Buddha’s hand, also known as bushukan in Japanese or fingered citron, is an unusual citrus fruit that has the appearance of a contorted hand with long fingers. The fruit of this fragrant citrus is segmented into finger-like sections, giving it the name Buddha’s hand. It has a thick peel, a very small amount of acidic flesh, no juice, and sometimes no seeds. Additionally, it is seedless and juiceless. The Buddha’s hand is believed to have originated in either the Northeastern region of India or China. In Buddhist temples, the fruit can sometimes be presented as a sacrificial offering.
Buddha’s hand, which is a type of citron, contains an exceptionally high amount of vitamin C and has the potential to both prevent and treat scurvy. In addition, it is effective in the treatment of yellow fever, pneumonia, the flu, and chest colds. In order to aid digestion and act as a digestive cleanser, citron seeds are typically ground and consumed in China. In addition, citron is full of flavonoids and antioxidants, both of which can help protect against the oxidative damage that is caused by free radicals.
It is common practice to candy the peel of the Buddha’s hand. It is frequently utilized as a zesting agent in Western cooking. Because the inner white pith is not bitter, the fingers can be cut off, then sliced longitudinally, peel and pith included, and added to salads or used as a garnish.
These days, Buddha’s hand is grown in California, specifically in the state’s more tropical regions. Although it is difficult to find, some of the larger specialty produce stores may occasionally have it in stock. Try to find citron that has a bright yellow color or a yellow-green color and is firm without any soft spots.
Wikipedia at http://www.wikipedia.org/
Image created by Shu Suehiro and made available through a Creative Commons license with attribution 3.0 Unported.
Melon Salad With Mint And Buddhas Hand
Ingredients:
Honeydew melon – 2 cups, cubed
Buddha’s Hand citron – ½ cup, small dice
Strawberries – ½ cup, hulled
Mint – ½ cup, minced
Salt
Pepper
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Directions:
1. Mix all the ingredients and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
2. Serve at room temperature.
Servings: 2
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