In everyday kitchen life, the difference between Vegetables and fruits may seem obvious. But nature has a way of blurring the lines between these two food categories. Prepare to be amazed as we reveal some common foods that you’ve always thought were vegetables, are technically fruits. This confusion arises because some foods, although organically classified as fruits, are used in savory dishes primarily as vegetables. In botanical terms, fruits develop from the ovary of a flowering plant and contain seeds, while vegetables include other plant parts such as roots, leaves, and stems. It is not necessary that all fruits are sweet and all vegetables are tasty.
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Here are 9 vegetables that are actually fruits:
1. Cucumber
Cucumbers may seem like regular vegetables, they are actually fruits. With their high water content and crunchy texture, cucumbers are a refreshing addition to salads and summer dishes. They provide a cooling effect, making them ideal for hot days.
Cucumber is a hydrating food, often used in salads.
Photo credit: Pixabay
2. Tomatoes
The humble tomato, widely mistaken for a vegetable, is actually a fruit. It grows from the flower’s ovary, holding the plant’s seeds inside its juicy flesh. This vibrant tangy food not only enhances salads, sauces and sandwiches but also fills them with antioxidants, vitamins and other nutrients.
3. Eggplant
Known for its meaty texture and ability to absorb flavors, eggplant (or brinjal) is surprisingly a fruit. If you slice an eggplant and look closely, you will find many small seeds in its flesh. This makes it a fruit belonging to the berry family, not a vegetable.
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4. Bell pepper
Peppers, whether they are red, green, or yellow, belong to the fruit family. While their culinary uses may disguise them as vegetables, as plants, they fall under the category of fruits. However, bell peppers are packed with flavor and nutritional benefits.
5. Lady’s fingers
Surprised? Yes, your beloved okra is organically a fruit! Okra is the soft green, edible seed pod of a flowering plant. It is also known as “lady’s fingers” because of its slender shape. Still, it is used as a vegetable to make delicious delicacies Crispy okra.
6. Avocado
Creamy, rich, and undeniably delicious, avocados are closer to being a fruit than a vegetable. Technically classified as a single-seeded berry, avocados are mature ovaries of flowers. Popular for their healthy fats and nutritional value, the green flesh of avocados like our meals Avocado Toast and guacamole.
7. Green peas
Don’t let their green color fool you! Peas are not vegetables but small, round seeds enclosed in legumes. These pods develop from pea flowers and are a species of plant called Pisum sativum.
8. Pumpkin
Did you know that pumpkin is, in fact, a fruit? It is full of seeds like other fruits, and has a subtle sweet taste derived from the plant. Furthermore, pumpkins are versatile enough to be used in both sweet and savory dishes.
9. Olives
Olives are a staple in the Mediterranean diet, and we find them in our pizzas and our salads. But you should know that olives are the fruit of the olive tree. They develop from the ovary of the olive flower and contain small pits, which are the seeds.
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Olives are often used in Mediterranean dishes.
Even after knowing this we will use these foods as vegetables but isn’t it good to know the truth?