Herb. No. 225 · Moraceae
Western Ghats origin; a tropical backyard tree from Kerala to Jamaica.
Native · South Asia
Native Also grown
LegalGentleplant
Jackfruit
Artocarpus heterophyllus
The giant mulberry-family fruit of South Asia — a ripe dessert of yellow bulbs, or an unripe savory that happens to shred.
Jackfruit is a South Asian tree, the largest tree-borne fruit in common kitchens. Traditional use is ripe bulbs as dessert and young fruit as a cooked vegetable. Culinary amounts are the path. The canned ‘pulled pork’ fashion is unripe fruit with spice. Latex gums the knife — oil the blade. Breadfruit is Artocarpus altilis, a starchier cousin.
Flavor
Ripe: banana-mango-gum. Unripe cooked: mild, meaty with the sauce you give it.
Parts used
Ripe bulbs · Young fruit (cooked)
Helpful
- Two kitchens in one fruit
- Feeds a crowd
Cautions
- Latex on the knife
- A whole fruit is a project
- Confusion with breadfruit