Strawberries, Mangoes, Lychees on Star Anise Pastry Puffs
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A sweet fruit medley laced with licorice-like star anise syrup awaits our family Easter table this season. Taking advantage of the fresh fruits available, I made this easy- to- put- together dessert in just a few minutes.
The star anise flavor took center stage in this recipe. Star anise is a favorite ingredient for a lot of Asian and Filipino dishes I do. It has a slight resemblance to licorice flavors. And when added to other ingredients with sugar it really hits that sweet spot anyone has!
I prepared crisp puff pastry squares by brushing some star anise syrup on them, then baked them on high heat for a few minutes. Once the pastry squares were crisp and ready, I skewered the fruits and topped them on the pastry, “tapa style”. And of course, I couldn’t help but drizzle some leftover star anise syrup on the top of that divine heap of fruits. It was fabulous !
STAR ANISE SYRUP PASTRY PUFFS with Strawberry, Lychees & Mangoes
Star Anise Pastry Puffs
1 package frozen puff pastries, cut in squares 2 x 2 inches
Syrup:
½ cup Karo syrup
½ cup sugar
1 cup water
1 whole star anise
¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
Boil together all the syrup ingredients for 3 to 5 minutes.
To prepare pastry puffs:
Place the thawed pastry puffs on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Preheat the oven at 400 F degrees.
Brush each pastry puff square with the syrup.
Bake at 400 F degrees for 15 – 17 minutes.
When done, cool on cake rack for a few minutes while you prepare the fruit.
FRUIT SALAD
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 cup fresh mango cubes, cut 1 in. x 1 in.
1 cup canned lychees, drained*
Prepare fruits by washing, hulling strawberries.
Pierce together skewer-style a strawberry, mango cube and lychee. Use medium length cocktail picks.
Top each pastry puff with the fruits in skewers. Use one skewer per pastry square. Drizzle the top of the fruit with leftover star anise syrup. Serve while pastry puffs are crisp.
COOK’S COMMENTS: Star anise is called “sangke” in the Philippines. They are available at Asian groceries here in the USA. Or find it at online sources for spices.
Lychees are an Asian fruit. When they are fresh and ripened, the outer skin is dark red, and has a coarse, blister-like texture. Inside, the nearly transparent, light pink gel-like fruit is sweetly fragrant, almost has a floral scent and is extremely sweet. Here in the USA, I opt for a cheaper substitute and use canned lychees for desserts like this one.
Mangoes are sweeter in the spring and summer here in the USA. For this recipe, I used the “ataulfo” variety. These are closest to the Manila mangoes I am used to. Some Asian groceries call them “champagne mangoes.Make sure to use the sweetest, golden-yellow ripe mangoes for this recipe.
WOW – these sound delicious and love the mango, lychee and star fruit combo. So interesting reading your “cook’s comments” too. Happy #berrylove!
Thanks, Deanna! Glad you liked my berrylove creation. I enjoyed yours,too!
Oh these look delicious!I love lychees and mangoes and cannot wait to make these!So easy to put together too!Sending you some #Berrylove my friend 🙂
Thanks, Soni! Nice of you to stop by & shower me with blog-love!
Your pastry puffs are gorgeous with your fruit salad combo. i have never had lychee fruit, but love strawberry and mango. Sending lots of #berrylove your way!
Thanks, Becky! Glad you liked these star anise puffs with the fruits & berries!
Your pastry puffs are gorgeous with your fruit salad combo. i have never had lychee fruit, but love strawberry and mango.
Happy Berrylove! Fantastic idea Elizabeth, quick, sweet, tasty and gorgeous presentation. 5 Stars!
Hi Georgie! Thanks for the kind comments! I tried to stop by your post to leave a comment but got kicked out, so I don’t know if it went through?
I have to say you have bought all of my favorite fruit in one delicious dish…
I ma so loving this…. Heavenly!!!
Thanks, Reem! So kind of you to show me some blog-love!
Wonderful recipe, Elizabeth! Loving that strawberry fruit salad 🙂
Thanks, Aldy! Glad you came by! Happy Berrylove,too!
And, oh Happy Berrylove!
i love all the fruits in this.. so exotic, pretty and perfect!
Thanks, Richa! Nice of you to stop by.
Oh this looks absolutely fabulous E! 🙂
Thanks, An! Your strawberry ice cream was fantastic, as well. So happy you stopped by 🙂
these looks schmancy and delicious, elizabeth! i never thought about putting a glaze on a puff pastry before. thanks for the idea :). have a great week!
Thanks, Junia! I love your description…schmancy 🙂 I learned the puff pastry glaze years ago using ordinary syrup. This time, I thought of using Asian-inspired flavors. Have a great time-off !
Looks delicious, and the fact its easy is a big bonus!
Hi Three Cookies, yes you are right, the “easy” recipe makes it even more appealing !
Sarap! I shall try next week!
Thanks, Richgail! You should try this. You’ll love the flavors! Glad you stopped by:-)
Oh, that glazed square of puff pastry looks divine…and paired with the berries and fruit makes for a yummy dessert! Sending you some #BerryLove!!!!
Thanks, Liz! The puff pastry with the star anise syrup glaze was indeed divine!
Sounds so yummy and looks very pretty! Sending you some weekend #berrylove! Cindy
Thanks, Cindy! Glad you stopped by!
oooh…these look so pretty and tempting! I like your tapa idea style of dessert! I had a lychee tree years back but it was hit in the last hurricane here. I miss how wonderfully differenty they tasted!
Thanks, Linda. We love lychees here at home. I miss the fresh ones. You were lucky to have a tree. And yes. the “tapas” style looks good on dessert, doesn’t it?
I love lychees and I have never actually cooked with them. These are such delicate, gorgeous flavors – what a great combination! Sending you some #berrylove!
Thanks, Jessica! These are my favorite fruit flavors! Glad you stopped by!
Looks so scrumptious, I could eat these for breakfast or anytime.
Thanks, Suzanne! I really love this berry concoction on the pastry puffs. Glad you came by!