Jackfruit Benefits, Recipes & 9 Fun Facts | Amazing Fruits

Jackfruit is huge in size and nutritiously delicious fruit. Jackfruit trees grow abundantly in India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This fruit is very versatile and can be eaten raw or cooked.

It is widely used in cooking when it’s immature. In Sri Lanka, this versatile fruit is used to make a wide variety of dishes. It can be boiled, fried, grilled, or roasted. Seeds of Jackfruit are edible and prepared in dishes.

Jackfruit as a meat substitute is common among vegans and vegetarians.

Jackfruit Mature - Vegan Lanka
Inga carrying a large Jackfruit in Sri Lanka
Inga carrying a large Jackfruit in Sri Lanka

Nutritional values for Jackfruit

Composition of jackfruit (100 g edible portion).

CompositionYoung fruitRipe fruit
Water (g)76.2 – 85.272.0 – 94.0
Protein (g)2.0 – 2.61.2 – 1.9
Fat (g)0.1 – 0.60.1 – 0.4
Carbohydrate (g)9.4 – 11.516.0 – 25.4
Fibre (g)2.6 – 3.61.0 – 1.5
Total sugars (g)20.6
Total minerals (g)0.90.87 – 0.9
Calcium (mg)30.0 – 73.220.0 – 37.0
Magnesium (mg)27.0
Phosphorus (mg)20.0 – 57.238.0 – 41.0
Potassium (mg)287-323191-407
Sodium (mg)3.0-35.02.0-41.0
Iron (mg)0.4-1.90.5-1.1
Vitamin A (IU)30175-540
Thiamine (mg)0.05-0.150.03-0.09
Riboflavin (mg)0.05-0.20.05-0.4
Vitamin C (mg)12.0-14.07.0-10.0
Energy (KJ)50-21088-410
Source www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Jackfruit based dishes

One of my favourite curries in Sri Lanka is called Ambul Polos in Sinhalese. The curry’s made from unripe fruit, therefore it looks green and young. It is slow-cooked baby jack fruit in spices and coconut milk. It’s a very tasty and nutritious dish.

Cooked jack fruit has a meaty texture and it is a perfect substitute for meat in making burgers, sandwiches, pizzas etc. It can be made into a texture similar to pulled pork. In the countries where it grows naturally, Jackfruit curry is more common.

Jackfruit Burger in Colombo - Vegan Lanka
Jackfruit Burger in Colombo

When it reaches the ripening stage, it releases an aroma of sweetness a combination of mangoes, bananas, melon and a hint of durian. The Jackfruit smell is unique but pleasant. You’ll know further that the natural sugar has formed and this fruit is ready to be eaten as a fruit. 

Mature Jackfruit Seed - Vegan Lanka
Mature Jackfruit Seed

Health Benefits

This superior fruit provides a number of health  benefits:

  • Firstly, this fruit may help reduce blood pressure because it is rich in potassium.  1 cup – 165g raw – contains 500mg of potassium.
  • Improves digestion, it is high in dietary fibre.
  • May help promote wound healing.
  • In addition, it can lessen the risk of cancer because of the richness in anti-oxidant and it has a high content of Vitamin C.
  • Studies have shown that this fruit helps with controlling diabetes.

Jackfruit benefits can be attributed to Vitamin C, Fibre Content, Carotenoids and Flavanones. Jackfruit is also used in traditional medicine in several countries.

Is jackfruit healthy?

More studies are needed to come to a conclusion but it does look promising.

Mature Jackfruit - Vegan Lanka
Mature Jackfruit

Your questions about Jackfruit

How long before a Jackfruit Tree (Jack Tree) produce fruits?

Jackfruit Tree

It takes 5-7 years before a tree will produce fruit. Once it starts, it can produce 100+ fruits per year. On average the tree has a life span of 60 to 70 years.

Is Jackfruit the largest fruit in the world?

Jackfruit on a tree

Yes It is the largest tree fruit in the world, capable of reaching 100 pounds (45 Kilograms) per fruit.

What does Jackfruit taste like?

Underripe jackfruit is very mild and often used in curries or can substitute pulled pork or chicken for vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Ripe jackfruit has a sweet flavour. The taste is similar to other tropical fruits like mango or papaya with a stronger and sweeter smell.

Where does Jackfruit come from?

Jackfruit grows abundantly in India, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Nine fun facts about Jackfruit

  1. The Ripe jackfruit is eaten as a fruit; unripe jackfruit is prepared as a vegetable.
  2. Jackfruit is the largest fruit grown on a tree.
  3. The word jackfruit comes from Portuguese jaca.
  4. According to Ayurveda, ripened jackfruit helps in increasing sperm motility and the quality of semen. 
  5. Every part of the jackfruit tree is used for traditional medicine. The bark, leaves, pulp, skin and roots.
  6. Jackfruit is the national fruit of Bangladesh.
  7. The seeds are edible but must be cooked.
  8. About 100 to 500 seeds could be found in each jackfruit. 
  9. In the United States, it can be found in Florida and Hawaii.

Sources

Nutrion Data
Medical News Today
Nutrition Facts

Jackfruit Burger - Inga - Vegan Lanka
Jackfruit Burger – Inga in Sri Lanka

Options for buying jackfruit

Amazon UK

Other amazing fruits

You can find 7 types of Bananas in Sri Lanka here.

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About the Author

<a href="https://strongwithplants.com/author/inga/" target="_self">Inga K</a>

Inga K

Inga became vegan in March 2018. After a series of documentaries that hit hard, she and her husband switched to a plant-based diet within a week and vegan soon after.Inga has a UK Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Diet and Nutrition.

Strongwithplants.com is a blog for anyone who strives for a healthy and happy life. We share 100% plant-based (and often healthy and oil-free) recipes and give you the best tips on finding vegan local food whilst travelling and living a plant-based lifestyle focusing on good health and spiritual wellbeing.

We like to consume food, products and services that don’t harm our bodies, animals, or the planet. Use as little as possible and recycle everything.

Each individual’s dietary needs are unique. Please seek advice from a professional nutritionist or your doctor.

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