Ground Cherries

Ground cherry--photo copyright Anne Underwood EnslowAt the farmer’s market this week, this curious little fruit was for sale. It’s related to the tomatillo, which has a similar papery husk. But improbable as it sounds, the flavor is much closer to that of a cherry. To quote Marie Iannotti’s book, The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Heirloom Vegetables (Timber Press, 2011), “You will note a little tomato flavor to be sure, but you can also taste flavors of pineapple, strawberry, citrus, and the slightest touch of vanilla.” And what do you do with these little gems? Iannotti suggests tossing them into a fruit salad, snacking on them fresh out of the bowl, or even using them to make jam and preserves. “Try it with chocolate,” she adds. Whoa!
Ground cherries close up--photo copyright Anne Underwood Enslow

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