Jackfruit is such a versatile ingredient and to celebrate that I have put together a selection of jackfruit recipes.
What is Jackfruit?
Jackfruit is the largest and heaviest fruit in the world and it’s related to the breadfruit and durian.
We have a young jackfruit tree in our tropical garden in Goa India, and from that tree, we harvest about 20 jackfruits in a single day.
Each jackfruit weighs about 44-66 lbs/ 20-30 kg.
Grown Jackfruit trees, with their massive build, can have about 200 Jackfruits growing on the tree trunk and on brunches.
These are crazy numbers when you think that some of these jackfruits tend to get over 88 lbs/ 40 kgs heavy!
The healthy exotic fruit is native to the Western Ghats/West Coast of India but it grows in other parts of Asia too and the Caribbeans.
The fruit is also known as fruit de Jaque in french, kathal in Hindi and pannas पाननस in Goa and Maharashtra.
It’s in season from March to June in any tropical climate and two major varieties exist, a softer jelly-like type and the more common and commercialized fleshy jackfruit.
The fruit flesh is pale yellow/beige in color and it tastes and smells like gum, pineapple and spring onions combined.
It’s a pleasant smell and taste and nothing bad as the durian.
Both, fruit flesh and jackfruit seeds can be used in recipes. The seeds can be boiled and taste just like chestnuts!
How to prepare a fresh whole Jackfruit?
Besides the fruit being so big, which makes it be honestly daunting for anyone to prepare it in any way possible, the fruit flesh tends to have a very sticky glue-like substance around it.
Because of that glue substance, you will turn into a sobbing and crying child when tackling your jackfruit preparation like any-other fruit.
The right way to cut out jackfruit pulp pieces is to cover your hands and knife with cooking oil.
You won’t be able to use it all up in a day’s time, so freezing or drying jackfruit pieces is a good idea!
We usually cut one open, use it in a few jackfruit recipes and give away the rest to neighbors and friends.
Buying Jackfruit
Canned Jackfruit flesh can be commonly bought in grocery stores like Aldi these days.
Look out for plain brined jackfruit and not the stuff you get in syrup.
You can also get fresh jackfruit cut up in smaller pieces (or sometimes as a whole too) in an Asian or Caribbean specialty store.
Fresh jackfruit is healthier and tastier BUT consider that it’s quite some extra work to process it because of that glue substance.
Raw Jackfruit is a bit more rare and harder to be found. You might get it in a health or vegan grocery store.
Jackfruit recipe ideas
We usually enjoy jackfruit as is in its raw state. However, the fruit is great cooked too.
Especially vegans may appreciate this fruit.
Here are some recipes to get inspired!
Vegan French dip sandwich with au jus
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Jackfruit Upside Down Cake
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Jackfruit Tinga with Chipotle Sauce
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Chili verde jackfruit with cilantro lime brown rice
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BBQ Jackfruit Tacos with Mango Salsa
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Jackfruit Ice cream
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Slow cooker vegan chicken wild rice soup
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Vegan Stew with Jackfruit Beef
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Vegan Jackfruit ‘Pulled Pork’ Tacos with grilled Pineapple
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Jackfruit Stir Fry – Kathal ki Sabzi
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Corned Jackfruit
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Vegan reuben jackfruit sandwich
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Stuffed Jackfruit
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Raw Jackfruit Kebab – Kathal ke Kebab
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Raw Jackfruit Curry
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Dear Reader, which jackfruit recipes will you make next?
Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comment section further below!
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A very well written and detailed post. the photos reminded me of my stay in Goa where you could find jackfruit so easily.
Such a lovely post and so well explained! Thank you for including my recipe.
The size and numbers harvested are indeed daunting! I wonder if you could make jackfruit jam or pickles? I have seen it in our supermarkets but have always been slightly apprehensive about getting one, your recipe round up will take that edge off.
I’ve never seen jackfruit cooked before. I can’t imagine 40kg falling on my head. I worry about coconuts on my patio but jackfruit would scare the pants off me! 🙂
I wish we can find jackfruit here in the UK, I’ve tried it in Malaysia and really loved it.
I remember being introduced to jackfruit in Jamaica, these recipes make it look and sound amazing! Great round up!
I remember the first time I tried a jackfruit BBQ sandwich it really seemed like pulled pork! I was shocked!
I have seen jackfruit only on pictures and never seen it sold around here fresh or canned. However, I am sure I’ll be buying it if I ever come across this fruit. Love the recipes, they look delicious!
Jackfruit are absolutely gi-normous! They sell more reasonable portions at one of our market stands locally, and they make fabulous shakes. Did you know that jackfruit was actually the flavor profile behind Juicy Fruit gum?
Really? LOL I didn’t know that with the gum. Well, that explains why I liked that gum as a kid.
No, I didn’t know this was the largest fruit in the world! Always love learning new things. 🙂 Great collection of recipes — thanks.
Lovely recipes! I love jackfruit, but I’ve never baked or cooked with it…
Cheers,
Rosa
I am drooling over those exotic treats! I love particularly that ice cream. Thanks for sharing, Helene.