What Does Jackfruit Meat Taste Like? (2024)

FAQs

What Does Jackfruit Meat Taste Like? ›

The taste of jackfruit is described as the flavor of apples and bananas mixed together. Jackfruit seeds may be boiled or roasted. Seeds have a milky taste.

Ripe yellow jackfruit has a subtly sweet flavor, often described as a combination of banana, apple, and mango. Young green jackfruit, on the other hand, has a neutral flavor and texture similar to shredded meat, making it a popular meat substitute in savory dishes.

The scientific name for jackfruit is Artocarpus heterophyllus. Jackfruit is a tropical tree fruit grown in Asia, Africa and South America. It belongs to the same plant family as figs and mulberries. Under its thick, bumpy green rind is a stringy yellow flesh that you can eat raw or cooked in a variety of dishes.

How do you cook with it? You can easily separate the flesh of unripe jackfruit with your fingers or shred it with two forks. Then add your seasoning and sauces before sautéing or simmering until it softens. Jackfruit is a great addition to curries as it takes on the flavour of the sauce as it bubbles away.

It's not so strange when you consider the fibres in underripe jackfruit mimic the fibrous layers of protein strands that make up meat. This means that unripe jackfruit, when cooked, is similar in texture and appearance to chicken, pork, beef and even fish.

But cut out and discard the inner stem that runs down the middle first. Take out all of the arils, then cut out the stringy parts. Nutritionally, jackfruit stacks up similarly to other tropical fruits, with 98 calories and 3 grams fiber per serving. It's a good source of vitamin C.

On the other hand, lower market competition provides sellers and buyers with more options and increased bargaining power, leading to higher jackfruit prices. The price of jackfruit is largely influenced by transportation costs, a factor particularly relevant due to the large and heavy nature of the fruit.

Jackfruit is a good source of vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, and other important vitamins and minerals. Also, research suggests that compounds in the flesh, seeds, and other parts of the plant may potentially treat or prevent several health conditions. Jackfruit is a popular meat substitute.

You should avoid drinking water after the consumption of jackfruit as it can lead to diarrhoea. Jackfruit is a high water content fruit that smoothes out bowel movements. So, if you drink water after eating jackfruit, it can lead to even smoother bowel movements and cause diarrhoea.

When the jackfruit is cooked, peel off the skin to reveal the seeds and pods surrounding the seeds. The seed pods can be eaten, as well as the stringy fleshy sections between the pods and skin.

Does jackfruit taste like pulled pork? ›

Some think it's sweet, while others do indeed liken it to the taste of pulled pork. This is especially true when cooked, and you'll find it used regularly in the place of pulled pork or chicken in the best vegan cookbooks.

Symptoms of white mould were first observed on jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) in Rangpur, Bangladesh, during February 2012. Fluffy, white mycelia developed on the fruit surface, along with large irregular black sclerotia.

However, because the Heart Foundation warns people about the sodium content of canned foods, it's best that you rinse canned vegetables, including your jackfruit, prior to cooking them. Not only will your heart thank you, but whatever seasonings you add won't be competing with the salt of the brine.

Jackfruit is a great meat alternative from a texture perspective, as it has a chewy, stringy quality when cooked, making it great for vegan 'pulled pork' tacos and sandwiches. It also benefits from a solid nutrient profile, offering plenty of fibre, magnesium, potassium and antioxidants.

“The new Jackfruit 'pepperoni' has been developed in line with our usual meat pepperoni by using the same spices for the same flavour, and we've paid specific attention to developing the thickness and texture to give it a similar texture to the real thing.”

Move over, pulled pork, there's a new and plant-based friendly alternative in town and it is GLORIOUS. This BBQ jackfruit is no joke. It's smoky, it's spicy, it's got that subtly sweet barbecue taste, and is amazing in burrito bowls, burritos, gyros, sprinkled over nachos…you name it, it's good.

“Jackfruit's flesh is a good source of vitamin C and its seeds are a source of protein, potassium, calcium, and iron,” Taub-Dix says. “And unlike other fruits, jackfruit contains B vitamins, including vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, and folic acid, which is especially important for a healthy nervous system.”