Recipes from the Public

THIS SMALL OBLONG FRUIT USED to be a staple in many local kitchens for sambals, prawn lemak and fish curry, as well as a tamarind substitute and meat tenderiser. In Malay, it is known as Belimbi Buluh (Averrhoa bilimbi), which literally meaning ‘Bamboo Starfruit.’ It is often referred to as belimbing asam as well. A close relative of the carambola tree, it is in no way close in taste to the sweet starfruit. This innocent-looking fruit is extremely sour and acidic, and yet it stirs up an unbelievable tangy ‘punch’ that can only come from the belimbi.