The plant-based category is growing, growing in popularity over the past few years as people want to eat healthier for their bodies and the planet. But meat options range from Beyond and Impossible Burgers or traditional vegan meat options like tofu, tempeh and seitan.
A recent addition to Western kitchens, grocery stores and menus, jackfruit has won over consumers who are looking for more ways to replace meat in recipes. But there is still quite a bit of mystery surrounding the giant fruit. What is jackfruit meat? Is it healthy? How does it taste? Ready to dig in? There is so much to discover.
What is jackfruit meat?
Jackfruit meat comes from a tropical fruit grown on jackfruit trees indigenous to the Indian subcontinent, parts of Southeast Asia, and other tropical regions. The jack tree belongs to the Moraceae family, which includes figs and breadfruit, and the fruit it produces is one of the largest tree fruits, capable of weighing over 100 pounds, and beyond its sheer size, it is visually striking with its green or yellow spikes. , thick skin.
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Although it is a new dietary addition to North American and European palates, in South and Southeast Asian cooking, the jackfruit has been prized for centuries for its flesh, which is sweet when ripe and starchy when unripe. Splitting a whole jackfruit yields yellow, fibrous flesh, pods, and seeds. Young and immature jackfruits are used as a meat substitute, but once ripe, the fleshy pods can be enjoyed as a delicious tropical snack.
Jackfruit meat nutrition
While not a powerhouse like other plant-based meat alternatives, jackfruit contains more protein than most fruits, at 2.8 grams per cup, and is a good source of vitamin C as well as vitamin B6, niacin, potassium, riboflavin and folate. acid
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Jackfruit is rich in phytochemicals that are protective against certain cancers, as well as flavonoids and lignans that can reduce inflammation. One cup of chopped jackfruit is only 157 calories, making it a lean alternative to the chopped pork or chicken, which it is often used to replace.
How does jackfruit taste?
Used in savory applications, young, raw jackfruit flesh has a neutral (ie, not fruity) flavor that absorbs marinades and spices well. It has a meaty, firm texture that separates into strings reminiscent of pulled pork.
Chopped jackfruit is also often used as a substitute for other meats such as chicken. While tofu lacks a strong flavor profile of its own, many people like jackfruit’s adaptability for use in curries, stews, and sauces. It is also especially popular in tacos and burritos.
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How to cook with jackfruit meat
Working with fresh jackfruit can be a messy and lengthy ordeal, so before you invest in one, make sure you familiarize yourself with the process with a sound tutorial. You still have to cook it from there, usually boiling or frying.
If you decide to go the more convenient route with canned jackfruit and you’re using it as a meat substitute, look for the water or brine-packed variety, not syrup-packed jackfruit, which will be sweeter. It’s not just sliced but cooked so you’re ready to work with it from there: sliced Shredded
Brands that sell it in the refrigerated section of natural foods stores and Whole Foods Market include Upton’s and Very Good Butcher, both of which have pre-sliced and pre-seasoned options.
Best Jackfruit Meat Recipe
Here are eight jackfruit dishes to take you around the world in your kitchen.
Lazy Cat Kitchen
1 Vegan Gyros
It would be a pita if you overlooked this hearty, meaty vegan version of the Greek classic.
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Shay Boyd
2 Smoky Vegan BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sliders
Bun? check Easy, homemade barbecue sauce? check Tender, juicy, delicious jackfruit? Check, check, check. Check it all.
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Veg Life
3 Corned Jackfruit Reuben on Rye with Sauerkraut and Swiss
Splurge on the best rye and ‘kraut’ for this great rendition of a filling deli icon.
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Cadre’s Kitchen
4 Philly Cheesesteak with Jackfruit
As if that wasn’t enticing enough, this recipe also comes with a DIY creamy cashew cheese sauce that’s a perfect complement to the hearty jackfruit.
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Vegan Richa
5 Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit Caribbean Black Bean Mango Wrap
With extra protein from the black beans and pops of sweet flavor from the mango, this island-inspired wrap will transport you.
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Vegan hugs
6 Easy Jackfruit Carnitas
This recipe makes for a quick and delicious lunch or dinner any day of the week because Taco Tuesday knows no calendar.
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David Malloch
7 Jackfruit is a vegetable
Make this dish in an aromatic, chunky sauce with slices of Punjabi-spiced jackfruit any time you want to go a little further.
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Thyme and love
8 Easy Jackfruit Curry
If you’re looking for a rich and comforting dish you can whip up in a jiffy, look no further than this one-pot jackfruit dish in a coconut cream sauce.
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