Starfruit Pickles
Starfruit pickles are a tangy, sweet-and-sour condiment made by preserving starfruit (carambola) in a brine of vinegar, sugar, and spices. This preparation is common in Southeast Asian cuisines, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, where it's known as 'achar belimbing' or 'atchara'. The pickles are often served as a side dish or condiment to cut through rich or oily foods.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is primarily a source of carbohydrates from sugar and fruit, with negligible fat and protein. It provides a quick energy boost and some key minerals like potassium, but is also high in sodium due to the brine. A typical serving contains roughly 50-80 calories.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 65 kcal |
| Protein | 0.5 g |
| Carbs | 16 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 12 g |
| Sodium | 380 mg |
| Potassium | 180 mg |
| Vitamin C | 10 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.05 mg |
| Magnesium | 10 mg |
| Copper | 0.1 mg |
| Manganese | 0.15 mg |
Per 1/2 cup (120 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Culturally, starfruit pickles showcase a common Southeast Asian technique of using pickling to preserve seasonal fruits and create complex flavor profiles. Nutritionally, the pickling process can enhance the bioavailability of certain antioxidants found in starfruit, though it also adds significant sodium.
