The latest thing to hit our produce section is a real head-turner. When you happen upon a spiky green fruit that looks like a misshapen football, your eyes will widen. But don’t just chuckle and move on to the bananas. Here are three seriously amazing reasons why you should stop and check out jackfruit.
1. It’s fun!
With winter waning and spring on the way, it’s the perfect time to transport your palate to warmer climates and discover something new and exciting.
Ask Brian in produce the best way to carve it, invite some friends over, and have a jackfruit party! Show off your new jackfruit-cutting skills to your guests, hand them a quarter of the fruit and share the succulent treat. With its distinctive, sweet aroma, and exotic flavor combination of apple, pineapple, mango, and banana, it will be a memorable culinary adventure.
2. It works great in place of meat.
Ok, we’ve all used beans and tofu to step in for a meatless Monday or vegetarian meal, but jackfruit is leaping on to the scene with lots to offer. This low-calorie fruit has the look and texture of meat. It’s high in fiber, and can easily substitute for pulled pork. Think satisfying sandwiches, jackfruit tacos, curry chili or vegan Hawaiian style “pork.” (See our recipe below.)
3. It’s uber-healthy.
Offering 20 percent of your daily fiber needs, it will make you feel more satisfied, combatting late-night cravings, promoting good digestion, and even helping prevent causes of colon cancer. It’s a good source of antioxidant vitamin-C, and fructose and sucrose to give you energy and vitality. It is a standout among fruits because it is rich in B-complex vitamins and is a good source of potassium, magnesium, manganese and iron.
(In Southeast Asian countries, where it grows on trees, people have for centuries enjoyed it at the beginning of meals to improve digestive health.)
We can make it even easier, too.
If you don’t want to cut up a jackfruit, we have Native Forest canned organic jackfruit in our meat-alternative section next to the produce department.
Here’s a great recipe for you that’s Newport Avenue Market employee-owner-tested:
Ana’s Vegan “Pork”
1 can (14 oz) Native Forest Jackfruit
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp liquid smoke (optional)
1 tbsp Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki
4 tbsp crushed pineapple
Salt and pepper to taste
Furikake (Hawaiian snack mix)
Drain and rinse the jackfruit pieces and shred by hand. In a medium bowl, mix the jackfruit, garlic powder, teriyaki, crushed pineapple and liquid smoke (optional).
Note: jackfruit is a flavor sponge, so go easy on the salt.
Heat a pan with olive oil, cook the jackfruit mixture on low heat for about 40 minutes.
Best served with rice and topped with Furikake Mix, a crunchy Hawaiian snack we carry here at the store.
Happy jackfruiting, friends!
Let us know how it goes. Leave a comment on the Facebook post, or stop in and let our produce team know how you like to enjoy jackfruit.
Bonus Info
Here’s a handy video from Frieda’s on How to Open a Jackfruit.
