Cookbook:African Pear

The African pear, also called African plum, butterfruit, safou, ube, nsafu, or mzembe, is the fruit of the central African tree Dacryodes edulis.

Characteristics
The fruit is smooth and deep green to black when ripe. The inner flesh is greenish-yellow and high in both fats and protein, similar to that of an avocado.

Selection and storage
African pears are relatively perishable. They should be kept in a cool dry place and discarded when overly soft and/or discolored.

Use
The fruit is used like a vegetable and can be eaten raw or cooked. When cooking, it is most commonly roasted or boiled, which softens it.