Jackfruit, what is that really?

1. Maybe you have already seen a recipe with jackfruit as a meat substitute, maybe it sounds completely new to you. Anyway, from now on you can no longer ignore this tropical fruit. What it is, where jackfruit comes from and what you use the fruit for, you can read in this article.

Wonder crop of the future

1. It appears to be one of the food trends of 2019: jackfruit, also known as jackfruit, as a meat substitute in vegetarian and vegan cuisine. In fact, scientists say this is the â € €wonder crop of the futureâ € ™ and could save millions of people from starvation. It may be a fruit, but jackfruit could provide a good alternative to important food sources such as corn, wheat and grains.

In syrup or in brine

1. If you are looking for jackfruit, which can be in the toko and nowadays in the supermarket, you will usually find this in a can. There are two types of canned jackfruit, namely the yellow and the young green. The yellow is usually in syrup and is quite sweet, the young, green jackfruit is in brine or salt water. In Asian shops there is sometimes a whole jackfruit in the freezer, or you can find the sweet, melon-flavored flesh in the refrigerator. For savory recipes, use canned jackfruit in brine. If you open the can, you will see gray pieces of fruit in the shape of triangles. This jackfruit is unripe and therefore contains little flavor. This makes it very suitable for marinating. By pulling the pieces apart with a fork, a stringy structure is created and you can, for example, make â € vleesstewed meatâ € ™ or â € pulled jackfruitâ € ™.

Prickly, smelly fruit

1. In the store you will find sliced ​​jackfruit in tins, but the fruit is actually a giant, green fruit covered with small spines. The fruit grows in India and can be up to a meter long and half a meter wide. When ripe, the jackfruit emits a strong scent reminiscent of a mix of rotten onions, bananas and pineapple. This is how animals know that the fruit is ready to eat. People prefer to pick the jackfruit when it is fully grown, but not yet ripe, to avoid the strong odor. Fun fact: it is often forbidden to carry the fruit with you at Asian airports for this reason.

Nutritious enough? The jackfruit is not called an alternative food source for maize, wheat and grains for nothing. The fruit is more nutritious and rich in calories than other fiber-rich vegetables and is especially high in vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, potassium and iron. Despite its fleshy structure, it does not seem to be a full-fledged meat substitute. According to the Nutrition Center, a good vegetarian choice should contain vitamin B1, vitamin B12, iron and more than 20% of the energy in proteins. So there is enough iron in jackfruit, but unfortunately the fruit does not meet the other requirements. With a dish with jackfruit, always make sure that there is another protein source with the B vitamins on your plate. Whether it's a Mexican wrap with vegetables, black beans and pulled jackfruit, or an Asian curry with the fruit, the jackfruit is a creative addition to vegetarian cuisine - and who knows, it might alleviate famine. Also read Everything about meat substitutes Don't miss anything?

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