If we use eggplants, tomatoes and cucumbers in our salads, then is it called salads or fruit salads?! Alamak, we’re confused…
There is a massive misunderstanding in what makes for fruit and what qualifies as a vegetable. So, if you ever get confused between the two, you are not alone!
Photo via Delish
According to Times of India, technically by definition, fruits are the seeds of the plant that are produced from the ovary of the flowers. Therefore, anything you eat that has seeds in it is actually a fruit, while any other edible part of the plant like roots, stems and leaves are classified as vegetables.
This means, potatoes, spinach, onions are all vegetables!
However, confusion might arise because some fruits are commonly used as vegetables, especially in a vegetable curry or vegetable soup!
Here are some common foods that are actually fruits, but are thought of as vegetables:
#1 Berries
Photo via Medical News Today
Berries are fruits that originate from one flower with one ovary which has lots of seeds. We all know that strawberries, blueberries, mulberries and raspberries are berries, right? Well, WRONG!
Surprisingly they are not and in fact, bananas, eggplants, tomatoes, pomegranates, pumpkins, avocado and cucumbers are! And all berries are fruit, which means cucumbers, tomatoes and eggplants are fruits, too!
#2 Capsicums
Photo via OrissaPOST
Since capsicums have seeds... that makes them a fruit, right?
Capsiucums or peppers are commonly classified and used as vegetables, but in fact they are actually fruits! The seeds of the peppers are very promptly visible and there is no doubt that this commonly used “vegetable” is actually a fruit.
#3 Green peas and okras
These don’t look like fruits at all!
Photo via Irena Macri
Apparently, green pea pods are actually seeds developed from the flowering plant and hence, qualify as fruits. Similarly, if you notice, the center of the okra also contains a good amount of seeds thus making it a fruit and not a vegetable.
Wah, we learn something new every day, huh?
We’ve always known fruits to be sweet while vegetables to be savory, and actually this is what gives rise to such confusion.
All in all, whether it’s a fruit or a vegetable… These ingredients are very good for you nonetheless and it’s great if you could include both in your meals!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
