I love anything that looks unusual and has a story. At the SF Ferry Building farmer's market, this fascinating citrus caught my eye. Say hello to Buddha's Hand which is a fingered citron with origins in India and China.
In Western cooking, Buddha's Hand is used for zest. If you rub the fingers, the oil of the citron activates and you get the most refreshing smell which can help make a room smell wonderful. And the shape is so interesting, you can use the Buddha's Hand in a center piece decoration.
In Buddhist temples, the Buddha's Hand is used as an offering. The desired version are the ones where the fingers are closed in because they most resemble praying hands.
For your next dinner party, make a Buddha's Hand center piece. This citron will definitely make for interesting dinner conversation.
Have you used Buddha's Hand? If so, please share how you used it.
