Have you heard of SunGold kiwifruit? It’s not like your typical kiwi, with its smooth skin and bright yellow flesh. Learn some more about these vitamin C packed fruit and try a delicious Dark Chocolate Covered Kiwi Pop treats.
I received free samples of Zespri SunGold Kiwifruit mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe, I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Zespri Kiwifruit and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.
SunGold kiwifruit is popping up throughout grocery stores (June-October), since being one of the new fastest growing fruits globally.
So, I never really knew that kiwifruit was one word until recently… oops. I was typing it a text and it kept autocorrecting it to one word. Don’t worry, you won’t even have to type it anymore now that a fun kiwifruit emoji is coming!
Anytime I am teaching a cooking class or doing a cooking demo I always like to throw out fun facts about the food I’m cooking with. I would sweep a food category in jeopardy.
Five surprising facts about SunGold Kiwifruit:
1. Not all kiwifruit is “fuzzy” on the outside.
Zespri SunGold kiwifruit have a smooth, hairless skin. SunGold is also yellow on the inside, which is a surprise in and of itself because Americans are more familiar with the green kiwifruit variety with the fuzzy skin. Zespri SunGold kiwis have, a juicy, yellow flesh, and a tropical-sweet taste.
2. You don’t peel kiwifruit.
Kiwifruit is the perfect portable snack because it is easy to eat! Just cut in half with a knife and scoop with a spoon. That’s it – just cut, scoop, and enjoy!
3. Kiwifruit is a good meat tenderizer.
Both green and SunGold kiwifruit contain an enzyme called actinidin that helps break down protein. Actinidin occurs only in kiwifruit and improves digestive comfort by increasing the breakdown of proteins and facilitating digestion and emptying of the stomach. The actinidin can serve as a meat tenderizer: just peel and mash a kiwifruit and spread over meat or make a kiwifruit marinade. Actinidin will also break down protein in dairy so recipes with dairy should be consumed right away.
4. You can “measure” the taste of SunGold.
Zespri growers achieve the best-tasting kiwifruit through a measure called the brix. The higher the brix, the sweeter the fruit. The dry matter content (where all water is removed) indicates how high the brix will be once the fruit is ripe. A higher dry matter means the better quality the kiwifruit will be- it stores better and tastes better. Not all kiwifruit brands put so much focus on the brix and that’s why not all kiwifruit is created equal. With Zespri, you can really taste the difference!
Now that you know a little bit more about the Zespri SunGold kiwifruit, how do you pick the prefect one to enjoy? To tell if a SunGold kiwifruit is ripe – hold the kiwifruit in the palm of your hand and squeeze gently. It should yield to slight pressure when ripe. SunGold’s get softer and sweeter as they ripen.
This little fruit has quite the nutrition credentials to go along with is delicious taste, including
- an excellent source of vitamin C, containing 2x more vitamin C than oranges
- provides as much potassium as a banana
- and a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E
Fruit is one of my favorite desserts in the summer time. I’ve been finding myself grabbing a toothpick and poking into the frozen fruit in my freezer for a little sweet treat after dinner. I’ve never tried frozen kiwi before, so I thought it would be fun to give it a try! Plus, chocolate – how will this not be delicious?!
Verdict – love these! I found that the kiwi tasted even sweeter when it was frozen and they are easily customizable depending what extra little toppings you may want to add.
Chocolate Covered Kiwi Pops
- Yield: 4
Ingredients
- 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
- 4–6 oz. dark chocolate
- (optional toppings) coconut flakes, walnuts, sprinkles, etc.
Instructions
- Insert popsicle sticks into the kiwi slices far enough to hold the fruit without piercing through the other end. Freeze until firm.
- Melt chocolate in a double broiler.
- Dip kiwi slices into melted chocolate, and rest over wax paper or cooling rack.
- Add desired toppings. After chocolate has hardened, eat and enjoy,
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer
Connect more with Zespri Kiwifruit
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Need even more SunGold kiwifruit inspiration? Scroll down to check out what other Recipe ReDuxer’s created.
