Orange Mango Sauce Star fruit

                                     

Orange Mango Sauce    Star Fruit

This special dessert recipe is beautiful to serve, plus easy to make and healthy too! It starts with slices of fresh starfruit. Starfruit is similar in texture and taste to apples, and while it can be eaten fresh, in this recipe the starfruit slices are lightly cooked and then given a tropical-tasting mango-orange sauce. Topped with a drizzle of coconut milk and a sprinkling of either pomegranate seeds or cherries, this healthy fruit-fresh dessert is completely guilt-free and satisfyingly sweet. It's also gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegan.

This dessert is also excellent when given a final topping of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Ingredients:

1 fresh ripe starfruit 

1 cup orange juice (or about 2 oranges juiced) 1 fresh ripe mango 

1/4 cup brown sugar (or substitute a natural sweetener of your choice like maple syrup or agave nectar) 

1 cup good-quality coconut milk

Optional: a handful of fresh pomegranate seeds or cherries
Optional: whipped cream or vanilla ice cream as a topping

Directions:
Place the star fruit (count out 3 slices per person) in a pot on the stove.

Add the orange juice. Stir well and turn heat to high until juice begins to boil. Then turn down to medium.

While star fruit is cooking, place the mango fruit in a food processor, mini chopper, or blender. Process or blend until it is smooth and pureed. Set aside.

Add the mango puree, stirring well to incorporate. Do a taste-test for sweetness, adding more sugar if needed (how sweet it is will depend on the ripeness of the fruit/juice you're using).

If it happens to be too sweet for your taste, add a squeeze of fresh lime juice, or a little more orange juice.

When you're happy with the taste, portion out 3 star fruit slices per bowl with enough sauce to surround the fruit (it should still be warm from the pot).

Top each bowl with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds or cherry pieces.

2. Drizzle over some coconut milk and serve.
   
   Allow to simmer 10 minutes until Star fruit has softened enough to easily cut with a spoon.
   
   Top each bowl with a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds or cherry pieces.
   
   Drizzle over with some coconut milk and serve.