John Myers
They do not end up on the plate very often and are a real delicacy: you can find out what palm hearts are, where they come from and what you can do with them in the kitchen in our product information.
Interesting facts about palm hearts
Palm heart, also called palmito or palm pith, is the edible pith from the vegetation cone at the top of the palm tree. The heart of a mature palm can weigh up to two kilograms. This is located at the upper end of the trunk and at the base of the palm fronds. The taste of the firm, white to pale yellow palm heart is similar to that of asparagus and artichoke – but with a slightly nutty note. The main growing areas of the delicacy are in South America and Asia, whereby the palm trees are often not specially cultivated for the harvest of the palm hearts. They occur during the clearing of the jungle or as a by-product of coconut cultivation. Since the plants are felled for extraction, the environmental impact of palm heart harvesting can be viewed critically.
Purchasing and storage
As a typical Asian vegetable, hearts of palm are available canned in Asian shops and on supermarket delicatessen shelves with Asian specialties. Fresh goods are very sensitive and rarely available even in the growing areas. In jars or tins, the vegetables are pickled or pickled in brine and can be stored in a cool, dark and dry place for months or years. Palmito are usually pre-cut into wide strips so that hearts of palm can be used directly.
Kitchen tips for palm hearts
If you want to prepare palm hearts, the effort is limited. Since the precious vegetables can be eaten raw, you only need to rinse and drain them. Or you cook it briefly, for example in stir-fries. In particular, Asian recipes for curries and wok dishes often list palmito as an ingredient. But you can also use it to refine cold appetizers, such as salads. The taste of palm hearts harmonises wonderfully with avocados – enjoy our avocado and pomegranate salad in a different way, for example. Palm hearts are also a treat together with bamboo shoots and seafood. Baked and pureed, palmito with its nutty note can also be used well in desserts.
