Martin Yan - LYCHEE

"The more you understand the ingredients, the better cook you will become."
-Martin Yan

These are common ingredients found in local cuisine. You can find these ingredients readily available in your local supermarket.

LYCHEE

Fresh lychee looks like a bright, crimson pink berry with bumpy leathery skin. With one swift motion, the peel is removed revealing the semi-translucent, juicy flesh. With one swifter move, it is popped into one's mouth, leaving behind a single, shiny, smooth, mahogany-colored seed.

Only recently has fresh lychee been available in the United States. Florida growers harvest fresh lychee from July through September. Luckily canned lychees are always available. Both canned and fresh lychees are sugary sweet with a taste and texture similar to soft grapes. Eat lychee slightly chilled as a refreshing snack, served over ice cream, or in colorful fruit salads and sweet and sour dishes.

Pick bunches that are heavy with bright, unblemished skins. Keep them in the refrigerator for up to several weeks. Transfer the contents of an unopened can to a tightly sealed container and refrigerate for up to several days.