What is a Lilikoi?

Here is an ongoing question that particularly visitors have asked me: What is a Lilikoi? To answer this question I too only know very little information about. I know that it is a passion fruit and that taste sweet and sour and not to mention that beautiful flowers bloom from this vine. I decided to research more on the topic to learn more about the Lilikoi myself. I found this great website called Instant Hawaii they stated that “there are over 500 species of Passiflora only one of the species can be called passion fruit.” Which is very interesting, 500 species and only one is a passion fruit? WOW! That’s crazy! Another interesting thing about this plant is that as “As the flower ages it begins to close and harden into a young fruit. The fruits start out as dark purplish-green nut shaped fruit that matures to about a 3 inch wide fruit that becomes purple or bright yellow. Within the fruit is the delicious pulpy juice and many small black and brown edible seeds.”-Instant Hawaii

Most of us know that the Lilikoi Passion fruit is also used to make jams, syrups and butters, juice, bread, deserts, and many more delicious foods and treats. Here are a few recipes for your enjoyment, that I have found on AuntyLilikoi.com

Lilikoi Cheese Cake

Ingredients

1 pkg. graham crackers (20-24 crackers)
½ cup sugar
⅓ cup melted Aunty Lilikoi Passion Fruit Butter
1 - 8 oz. Package cream cheese
1 - 8 oz container Cool Whip
1 cup Aunty Lilikoi Passion Fruit Butter

Instructions Crush graham crackers and mix in 1/2 cup sugar and melted butter to make the crust. Press into a 13” x 9” baking dish. Mix cream cheese, Cool Whip and Lilikoi butter. Pour into the crust. Drizzle the top with more Lilikoi butter.

Lilikoi Mochi

Ingredients

2 cups mochiko flour
1 cup sugar
2 cups Aunty Lilikoi Passion Fruit Syrup
Aunty Lilikoi Passion Fruit Butter

Instructions Mix ingredients in a mixing bowl with a whisk. Pour into a 3-quart microwave bowl. Brush with Aunty Lilikoi butter. Cover and microwave on high for 9 minutes. Cool, slice and roll in potato or corn starch.