What is it?

Jackfruit is a species of tree in the fig and mulberry family. It grows in the tropical region of Asia. It is used most commonly in South and Southeast Asian cuisine.

My Jackfruit Journey…

As a new vegetarian I am constantly on the lookout for new substitutes for the meat I gave up. I have fallen in love with the gardein brand of vegetarian meat substitutes. That’s not what this post is about though. Maybe another day. Today we focus on the learning experience I had when I tried to make Jackfruit cheesesteaks for my husband today. He was excited. I was excited. It was going to be great. Boy did I have something to learn.

I had my peppers and onions cooked and was about to add my Jackfruit when I opened the can and realized this was not like any Jackfruit I had ever had before. Wasn’t it supposed to be green? This was a beautiful orange color and smelled sweet. I had never had Jackfruit smell sweet before. I even tried to cook with it anyway thinking maybe I was mistaken. Truthfully I knew I wasn’t mistaken but I really wanted cheesesteaks so I tried. It was a failure.

So here is what we learned. When Jackfruit is young and unripe it is called green jackfruit. This is the jackfruit I had seen before. I just had never bought it canned so I didn’t know it was called this when it was young. The jackfruit I bought was ripe and its beautiful orange color.

When jackfruit is young you can use it as a meat substitute like you would use shredded pork, chicken or duck. I have used it in BBQ pork sandwiches. You can use it in tacos and anywhere else you would use a shredded meat.

The ripe Jackfruit can be used in desserts. You can use it anyplace you would use a hearty canned fruit. You can use it in layered Jello desserts. You can use it in baked goods. You can also use it to top a custard dish. There is a dish called Panasa Mulika that is fried Jackfruit fritters.

If you are looking for a new fruit to add to your diet whether it be for your Meat Free Monday or to put it in a pie I’d recommend Jackfruit. It’s hearty and delicious. It is also fairly easy to come by in your local grocery store in the can. I found it in my local Asian market. Let me know what you use Jackfruit for.