Last Updated on April 22, 2014 by Babita
Last week I went to our local Asian store and was shopping around in the produce section. All of a sudden I heard TEE screaming, and was incoherently asking me to buy something. I told her to calm down, and asked her what it was that she wanted. Trying to contain her enthusiasm she pointed me towards some cut up jackfruit. When I saw the jackfruit, I too began to get excited.
You see it is a tropical fruit that is native to India and widely found all over Southeast Asia. This is one fruit, which I and my girls miss the most. It is mostly available in the coastal or southern states of India. It is available during the summer, which is early March to early June. Our craziness for this fruit is due to the fact that it is not widely available here in the US. Occasionally, if I am lucky I manage to find it in my local Indian and Asian stores during Spring. It tends to be expensive over here considering it is sold by weight and when you pick out the flesh you hardly end with four or five of the actual fruit.
I bought this one piece from the Asian store and I was able to get exactly four whole flesh. Since this is the only time it is available, I make it a point to grab one if I see it.
On the outside it looks like a scary prehistoric fruit from the dinosaur era with small pointed scales. The raw jackfruits are usually smaller and can be used to make different savory recipes. The ripe jackfruit however, is the one you have to try.
Once you cut it you will be pleasantly surprised. You have to pluck out the yellow flesh which is the actual edible fruit from the surrounding white fibers. Since the white fibers oozes out a sticky liquid, my mom usually applied some coconut of any kind of edible oil to the knife as well as her palm. Once the yellow flesh has been extracted, you will find it a seed within. These seeds are edible too and can be boiled or roasted and has a similar taste profile of chestnuts.
This yellow jackfruit flesh is sweet and the flavor I can best describe is, a combination of pineapple, apple, banana and mango. It is firm, sweet, starchy and sometimes fibrous. The smell sometimes can be overpowering and may need some getting used to. In my mom’s hometown of Mangalore in India, jackfruit grows in abundance. The flesh if not eaten directly is used to make many recipes. One of my favorite is the jackfruit chips which fortunately for us is available in the Indian stores.
My advice to those who are never tried jackfruit; try it. If you ever came across it, do be adventures and have a taste. I am sure you will not be disappointed. BTW you can also find canned jackfruit which is available in Asian stores or online. You could also try it frozen although in both the cases the taste will vary compared to fresh fruit.
Date Rolls
I love jackfruit. It is rich in energy, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins and free from saturated fats or cholesterol, making it one of the healthy summer seasons treated to relish! I’am from India and now you had made my mouth watered for its taste and I will buy it from a local market now 🙂 Thanks! #sitsblogging
-Sonia
I saw these in the farmer’s market when I lived in Hawaii but never tried it..wish I had though!
I’ve never seen this but when on our next trip back up to North Arkansas I’ll have to check out the local Asian and Indian stores to see if they have any. You make it sound so good.
It does look very good! I am not sure if i ever have seen this in the stores here.. I will look next time!
I have never tried the jackfruit but from your description they sound yummy!
I’ve never heard of this before! WOW! Thanks for sharing all the beautiful pics and recipes. I’ll definitely go to our market and see if they carry it here. It looks delicious!
Now I w ant to try that jackfruit. thanks for showing us how to make it and how to cook the seeds.
I am not sure that I have ever heard of jackfruit. Thanks for introducing me to something new.
That is such a cool fruit! I don’t think I’ve ever had it. I lived in Japan for two years though, so maybe it was in something I couldn’t pronounce. I’d love to try it and actually know I’m trying it, lol!
We grow jackfruit in the Philippines too and is one of my favorite fruit to eat. I miss jackfruit, can’t find a fresh one in the store unless if it’s an Asian store which is too far from where I live.
I have never heard of jackfruit before this post. I will have to see if I can find it around here.
I have never heard about Jackfruits until now, but I would definitely like to try them. I am always up for trying new things!
I have never heard of this before! YOU learn something new everyday!
I have never heard of this but I would love to try it. I love trying new foods out, especially fruits. I love the way the fruit looks hanging from the tree. I googled it to find out more and it says it is the largest tree bearing fruit and one piece can reach as much as 80 lbs. Wow! I see it is rich in Vitamin B,C and fiber too.
I would love to try this fruit. My youngest is obsessed with fruit so I bet he would enjoy it too!
I have never heard of jackfruit. looks so good I bet in Michigan I’d never find it either
I love jackfruit! It’s fairly available in our area due to so many Asian markets. You can boil the seeds & eat the inside as well 🙂
I love trying new foods so next time I’m at the local Asian store, I will look to see if they have any jackfruit!!
I have never even heard of it, but now I want to look the next time I am in the city (Boston) to see if I can find some to try it. It sounds like something I would really like.
I love trying different things so I would love to give this a try. I am glad your daughter found it for you so you could both enjoy a small treat.
I have never seen or heard of a Jack fruit. they look interesting.
I have seen jackfruit in a store near my daughter’s college, but I did not know what it was. I will have to try it if I am ever back that way.
I have heard of it before. I would gladly try it if I came across it. 🙂
That looks very interesting. Not sure I would like that.
I’ve never had one before, but they sound really neat! I’d love to try one!
I have never heard of or seen jackfruit. I will definitely be looking for some if I see them here in the market. I would like to try something new.
I’ve never heard of it, but I’m totally up for trying it. I like how you described the taste.
I never heard about this fruit but I love learning about new foods and different cultures.
I’ve never heard of these before – they are quite interesting to look at. My husband spent a month in India, I’m going to ask him if he tried these.
I have to admit I have never heard of seen of a Jack Fruit before – I’m going to have to keep a look out for it I think. x
I’d love to try that fruit! Never had it nor heard of it and it looks delicious.
I lived in Jamaica where jackfruit is plentiful and I really didn’t appreciate them much growing up. Now I miss eating them. I haven’t in over 18 years 🙁
These jackfruits look very interesting, I wish I could try one.
When I was in Mexico a few years ago, we seen Jackfruit on the trees. Then when I was in Las Vegas, I found it in a can and my Hubs and I wanted to try it. Wasn’t so good canned, but I would like to try it fresh.