Physalis
Love in a cage
The orange physalis is the size of a cherry when ripe. It is surrounded by a papery husk that forms a Chinese lantern; in French, it is nicknamed “love in a cage”. Its flavour is tangy and slightly sweet. Juicy and highly decorative, it can be eaten raw, but also as an appetiser, in fruit or raw vegetable salads, cooked with meat or fish dishes, or as a dessert, dipped in chocolate, for example.
The physalis contains more vitamin C than the orange. The riper it is, the more provitamin A or “carotene” it contains, which is important for good eyesight and also plays a role in bone growth, skin health and immune system regulation. It contains vitamin B3 (niacin), which supports proper brain function. Lastly, it is a good source of iron, which is essential for the formation of red blood cells that carry oxygen.
