Not sure where to start with this quirky fruit? Here’s our ultimate guide
You may not have heard of this wonderful and versatile fruit which originates from Southeast Asia, but it’s becoming increasingly popular in the UK – especially among those who eat a plant-based diet.
If you’re looking to expand your cooking skills and discover more ingredients to cook with, keep reading.
What is jackfruit?
Part of the fig family, jackfruit is a tropical tree fruit which originated in southeast Asia, where it’s been a staple ingredient for centuries.
The ripe fruit is yellow with a bumpy exterior, while the unripe fruit is green. Inside, the fruit is full of seeds encased by fleshy pods, which are edible.
Here in the UK, we mostly cook with the unripe fruit which is tinned and sold in large supermarkets.
What does jackfruit taste like?
Once fully ripe, jackfruit has a sweet, tangy flavour similar to mango, apple or pineapple. Young green jackfruit – which is sold in cans in the UK – has a neutral flavour and has a surprisingly meaty texture, similar to shredded pork or chicken.
Jackfruit is rich in fibre, minerals and vitamins and it’s great at absorbing flavours, too. These things combined make jackfruit a great plant-based whole food which can be used as an alternative to meat in several dishes.
Add it to sandwiches, curries, tacos, chillies, casseroles and much more (we’ll share some of our favourite jackfruit recipes below).
How to cook jackfruit
Like many plant-based foods such as tofu, tempeh and seitan, cooking with jackfruit may take some experimenting if you’ve never used it before. The beauty of cooking vegan is you get to discover new ingredients and flavours!
Here are some tips to get started:
- Drain the water from the tin and give the jackfruit a good rinse.
- Pull the chunks apart with your fingers. Some larger chunks can be quite tough, but can be broken down in a blender.
- Although you can start cooking with jackfruit straight away, we recommend putting the fruit in boiling water for about 10 minutes and then giving it another rinse before starting your recipe.
- If you have time, allowing jackfruit to marinate for a few hours will help the fruit to absorb your chosen flavours, creating more depth of flavour. Get creative with marinades – use BBQ sauce, jerk seasoning, or anything you like.
- You can freeze any uncooked leftover jackfruit if you don’t use the full can.
- Jackfruit can be roasted, barbecued, fried or sautéed. It’s great in a slow cooker too!
5 delicious jackfruit recipes to try
Now you understand the basics of this incredible fruit, it’s time to start cooking! These five recipes will get you started.
1. Peking Jackfruit Pancakes
These vegan Peking duck pancakes are a twist on the Chinese restaurant classic. In this recipe by Sasha Gill, young green jackfruit replaces the traditional duck, and you may be surprised by how well it absorbs all the flavours.
The homemade pancakes are complete with a fruity hoisin sauce and make the perfect weekend treat.
2. BBQ Pulled Jackfruit
Jackfruit can make a great swap for duck, but it replaces pulled pork beautifully when broken into strips.
This BBQ pulled jackfruit recipe by Club Mexicana is super easy to put together and it makes the perfect filling for tacos and wraps. Give it a try!
3. Loaded Baked Potatoes
Who doesn’t love a jacket potato? If you’re stuck for topping ideas and baked beans aren’t cutting it anymore, try this sticky BBQ jackfruit topping.
These twice-baked potatoes by Katy Beskow are ideal for a quick vegan lunch or dinner.
4. Jackfruit Ceviche
If you weren’t already impressed by the versatility of jackfruit, you should be now! Ceviche is a Latin American dish which traditionally consists of raw fish or shellfish marinated in citrus juice (usually lime and/or lemon juice).
Canned green jackfruit bears a resemblance to flaked crabmeat when cooked. Now you can recreate your favourite seafood dishes using just plants!
5. Jackfruit Fish Fingers
Fish fingers are a British staple and there are plenty of vegan fish alternative products out there. However, if you’re feeling creative and want to create your own seafood alternatives with plants, try these jackfruit fish fingers by Clearspring.
The taste of the seaweed with the texture of the jackfruit makes this the perfect substitution.
Feeling inspired? Check out more of our vegan cooking tips.
