The plant with the beautiful name jackfruit is also called Indian breadfruit. And rightly so, because it is indeed a close relative of the breadfruit tree. The jackfruit has been proudly named the national fruit of Bangladesh. And its fruits are very large, up to 90 cm in length and up to 34 kg in weight. Therefore, they are rightfully considered the largest edible fruits that grow on trees. The fruit has a very thick skin and is green before ripening, then yellow-green or yellow with a hint of brown as it grows.
Ripe fruits make an empty sound when tapped. Inside, they are divided into several large slices, which contain a sweet yellow pulp, consisting of pronounced fibers. Jackfruit fruits are very juicy, they contain several very large oblong seeds. The smell of jackfruit cannot be confused with anything: it is very pleasant, but very specific, reminiscent of the aroma and at the same time. In addition to this exotic fruit smell, it contains light notes that seem artificial: it also smells very ripe, as if an acetone-based liquid was added to it.
But the peel does not have such a pleasant smell, it is somewhat specific, although it is clear that this is the smell of a natural fruit. In addition, the peel contains latex, which sticks very strongly, so if you are going to cut a jackfruit, it is better to wear gloves or just grease your hands with sunflower oil. Another beauty of jackfruit is that it can be stored for a very long time, up to 2 months. The main thing is that the fruit is not overripe, otherwise it will deteriorate very quickly.
The jackfruit is native to India and Bangladesh, but is now grown most heavily in Asia and the Philippines. You can meet him in East Africa, less often - on the islands of Oceania and in the New World. The tree itself is very tall: it reaches 20 meters and its leaves never fall off. At the moment when the jackfruit tree blooms, very large flowers grow directly on the trunk, and smaller ones grow on the branches. It can take up to 8 months from flowering to the final ripening of the fruits, and they grow on a wide part of the branches closer to the trunk, because due to their large size, the fruits can break thin branches.
Jackfruit wood is often used to build houses and furniture as it has a very beautiful golden hue and is best known for its durability.
In the 19th century, jackfruit was actively used in order to obtain a yellow dye, which was considered extremely valuable. It was commonly used for dyeing silk or natural cotton, including dyeing monks' clothes. A substance is also extracted from the wood itself, from which high-quality glue is made.
How to choose
Pay attention to the skin of the jackfruit: it should be yellow-green and not damaged. A good peel has a high density, but it is not hard: elastic and stretched skin means that the fruit is sufficiently ripe. Pay attention also to the smell: if it is too strong, it means that the fruit is overripe.
Peeling the fruit is very simple: cut it in half lengthwise or into several parts, cut out the core, and then press on the peel - so the pulp, divided into slices, will easily break into pieces. Using a sharp knife, carefully scoop out the pulp and remove the pits from the jackfruit. It can be stored in the refrigerator in this form for no more than 5 days, so try to clean it immediately before use. If frozen, the pulp will keep for up to 2 months.
Calorie content and chemical composition
Jackfruit is almost completely defatted, however, it is quite nutritious, as it contains a large amount of carbohydrates. 100 g of raw fruit contains 94 kcal, in canned - 92. This means that if you use it in moderation, you can easily maintain a figure.
| 94 kcal | |
| 1.46 g | |
| 0.29 g | |
| 2.4 g | |
| Fatty acid | 0.062 g |
| 1.61 g | |
| 73.2 g | |
| 1 g | |
| vitamins | |
|---|---|
| 15 mcg | |
| 14 mcg | |
| 0.11 µg | |
| 0.1 µg | |
| 0.03 µg | |
| 6.68 mg | |
| 0.4 mg | |
| and | |
| 300 mg | |
| 37.2 mg | |
| 0.58 mg | |
| 33.9 mg | |
| 36 mg | |
| 3.1 mg | |
| 0.2 mg | |
| 0.4 mg | |
| 187 mcg | |
| 0.59 mcg | |
Beneficial features
A ripe fruit contains up to 40% juicy pulp, which is very nutritious and contains a large amount of carbohydrates - even more than they are contained in. That is why in India jackfruit is called the bread of the poor, because there this fruit is very cheap. No less nutritious are seeds, which are usually lightly roasted and eaten: they contain about 38% carbohydrates.
Fresh jackfruit is eaten by simply removing the pulp, and they also make sweets like jelly or marmalade from it. Unripe ones are cooked like vegetables: they can be boiled or fried, stewed and then eaten. Ripe cut pulp can be freely frozen and stored in the refrigerator for a long time. Even flowers are used in cooking: they are added to sauces consisting of or hot peppers. Fresh leaves are often added to a variety of salads, including fruit salads. In India, all parts of the fruit are used: even the peel is pickled or candied, and because of the low price of the fruit, it is often used as animal feed.
In desserts, the pulp of the fruit is very often used as an addition to ice cream, in fruit salads, and often the pulp is added to coconut milk, which sets off the taste.
They even make jam from jackfruit, which is used to fill pies or open pies, fruits can simply be cut and baked in their pure form. As for savory dishes, this fruit is great with any meat, fish and seafood: you can add it to hot dishes, or use it to decorate savory appetizers and salads. Jackfruit is often used as a side dish for meat, nutritious and tasty: for this it is cut, the pulp is extracted from it, which is cooked on the grill for just a few minutes. Often it is used for stuffing poultry that is baked. Jackfruit is excellently complemented by other vegetables: gourmets cut it even into vinaigrette, which gives it a particularly piquant taste.
From Thai, the name of the jackfruit can be translated as "support" or "help", so the Thais believe that the tree can bring good luck to its owner. That is why it is grown in many gardens right next to the house. In addition, the seeds are credited with the power of a talisman, which should protect the owner from wounds inflicted by firearms or sharp objects. This property is attributed to the seeds due to the fact that they have a copper color with a green tint, and Thai folklore considers copper to be a magical metal.
For medicinal purposes, jackfruit is also widely used as a medicine: for example, its roots are brewed for quick relief from diarrhea, flowers help to have antidiuretic properties. Ripe jackfruits have an unexpressed laxative property. Herbal tea made from the leaves of this fruit helps to increase the mother's milk supply.
Hazardous Properties
Sometimes there is an individual intolerance to this fruit or one of its components. Also, if you have never tried jackfruit, eat it slowly and very carefully, as overindulgence can lead to indigestion.
The pulp of this fruit is used to treat various digestive disorders, and even stomach ulcers. By the way, it is often used by people who have problems with bowel function, since the fibers contained in the fruit normalize digestion. In addition, the activity of the substances contained in the jackfruit reduces the effect of alcohol in the blood, allowing you not to get drunk for a long time.
The pulp helps to reduce pressure, as well as strengthen the immune system. In some countries, the fruits are used to treat pharyngitis or to get rid of fever. In addition, roasted seeds are used as an aphrodisiac.
It is believed that jackfruit fruits are among the substances that can slow down the formation of cancerous tumors due to the special substances that make up the composition. In addition, the fruits are also credited with a serious anti-aging effect: it is believed that with regular consumption of food, a rejuvenating effect becomes noticeable, the skin becomes more elastic, soft and smooth. The iron contained in the fruits prevents anemia, and copper plays an important role in the normal functioning of the thyroid gland. Thus, jackfruit is able to normalize hormonal levels.
If you have the opportunity, be sure to add it to the list of regularly consumed foods, as the benefits of jackfruit are invaluable, and both children and adults like the pleasant taste of jackfruit. In addition, all over the world vegetarians use it very actively, because in terms of its qualities and characteristics it is an excellent substitute for meat. In particular, if the pulp is preserved in sea water, which is done in factories, it will be just an excellent vegetable substitute for meat.
