STORE CUPBOARD HERO
JACKFRUIT
Often used as a vegan or veggie meat substitute, the ginormous jackfruit is not only versatile but packed with nutrients
If you’re plant-based, chances are you’ve already sampled this trendy ingredient. But what exactly is jackfruit and where has it come from?
Jackfruit’s journey from unloved tropical outcast to unlikely vegan Instagram star has been a relatively swift one. Until a few years ago, this Southeast Asian crop, which resembles a spiky, egg-shaped melon, was often left to rot on trees, disdained as a ‘pauper’s fruit’. These days, however, it’s increasingly used in western veggie dishes as a surprisingly convincing meat substitute.
Sometimes confused with the less-than-fragrant durian ( jackfruit, thankfully, smells sweeter), it’s part of the same family as figs and mulberries. Untamed, it can reach around 90cm in length, and weigh up to 35kg, making it the world’s largest tree-borne fruit. Its texture is dense and fibrous – like a meatier, less chewy pineapple. Sliced open, its fat bulbs resemble vivid yellow peppers.