Hearts of Palm

[Naiad]

Does anyone know if these come raw? Or are all hearts of palm raw?

I got a little tub at Whole Foods and noticed the inside is almost exactly like mozarella cheese. It would be great in pizza recipes.

Anyone tried this or have issues against HoP?

Thanks in advance!!!

[Pierre]

HoP and açaÃ* are the same species, Euterpe oleracea. There's another species that can also be used; the difference is that E. oleracea has multiple stems, and the other one doesn't. Either way, to get the heart, you chop down the tree and waste 95% of it, whereas to get the fruit, you just cut off the fruit branch. When pulping açaÃ*, you again waste 95% of it, but that 95% is the seed, which can grow into a new palm tree. With the heart, the waste is the tough outer leaves, which just rot on the forest floor. The fruit is much more nutritious than the heart, so I tell the heart to beat it. ;)