Nosh of the Day: salak

Salak are fruits which outwardly resemble reptiles. They really do.

The skin is dry, shiny and scaly, exactly like a snake's. You peel it off (it also peels a little like you might imagine a reptile skin would) to reveal a bunch of white 'cloves'. These are sweet, but have the crunchy texture of garlic. And a stone inside. The flavour is reminiscent of jackfruit, though it is no relation.

I've lived in SE Asia before but had never clapped eyes on or even heard of salak before, as it is native exclusively to Indonesia. (A friend brought these over). There are a few different salak varieties, with slightly differing textures, apparently. The fruit grow in clusters at the base of a low palm, and unsurprisingly are known locally as 'snakeskin fruit'. Indonesians even make salak wine!

 

Click on pix to enlarge.