In the everyday kitchen, the difference between vegetables and fruits may seem clear. But nature has a way of blurring the lines between these two food categories. Get ready to be surprised as we reveal some common foods that you always thought were vegetables, but technically they are fruits. This confusion arises because some foods, though biologically classified as fruits, are primarily used as vegetables in savory dishes. Botanically, a fruit develops from the ovary of a flowering plant and contains seeds, while vegetables include other plant parts such as roots, leaves, and stems. It is not necessary that all fruits are sweet and all vegetables are savory.
Also read: 5 things to keep in mind while cleaning vegetables and fruits
Here are 9 vegetables that are actually fruits:
1. Cucumber
Cucumbers may look like a common vegetable, but they are actually fruits. With their high water content and crunchy texture, cucumbers add a refreshing touch to salads and summer dishes. They also have a cooling effect, making them ideal for hot days.
Cucumber is a hydrating food, mostly used in salads.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
2. Tomatoes
Tomato, which people mistake for a vegetable, is actually a fruit. It grows from the ovary of a flower, whose juicy pulp contains the plant’s seeds. This tangy and spicy food not only makes salads, sauces, and sandwiches delicious, but also loads them with antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients.
3. Brinjal
Known for its fleshy texture and ability to absorb flavours, eggplant (or brinjal) is surprisingly a fruit. If you cut open an eggplant and observe carefully, you will find many tiny seeds in its pulp. This makes it a fruit belonging to the berry family and not a vegetable.
Also read: Soak in water for better digestion: 7 foods that should be soaked in water
4. Capsicum
Bell peppers, whether they are red, green or yellow, belong to the fruit family. Although their culinary uses may disguise them as vegetables, botanically they fall into the category of fruits. Nevertheless, bell peppers are full of flavor and nutritional benefits.
5. Okra
Surprised? Yes, your beloved bhindi is biologically a fruit! Bhindi is the soft green, edible seed pod of a flowering plant. It is also known as “ladies fingers” because of its slender shape. Yet, it is used as a vegetable to make delicious savoury dishes like crispy bhindi.
6. Avocado
Creamy, rich and undeniably delicious, avocados are closer to fruits than vegetables. Technically classified as a single-seeded berry, avocados are the ripe ovaries of flowers. Popular for its healthy fats and nutritional value, the buttery green flesh of avocados makes our meals like avocado toast and guacamole even better.
7. Green peas
Don’t be fooled by their green color! Peas are not vegetables, but small, round seeds enclosed in pods. These pods develop from pea flowers and belong to a plant species called Pisum sativum.
8. Pumpkin
Although its enormous size might suggest otherwise, pumpkin is actually a fruit. It is filled with seeds just like other fruits, and has a mildly sweet flavor derived from the plant itself. Plus, pumpkins are so versatile that they can be used in both sweet and savory recipes.
9. Olives
Olives are a staple of Mediterranean cuisine, and we often find it in our pizzas and salads. But you should know that olives are the fruit of the olive tree. They are formed from the ovary of the olive flower and contain small pits, which are the seeds.
Also read: 7 amazing ways to reuse leftover vegetable and fruit peels
Olives are mostly used in Mediterranean cuisine.
Even after knowing this, we will still use these food items as vegetables but isn’t it good to know the truth?
