In the spotlight - Star fruit

Time for something a little different? If like me you've never bought a start fruit, chances are if you have eaten some it will have been a slice on the side of a dessert along with a kumquat and squirt of cream. Having read this article, I doubt you're suddenly going to add star fruit to your weekly shopping list, but if you're throwing a dinner party, you might like to use one as a finishing touch to your sweet, add it to a fruit salad, use as a salad garnish or in chutneys.

• Also known as Carambola, star fruit are originally from South-East Asia and are so called because when they are sliced, a 5 pointed star is clearly visible.
• Weight for weight they provide a useful source of Vitamin C, but in the quantities they tend to be eaten, are unlikely to contribute much to your daily intake.
• Unfortunately they need to be avoided by people with kidney failure, as eating star fruit is thought to lead to accumulation of a toxin, which causes irreversible damage. They are also best avoided by people taking statins to lower their cholesterol, as eating star fruits while taking this medication can alter how the body processes it.