Jackfruit

Also known asNangka · Jak · Artocarpus heterophyllus · 菠萝蜜 · 波罗蜜

Name: Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), the largest tree-borne fruit in the world. It is a relative of breadfruit and fig, and is also known as kathal in Hindi and nangka in Malay and Indonesian.

Description

Jackfruit is native to the Western Ghats of southern India and has been cultivated in the region for thousands of years. It later spread across South and Southeast Asia and to Africa and Brazil. It is the national fruit of Bangladesh and the state fruit of Kerala, and a single fruit can weigh 30 kilograms or more, growing directly from the trunk and larger branches.

Ripe jackfruit has sweet, fragrant yellow bulbs with a flavour like a mix of banana, mango and pineapple. Young, green jackfruit has a neutral taste and a fibrous, shredded texture when cooked, which has made it a popular plant-based substitute for pulled meat. The large seeds are also edible once cooked.

Main nutrition value

Ripe jackfruit provides carbohydrate, fibre, potassium, vitamin C and B vitamins, while young jackfruit is lower in sugar and often used as a vegetable.

How best to be consumed

Jackfruit can be eaten ripe as a sweet fruit, or young as a savoury vegetable.

1. Oil your hands and knife before cutting, since the fruit contains a very sticky latex.
2. Eat ripe bulbs fresh, removing the seed, or add them to desserts, ice cream and shakes.
3. Cook young green jackfruit in curries, tacos and stews as a meat alternative, rinsing canned versions.
4. Boil or roast the seeds before eating, and never eat them raw.
5. Choose canned young jackfruit in brine or water rather than syrup for savoury cooking.

Overconsumption could cause…

Jackfruit is safe for most people, with a few specific points.

1. Allergic reactions in some people, especially those sensitive to birch pollen or latex.
2. Digestive discomfort, such as bloating, from the high fibre and sugar in large servings.
3. Raised blood sugar in people managing diabetes if a lot of ripe fruit is eaten.
4. Low protein if young jackfruit is used as a full meat replacement without other protein foods.

GroupsTropical FruitsMulberry family (Moraceae)Low fatLow sodiumFresh

Made intoDried Jackfruit

Related foodsBreadfruitSugar ApplePassion FruitBananaCustard AppleSapodilla / Chikoo

Wikipedia — Jackfruit, used for origin, naming and history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackfruit