QUICK AND EASY KIWI RECIPES FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET

Health & Lifestyle
Cooking Ideas

We all have hectic lives. Most of us are constantly on the go. In this fast-paced world, it's important to fuel up. Thankfully, we have Zespri® kiwifruit, a nutrient-dense fruit that's as versatile as it is flavorful.

But our kiwifruit is not just a healthy choice for a “cut & scoop” snack. There are great ways to easily incorporate our green and golden kiwifruit into every meal, whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner!

Breakfast - SunGold Kiwifruit Breakfast Power Bowls

You want to start your day with a nutritional bang, right? So wake up to a breakfast that is delicious, filling and, above all, packed with nutritional goodness With our SunGold Kiwifruit Breakfast Power Bowl on the menu, you won't want to hit that snooze button.

This recipe combines the vitality of SunGold kiwifruit with chia seeds, an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help raise HDL cholesterol — the "good" cholesterol. Like SunGold Kiwifruit, chia seeds may be small in size, but they are packed with rich vitamins and antioxidants.

Prepare this simple breakfast bowl the night before and refrigerate overnight. You'll go from sleepy-head to happy-head in no time, with the fuel needed to take on the day!

Lunch - Strawberry Kiwi Basil Salad

The best lunches deliver high nutritional content in smaller packages. You don't want to weigh yourself down when you're only halfway through the day. Kiwifruit is a perfect option. It is high in vitamin C and contains potassium and fiber.

And as we discussed in Kiwifruit and Strawberry: BFFs for Life, kiwi and strawberries look and taste great together and have similar textures. Alone, kiwifruit and strawberries are nutritional forces to be reckoned with. Together, they're practically unbeatable!

One quick kiwi recipe you can make for an energizing lunch is the Strawberry Kiwi Basil Salad.

You can also easily create our kiwi fruit salad dressing recipe, Tropical SunGold Kiwifruit Dressing, and store for use whenever you want that refreshing blast of exotic sweetness you can only get from Zespri SunGold kiwifruit!

Recipe Suggestion: Kiwifruit makes a great marinade for steaks and chicken. So make extra Tropical SunGold Kiwifruit Dressing for the next time it's family steak night!

Mid-Afternoon Snack - Kiwi Coconut Granola

On its own, Zespri Kiwifruit is the perfect mid-afternoon snack. Just drop a couple in your bag on your way out and you have an extremely portable snack that's easy to eat, just cut and scoop. Kiwifruit is filled with vitamin C to help you get through the rest of your day in a healthy way.

But let's add even more protein to the equation!

After all, the combination of protein and fiber can help steady sugar levels, slow digestion and keep you feeling fuller, longer. Our Kiwifruit Coconut Granola features dehydrated SunGold Kiwifruit, oats, chia seeds, almonds and walnuts. That's a powerful, guilt-free combination of protein and fiber that won't weigh you down.

This recipe does require a dehydrator for the kiwifruit. But you can also just top the granola with fresh SunGold Kiwifruit for a juicy burst of tropical flavor that will make you feel like you're relaxing on a beach.

Hot Tip: The Kiwifruit Coconut Granola is an excellent option if you're big on meal prepping or looking to start. You can prepare this recipe on Sunday evening and have enough to carry you over for the rest of the week! Just portion it out in small, airtight containers and store them for up to two weeks.

Dinner - Zespri kiwifruit works great in smoothies, on salads, and complemented by other fruits — strawberries, mangoes, you name it! But kiwifruit also works wonders with meats too!

Kiwifruit contains the enzyme actinidin. Actinidin helps break down proteins. Zespri Green kiwifruit in particular has a high actinidin content, which makes it a great meat tenderizer. Our Pepper Beef with Tangy Kiwifruit Salsa uses the zesty flavor profile of Zespri Green kiwifruit to great effect.

Recipe Tip: Let your beef reach room temperature before cooking it. Take the beef out of the fridge for 30 minutes and let it sit. Use this time to tenderize the beef with Zespri Green kiwifruit. You'll be amazed at how tender the beef will be!

It's easy to think of kiwi as a grab-n-go treat, but its flexibility makes Zespri Kiwifruit more than a snack. It can be an important ingredient to your breakfast, lunch or dinner, adding zest, sweetness and vitality to any meal, any time of the day.

Try these recipes for yourself and let us know on social media which ones were your favorites. And yes, "all of them" is a valid answer!