating raw. This tomato has a soft skin and red-yellow flesh. They are used to decorate exotic dishes. The taste is characterized as sour rather than sweet, with tart notes.
- Orange – the largest of all representatives. The fruits are sweeter than red, have a sour taste with salty notes. The berries are fleshy, the seeds are small. Therefore, they are used in the preparation of smoothies and cocktails.
- Yellow is the sweetest kind. The fruits are small in size, they are also served in salads. They have the least pronounced sour-salty taste. In cross section, they look like yellow tomatoes.
When choosing which type of tamarillo to start growing, you need to focus on the purpose of ripe fruits.
Calorie content and composition of the product
The calorie content of this vegetable is only 50 kcal per 100 g of product. Therefore, it is recommended to use it in food during a fruit and vegetable diet.
It contains vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, C, as well as some useful substances – calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus.
Benefits of tomato fruit
Due to the low calorie content, nutritionists recommend taking tamarillo smoothies and tomato tree juice. It saturates the body with useful substances and accelerates the process of splitting fats.
Tamarillo is advised to eat for headaches and migraines. It helps to saturate the body of children with calcium in case of rickets and reduced immunity.
After suffering infectious diseases, the fruit helps to strengthen the immune system and restore lost strength to the body.
Growing a tomato tree at home
Before you start growing tamarillo, you need to purchase seeds. They can be ordered online. It is better to do this through trusted sites so as not to run into scammers. They are sown in mid-February, so the purchase should be done in advance.
Planting seedlings
After purchase, the seeds are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and soaked in cool water. Then they are planted in pots or bowls. The distance between the seeds should be at least 3 cm. After planting, they are covered with cling film and placed in a room with a stable temperature of 25–30°C. The first shoots will appear within 2–3 weeks.
Transplantation in open ground
Seedlings are ready for transplanting into open ground only when their height reaches 60–80 cm. Most often they grow by June, when frosts are no longer expected. It is necessary to choose a place well lit and protected from strong winds. The land before planting must be fertilized with mineral fertilizers and humus.
The distance between the bushes should be 80–100 cm. It is necessary to dig holes with a diameter of 30-40 cm and completely immerse the roots of the seedling in them. They need to be sprinkled with earth, leaving a small hole, and poured abundantly with water. It is better to install a special stick nearby to tie up a tomato tree.
Watering and fertilizer
When watering, you need to focus on the weather. On hot summer days, you need to water the plants every 2–3 days. In the evening, after sunset, you can spray the leaves with cool water. In cloudy cool weather, they should not be watered more than once a week. In rainy weather, tomato trees do not require watering until the soil is completely dry.
Tamarillo is fertilized with dressings for tomatoes and nightshade. It is also recommended to make humus once a month. Several times a season, you can feed the trees with chicken manure diluted with water. Do not exceed the amount of organic fertilizers, as this can lead to abundant crown growth with a decrease in the number of fruits.
Trimming
Pruning tomato trees should be done several times a season. Most often, with the help of sharp garden shears or a knife, they get rid of the top.
Tree height should be 100–120 cm. After pruning, tamarillo begins to produce new branches. Thus, it is possible to form a low tree with a developed crown. This facilitates the care and collection of fruits and makes the tree beautiful and aesthetic.
Tomato berries in cooking
In modern cookbooks, you can increasingly see tamarillo in the list of ingredients. To prepare a dish with an exotic fruit, you need to choose the right fruits and process them before cooking.
The subtleties of choice
Tamarillo, depending on the type, is prepared both as a vegetable and as a fruit. In cocktails, smoothies, fruit salads, yellow berries of a tomato tree are best suited. Raw reds emphasize the taste of meat dishes, they can be part of sauces and seasonings. Meaty oranges can be fried in a pan, added to soup, vegetable and meat stews, eaten with potatoes and risotto.
The tamarillo fruit should be firm and free of dents, dots, and skin damage. Coloring should be even, without spots.
Author’s advice
How to eat tamarillos
When cooking, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the peel of tamarillo has an unpleasant taste. In order not to spoil the dish and get rid of bitterness, you need to place the berry in boiling water for 2–3 minutes, and then carefully remove the hard skin.
After that, the peeled berries are cut into slices or rings and cooked according to the chosen recipe.
Interesting recipes
Dishes from tomato berries are considered difficult to prepare. Often they contain rare and expensive ingredients. But some dishes can be easily prepared from available products.
You can make dessert from yellow tamarillos. This requires 10 medium-sized berries, 500 ml of water, 200 g of sugar, juice from one lemon, yogurt or ice cream. Berries must be peeled. Then prepare the syrup by combining sugar with water. Lemon juice is also poured there and prepared berries are placed. Simmer 10–15 minutes. Serve with yogurt or ice cream.
Dark red berries will be an ingredient in sweet and sour sauce. It can be served with chicken, pork, lamb. This recipe requires 8 berries, 200 ml of water, 300 ml of meat broth, sugar and 1 tsp. any spices. Berries are separated from the skin, cut into cubes and boiled in sweetened water. After 5 minutes, the contents of the pan are removed from the heat and ground in a blender. After that, broth and spices are added there, then boiled again for 10 minutes.
Tamarillos make an amazing side dish for roasted and stewed meats. It works best with beef and pork, but can also be used with chicken, duck, turkey, and lamb. Peeled berries are cut into halves, salt, pepper, spices are added and baked in the oven for 15–20 minutes.
From the berries of a tomato tree, a tasty and satisfying snack is obtained. For cooking, you need 5 ripe fruits, peeled, 8–10 pieces of ham, a glass of ten percent cream or milk and spices. Cut into halves, the fruits are generously sprinkled with spices and wrapped in slices of ham. The rolls are laid out on a baking sheet, poured with cream and baked in the oven for 20 minutes at a temperature of 180 ° C
Tamarillo fruit can be added to your favorite dishes as a substitute for tomatoes. It will give classic dishes a new exotic taste.
Storage
Purchased tomato fruits can be stored in the refrigerator for 7–10 days. It is better not to put them next to products that have a pungent odor. But after cutting, it is better to eat the fruits completely, as they will dry out and lose their taste.
Harm tamarillo and contraindications
Low-calorie berries do not carry significant harm to health. Only people with allergies to tomatoes and nightshade should refrain from using them. People with diabetes also eat them with caution, as the fruits contain some sugar.
Tamarillo, or tomato tree – an exotic fruit that is increasingly penetrating into our lives. Gardeners in the south of Our Country grow tomato trees in the open field, and in the middle lane – in greenhouses and greenhouses. From it you can cook delicious side dishes, soups, desserts and snacks. For a successful acquaintance with overseas berries, you need to properly prepare tamarillo for cooking and choose its type.