August 15, 2009

Pink salad

Pomelo (Citrus grandis or Citrus maximus) has two names in the Philippines depending on what region of the country they, or the speaker, are from. The ones from the province of Quezon in Luzon are called lukban (there is a town named Lucban there too) and its flesh is usually yellow. The ones from the Davao region in Mindanao are called suha and are pink. The pink variety is sweeter and more easily available in Manila so the name suha is also more commonly used. Americans usually observe that the pomelo looks like a grapefruit. Never having seen or tasted grapefruit myself, I can't compare the two, but friends who have tasted both say that the pomelo is sweeter. During the past decade or two, pomelo started appearing as a salad ingredient in restaurants here, and I will forever be grateful to the person who started it because it's very refreshing. The pomelo and shrimp salad of the Vietnamese restaurant Zao is unusual in that it has more pomelo than lettuce but it was also very good.

pomelo and shrimp salad of Zao Vietnamese Bistro

32 comments:

  1. This looks absolutely delicious. I would certainly like to try some.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I just had a lettuce salad - but had no idea it goes well with grapefruit - the kind that grows over there looks full of juice and meat - is it bitter if you eat it with the skins - or do you have to remove them?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Delicious snap, Hilda! Yumm! It even looks healthy, too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yum, yum!!

    I have never tasted pomelo! But it certainly does look similar to grapefruit.

    That is one heck of a good-looking salad!

    P.S. Snapshutter (one of your nominees) was given the Pixel Perfect Award today. Thanks much!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We have many pomelo orchard in Ipoh, Malaysia. Pomeloes used to be a must-have for prayers during the mid-autumn festival.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It does look a lot like grapefruit which I love! To me though a good grapefruit is far from sweet. Hilda, you can bet once you taste a grapefruit you will remember. Sour, but oh so delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  7. This looks so pretty! I read that grapefruit has a unique flavor molecule making it different than any other citrus, so it's just one of those things you have to taste for yourself.

    I've never tried pomelo, even though they are sold here. I'll keep an eye out for them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Hilda,
    Thanks for sharing nice salad which looks like delicious!
    You asked me why only men sitting in village center under the plane tree, because of there is the turkish cafe over there and in our country side only men goes over there. Bye.

    ReplyDelete
  9. It looks very tasty and nice.
    I have never tried Vietnamese food, but I have heard it is very nice.:-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. A oink salad? That is interesting! Funny what we get used to and consider normal!

    ReplyDelete
  11. The salad looks perfect, even if the salad part is so small.

    ReplyDelete
  12. This looks so delicious and refreshing. I've never seen a grapefruit quite as pink as this.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I thought that was a kinilaw. mmm... interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  14. the salad even LOOKS delicious!

    good, informative post,
    as usual, thank you. :-)

    ..
    .ero

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love pomelo although we don't see them here too often. I love shrimp too. This salad looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  16. It looks delicious Hilda! I would love to taste it to compare it with grapefruit. I like grapefruit but I usually put just a little sugar on it to sweeten it up!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Looks more like a piece of art. Definitely photograph before devouring it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. That looks absolutely delicious. It's not uncommon to see grapefruit in a salad here, so if the taste is similar I'll bet that grapefruit and shrimp salad was good. It's a great picture... and it's made me hungry... so now I am off and make some lunch.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is my main blog.
    That salad looks so delicious! I have eaten both pomelo and grapefruit. When it comes to taste both are sweet. But certain varieties are otherwise. I love the varieties from Davao. Ruby reds are one of my favorites, and I can eat them as is.
    P.S. Thanks for the visit.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Yummy! It looks refreshing indeed and must be delicious! The combinations provided by Asian cuisine are always so interesting and different from what we have in Brazil. I bet pomelo is sweeter than grapefruit!
    God bless you!
    Cezar

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hilda, it looks and sounds delicious. The more shrimp the better.

    ReplyDelete
  22. "Pretty in pink."
    You've never had a grapefruit?!
    It's OK, pomelo is much better.
    If shrimp were kosher, I'd join you for this interesting salad.

    ReplyDelete
  23. That looks and sounds interesting! Wish I could taste it.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Mmmmmmmmm... I'm sure I would love it!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ellie:
    The pomelo's skin is very thick and is not edible. From the rind to the — I don't know what it's called — the thing that holds the segments.

    ReplyDelete
  26. The salad looks excellent! Pomelos are a kind of pink grapefruit. I love them!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. That looks wonderful, almost too pretty to eat!

    ReplyDelete
  28. a month ago we had some from davao. so delicious.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting and letting me know!