How to Eat Lychee the Right Way, According to Chefs

If you have yet to try lychee, you'll want to add the fruit to your cart. Also known as litchee or alligator strawberry, lychee is often used to garnish sweet cocktails—but the tropical fruit can do so much more. It's a lovely addition to both sweet and savory dishes, particularly those inspired by Asian cuisines. However, if you're new to lychee, you might be looking for specific ways to enjoy the fruit. Read on to learn how to eat lychee, plus tips for buying the fruit, storing them at home, and removing the peel and pit.

What Is Lychee?

Lychee is a fruit that's native to China. It's part of the soapberry family, which also includes rambutan, longan, ackee, and maple. The fruit is round, about the size of a golf ball, with a red-pink leathery peel. Inside, it contains an off-white translucent flesh with a brown pit, or seed, in the center. The peel and pit are both inedible, so only the flesh is eaten.

Nutrition: As a rich source of antioxidants, lychee is beneficial for overall health. It also contains essential nutrients, including vitamin C, iron, calcium, and fiber.

What Does Lychee Taste Like?

Lychee is known for its crisp, grape-like texture and mild sweet-tart taste. Its flavor profile is often compared to rose, pear, strawberries, citrus, and grapes. Lychee pairs well with other sweet fruits, as well as with spicy and savory ingredients.

How to Buy Lychee

You can buy lychee fresh, canned, or dried. Specialty Asian grocery stores are more likely to stock fresh lychee, but you might also be able to find it at big box supermarkets, especially if you live in a warmer climate. Otherwise, canned and dried lychees are often sold in the Asian section of grocery stores.

If you're lucky enough to find fresh lychees, look for fruits with a bright red skin color, says Masaharu Morimoto, chef/owner of Morimoto Restaurants and star of Morimoto’s Sushi Master on Roku Channel. They should also have a light, sweet scent and a bit of give when you squeeze them. Avoid overly ripe or spoiled lychees, which might smell sour or fermented, says Judy Leung, co-author of The Woks of Life Cookbook. Other signs of spoilage include a dark red peel, visible white mold, or a soft texture that doesn't bounce back when squeezed, adds Leung.

How to Peel and Pit Lychee

"Peeling lychees is [fairly] easy, even though the shell looks tough," explains Leung. In fact, lychees can be peeled with your fingers, just like you would a small clementine or mandarin, she adds.

Here's how to peel a lychee and remove the pit:

1. Use your thumbnail to pierce the skin, just near the stem.
2. Peel the skin, removing it slowly to avoid breaking the flesh.
3. Once the skin is removed, slightly separate the flesh to reveal the pit, says Morimoto.
4. Gently pull out the pit or squeeze it out.

Alternatively, you can use a small paring knife to cut the flesh in half and remove the pit, says Leung.

How to Eat Lychee

On its own, lychee makes for a delicious and healthy snack. But thanks to its subtle sweet-tart flavor, the fruit can be enjoyed in myriad dishes.

• Add it to charcuterie boards: Lychees, like grapes, can add a sweet and juicy element to your charcuterie boards. Simply spear toothpicks into peeled lychee fruits, then serve them alongside your favorite cheeses. Another option is to display unpeeled lychees throughout the board, which will add a pop of color.
• Toss it in fruit salads: With its crisp texture and unique flavor, lychee is excellent in fruit salads. It can be used fresh or canned; the latter is packed in a syrup that can be repurposed as a fruit salad dressing. Try pairing the fruit with other tropical produce, such as pineapple or mango, for a medley of sunny flavors.
• Use it as a drink garnish: Make a lychee martini by combining vodka, dry vermouth, canned lychee fruit, and reserved juice from the can for a lychee martini. For a non-alcoholic option, sweeten seltzer or tonic water with canned lychee juice, then add a fruit or two for garnish. You could even freeze lychee fruits and use them as ice cubes in iced tea, lemonade, or plain water.
• Blend in smoothies: Naturally sweeten your favorite smoothie with lychee. Its mild flavor will complement a variety of ingredients, but it's especially tasty with other tropical fruits like mango, passionfruit, banana, and coconut. If you'd like to freeze lychee first, cut the flesh into quarters before transferring it to the freezer. This will ensure the fruit segments are small enough for your blender to handle.
• Freeze in frozen desserts: To amplify the refreshing flavor of lychee, use it to make a frozen dessert. For example, make a lychee and yuzu sorbet, suggests Morimoto. "It's very refreshing and has the perfect hint of citrus." You can also add chunks of lychee to your favorite ice pop recipe for a unique twist.
• Cook it in stir-fry: When making stir-fry, adding a sweetener is helpful for balancing salty and spicy ingredients, like soy sauce and chili paste. A common option is brown sugar, but if you'd like to switch things up, reach for lychee instead. The fruit can be chopped and tossed right into the stir-fry during the cooking process, allowing it to caramelize and deepen in flavor.
• Make a vegan ceviche: For a plant-based spin on ceviche, use fresh lychee in place of seafood. The fruit boasts a similar firmness to raw fish, while its mild flavor works well with citrus juices and herbs. If you do eat seafood, try adding lychee to traditional ceviche for a sweet and succulent element.
• Serve on top of protein: The next time you prepare a hearty meat like ham or
  steak, add a garnish of cooked lychee. The fruit will provide a sweet, crisp contrast against the saltiness and richness of the meat. Another idea is to make salsa with finely chopped lychee, says Cindy Chou, RDN, a chef and registered dietitian. Serve it with pork, tacos, or burrito bowls.
• Enjoy it with jelly desserts: For a refreshing Asian-inspired snack, serve fresh lychee with a complementary fruit, like mango, on top of coconut or almond jelly, suggests Chou.
  

How to Store Lychee

WholeBefore storing whole, unpeeled lychees at home, toss any fruits that have bruises or tears, says Chou. Rinse the lychees with cold water, let them air dry on a clean towel for five to 10 minutes, then store them in a covered container or resealable plastic bag in the refrigerator. When stored this way, lychees will last for five to 10 days, per the experts at Michigan State University.

Note that lychees can also be stored at room temperature, according to Leung. However, the fruits will only last for about three days, so avoid this method unless you plan to use them soon.

Peeled Lychees
Peeled lychees should also be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use them within two to three days.