Monday, April 11, 2016

I is for ilama.

ilama

1.Definition: tropical American tree grown in southern United States having a whitish pink-tinged fruit
2.Definition: whitish tropical fruit with a pinkish tinge related to custard apples; grown in the southern United States
The ilama (also known as the tree of the ilamaAnnona diversifolia) is a tropical fruit tree found in Central America. The name is derived from theSpanish from the Nahuatl ilamatzapotl, of which the rough translation is "old woman's sapote". The name is also applied to a similar fruit, soncoya orcabeza de negro (A. pupurea), which is cultivated as an alternative to the cherimoya. The soncoya is similar in size to the ilama, but grey-brown in color with hard bumps on the surface, and orange flesh that tastes like mango or pawpaw.
The ilama fruit is either eaten on the half-shell or scooped out with a tool, usually chilled when served. It is sometimes served with a little cream and sugar to intensify the flavor, or with a drop of lime or lemon juice to bring in a tart and bitter tinge. The only recipe I could find was for the Custard Apple which is called the Chirimoya in Mexico where this recipe originates.

Mousse de ChirimoyaServes six 

Ingredients
1 ripe chirimoya (300 or 400 gr.)
1/4 Cup heavy cream
2/3 Cup whole milk
1leaf of unflavored gelatin
1 Tbsp sugar
Decoration
I or 2 white grapes per individual mousse
2 Tbsp dark brown sugar
1 Tbsp dark rum
Sprigs of fresh mint
ProcedureCut the chirimoya in quarters and carefully remove the seeds.  Put the chirimoya flesh into your blender jar.
In a heavy saucepan, heat the milk, the cream, and the sugar.  Stir constantly to make sure that the mixture does not stick.  Dissolve the gelatin in cold water.
Once the mixture begins to cook, add the dissolved gelatin.  Allow the mix to cook for a minute more, without moving the saucepan from the burner.  After a minute, take the pan off the fire and allow the mixture to cool.
Once the mixture is cool, pour it into the blender along with the chirimoya flesh.  Blend until the mixture is smooth and silky.
Pour the mixture into individual-serving ramekins and chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours before serving.
To make the grape garnish, roll each grape first in the rum and then in the brown sugar.  Prepare the garnish just before serving.  Unmold each ramekin onto a small dessert plate and top with one or two grapes, a small spoonful of rum, and a sprig of fresh mint.




Have a great day

36 comments:

  1. That is really interesting, Jo. We have something that looks really similar but green colour here in Malaysia.

    Once again, I have to apologise for the 2-year wait for a reply to your comment. I had sadly neglected that particular blog, but invite you to pay me a little visit to my current A-Z here:

    Open Minded Mormon A-Z

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    1. Not something I am familiar with although I have encountered a custard apple. I have been to see you during this blog Duncan. I will pop back.

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  2. OK. I have never heard of any of those fruits. Ya got me on that one. Have you had it before?

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    1. Nope Denise, I don't know it either. Sounds interesting though. Custard apples are available more widely I understand.

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  3. At first glance I thought you had misspelt llama! I have never heard of an ilama and I don't think I have ever seen a chirimoya for sale here in Britain. Even so, the recipe looks delicious! That's Purrfect

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    1. Which is why I didn't use a capital i in my first line. I kept thinking it was llama too. They are not widely available PL so not surprised you haven't seen them in Britain.

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  4. Wow I've never seen or heard of that one!

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    1. Well it is available in the States apparently. Does Russell drive down south? If so, ask him to look out for them for you JoJo.

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  5. I'd never heard of ilama. I've heard of llamas though.

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    1. I try to find new things, not always possible Alex.

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  6. I've never heard of this. I wonder where I can find it. Probably a specialty food store.

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    1. Supposed to be in the South Stephen. Let me know if you find one.

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  7. I have not heard of this; learned again something new :)

    betty

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    1. Always nice to find out something different in food Betty. Well, it is to me anyway.

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  8. Strange fruit. Somehow I was thing LLama... animal...hahaha on me!

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  9. Where in the South do they grow these? I don't think I've seen one...

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    1. It didn't say John, just what I said above.

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  10. I don't think I've tried this fruit before. But the custard looks quite tasty!

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    1. I haven't either Cynthia but I agree the custard does look good.

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  11. J here, of the #atozchallenge Arlee Bird's A to Z Ambassador Team. Thanks for stopping by Arlee's blog to comment on my Manhattan story.
    How was the first week of the challenge for you? Are you meeting your goals of posting and hopping to other blogs?
    My blog's giveaways are still going!
    http://jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com
    I've never seen or heard of this. The picture of the custard looks a lot like flan.

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    1. Mostly thanks J. Although I am perhaps not visiting as many as I would like. Will check out your blog.

      I never thought of that, it does look like flan.

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  12. I adore Custard Apples and prefer them eaten as they come. I've never tried to cook them. The season seems quite short.

    Am back from my trip to China and enjoying strolling around the blogs here and there. Looks like you're going well, Jo.

    Denise :-)

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    1. Well at least you've heard of them Denise, most people haven't. Lucky you going to China. I would love to visit. Yup, the blogging is going OK.

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  13. I found a couple of articles relating to this fruit Jo - the fruit itself doesn't transport well, hence its scarcity. Here's a link to a page describing where/how its grown in Florida https://hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/ilama.html

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    1. Interesting Sue, that's why most haven't heard of it. Seems to be available in Australia though. Will check the link later.

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  14. I've never heard of ilama. I learn something new every day with this challenge

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    1. Nor me Helen but I gather you have custard apples in Oz and they are supposed to be similar.

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  15. Do you have custard apples over there? I thought they were an Australian native. My grandparents had a custard apple tree in their back yard. Granddad used to make a dessert from them. A pudding I think.

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    1. Seems they have them in Florida Pinky, but not round here. Here's something you can try then with custard apples.

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  16. I'd like to try this fruit. Sounds pretty good.

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    1. Think you'd have to go right down south to get it Birgit unless it turns up here frozen.

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