Sep 29, 2023
Tomatoes are perhaps the most famous impostors in the vegetable world. Despite their starring role in salads and sauces, they are, botanically speaking, fruits. Tomatoes develop from the flowering part of the plant and contain seeds, meeting the criteria for a fruit.
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Cucumbers often share the salad bowl with tomatoes, and like their red counterparts, they are fruits. Their edible flesh surrounds seeds, making them a botanical fruit while their culinary use places them among vegetables.
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Okra, often used to add thickness to gumbo and other savory dishes, is another vegetable that qualifies as a fruit. These green pods contain small seeds and are botanically categorized as fruits.
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Pumpkins are synonymous with autumn and jack-o'-lanterns, but their status as fruits might be less well-known. The seeds within pumpkins place them squarely in the fruit category, even though we primarily use them in savory dishes.
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Eggplants, or aubergines, are staple ingredients in many Mediterranean and Asian dishes. These glossy, purple delights are botanically fruits due to the seeds inside, yet we treat them as vegetables in our culinary repertoire.
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Bell peppers, jalapeños, and chili peppers all fall under the fruit category. These heat-packed delights develop from the flowering part of the plant and contain seeds, making them botanical fruits, though their culinary usage aligns more with vegetables.
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Corn, also known as maize, is a prime example of a grain that's often mistaken for a vegetable. Its kernels are, in fact, seeds, and this makes corn a fruit. Yet, it is usually considered a starchy vegetable when served on the dinner plate.
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Bitter gourds, commonly found in Asian cuisine, are a unique addition to this list. Their bumpy exteriors encase seeds, classifying them as fruits. Despite their slightly bitter taste, they are a popular choice for savory dishes.
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Beans, such as green beans and snap beans, are another unexpected inclusion. These legumes develop from the flowering part of the plant and contain seeds, meeting the criteria for a botanical fruit, though they are typically cooked and consumed as vegetables.
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Zucchini, often enjoyed in stir-fries and casseroles, is our final revelation. Like cucumbers and pumpkins, zucchinis have seeds inside, classifying them as fruits, although they are often treated as vegetables in the kitchen.
Image Source: Freepik
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