Jackfruit: The Jack of All Fruits

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit with some unique properties. It's incredibly nutritious and has a distinct flavor, making it a great addition to many dishes. 

 Read on because we'll break down what this fruit is, its benefits, and how you can use it.

What is Jackfruit?

This fantastic fruit comes from the western coast of India and grows on a Jackfruit tree in Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa. It belongs to the Moraceae family, which also includes figs, breadfruit, and mulberries. 

Here's an interesting fact:

This fruit can weigh up to 100 pounds, making it the largest and heaviest fruit on the planet.

Its exterior is typically green and yellow (depending on its ripeness) and is covered by hard, bumpy skin. The interior is filled with a large amount of fibrous flesh and seeds. 

Sometimes known for having a musky scent, and its flavor ranging from subtle to sweet with notes of apple, pineapple, banana, and mango (depending in the ripeness).

This fruit's nickname is 'jack of all the fruits' because of its incredible culinary versatility and rich nutritional profile. It's a great meat substitute when you eat Jackfruit for plant based dishes because of its unique shredded meat like texture. 

This fruit is so versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes. These include tacos, curry, vegan pulled pork sandwiches, smoothie bowls, stir-fry, salads and more.

What Does Jackfruit Taste Like, Uses, Differences, and More

Unripe Jackfruit

Unripe or young jackfruit has a mild, almost neutral flavor (leaning more toward savory than sweet). It's also known for its unique ability to 'adopt' the taste of other ingredients in recipes, which makes it a great addition to sweet or savory dishes and perfect with barbecue sauce.

Its meaty texture is a staple in vegan and vegetarian dishes. In addition to the above recipes, it can also be used as a pizza topping.

Ripe Jackfruit

Like most ripe fruits, jackfruit gradually becomes sweeter as it ripens because the starch (complex carb) inside converts to simple sugars. It has a typical sweet, fruity flavor and a less meaty, more creamy texture than unripe jackfruit.

Because of that, you can enjoy fresh jackfruit without preparation and add it to fruit salads and smoothies or use it as a topping for desserts, ice creams, and oatmeal.

For example, you can add ripe jackfruit to cupcake recipes, which provides moisture and a tropical flavor.

In Summary

Unripe jackfruit has a more neutral, close-to-savory taste and is a perfect meat alternative, making it an excellent addition to savory recipes, especially vegan and vegetarian ones.

In contrast, ripe jackfruit is characterized by a sweet tropical taste, rich aroma, and a creamier texture, which makes it suitable to eat fresh, as well as add to recipes to boost the flavor and provide some moisture.

Health Benefits of Jackfruit

1. It Helps With Blood Sugar Control

Despite being relatively high in carbs (38 grams per cup), this fruit can support healthy blood sugar levels. First, it provides fiber, which slows digestion and the release of carbs into the bloodstream. 

Second, it has a glycemic index of 50 to 60 (depending on the ripeness), which means it digests relatively slowly and does not cause a spike in blood sugar levels.

Third, jackfruit is rich in flavonoids––plant compounds linked to improved blood sugar levels.

2. It May Boost Immunity

Jackfruit is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as magnesium, with one cup covering a significant percent of your daily needs.

All three nutrients play an important role in supporting immunity. Vitamin C and magnesium are also crucial for controlling inflammation, further strengthening the body's defense system, and reducing the risk of chronic disease. Speaking of that:

3. It May Reduce the Risk of Chronic Disease

In addition to vitamins A and C, magnesium, and flavonoids, it's also rich in carotenoids. These nutrients help control inflammation and are linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. 

For example, flavonoids have been shown to help reduce blood sugar levels. They may even have a favorable impact on blood pressure, which, when elevated, is a significant risk factor for heart disease.

Summary

Jackfruit is the largest and heaviest fruit on the planet. It has a rich nutritional profile, with one cup covering most of your vitamins A and C and magnesium needs. It's also an excellent source of carbs, though it doesn't lead to a sharp increase in blood sugar levels thanks to its modest glycemic index.

Interested in trying and reaping the jackfruit benefits? Check out our Organic Jackfruit Snack-Sized Pieces that don't contain jackfruit seeds. You can buy jackfruit online or at a grocery store near you, just click the link to be one step closer to the largest tree fruit in the world.