What the Heck is Lucuma
Sometimes referred to as “Incan Gold”, Lucuma is a fibrous fruit native to South America. It was considered an ancient symbol of fertility and creation that has been part of the Peruvian diet for thousands of years. It remains a popular flavor in many countries, even eclipsing vanilla and gasp…even chocolate!
So what does it taste like? And why is it worth trying? Well first of all there is the taste. It’s sweet with a kind of caramelly creamy flavor, yum! And while the fruit is naturally sweet, it is low on the Glycemic index, which makes it a great option for anyone trying to avoid sugar. It’s also a good source of 14 essential trace minerals, antioxidants, vitamins including beta-carotene and niacin as well as minerals including zinc, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron
OK so back to the taste. I like to use Lucuma in all kinds of different ways. It’s great as a healthy and quick way to satisfy a sweet tooth. Try sprinkling it over your morning yogurt or cereal, adding it to smoothies or making Lucama flavored ice cream. Of course you can always just open a box of Superfoodie Lucuma Chai bites too.
Here is my quick and easy recipe for Lucuma ice cream. I think it’s a perfect flavor for a holiday dessert.
Raw Vegan Lucuma Ice Cream
Ingredients
½ Cup Lucuma Powder
1 Cup Cashew Butter
1 Vanilla Bean
¼ Cup of Honey or Coconut Palm Nectar
1 Cup of Filtered Water
Pinch of Himalayan Sea Salt
Slice vanilla bean in half and scrap all of the paste inside into a medium bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix together until smooth, I did this by hand but you can use a mixer or blender if you like. Now if you have an ice cream maker, pour the ingredients in and follow the directions for your particular model. If you don’t then pour the mixture into a container and freeze overnight. Once the mixture is firm its ready to scoop out and enjoy. If you are the kind of person (and YES I am such a person) who likes the ice cream that comes in small tubs with funny names and is packed full extra yummy things mixed into the ice cream, but you want a healthier option, simply try adding a few crumbled Superfoodie Lucuma Chai bites into the mix before freezing. It’s kind of like a cross between adding macaroons and cookie dough bits.