The Jack of all Fruits

Monday, November 30, 2009

Jackfruit is the largest fruit in the world that grows on a tree.  It can easily weigh 60 lbs to 70 lbs!!  It is oblong in shape and the color of the exterior is greenish-yellow.  The exterior of the fruit is quite prickly and it takes quite some effort to cut open the fruit and extract the edible parts.  Once the jackfruit is cut open, there are pods that contain the edible flesh and the seed.  Since the fruit is very sticky to cut open and clean, a simple trick is to use some oil on your hands and knife.

Jackfruit is indigenous to southern India.  It is used in South Indian and Southeast Asian cuisines. The edible portions of the unripe jackfruit is cooked and incorporated into curries and similar dishes.  It can also be fried as chips.  Ripe jackfruit is edible uncooked as a fruit and has a unique taste and texture.  The jackfruit seeds can be boiled or baked like beans.  According to the USDA standard release reports on raw fruits and juices, jackfruit is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.