Jackfruit is not only an amazing source of vegan protein, but it is full of antioxidants that prevent the progress of several chronic diseases. The next time your recipe calls for shredded meat, look to substitute Jackfruit instead and take the first steps towards a plant-forward diet. The earth will thank you too!
As many of us begin to include more plants in our diet, the food industry has responded with a growing number of meat, dairy, and egg substitutes. Unfortunately many of these new products are ultra-processed with finely engineered ingredient lists as a result of chemical, biological, or mechanical manipulation, straying from using whole foods we are familiar with such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts. Eating whole foods instead of processed, unnatural foods is the obvious choice for optimal nutrition. Here at Thistle we celebrate whole foods that both satisfies and sustains our bodies.
Intro to Jackfruit
As the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, jackfruit is a tropical plant produced from South and Southeast Asia where it grows abundantly. When ripe, the inside of a jackfruit is bright yellow with a sweet and unique tropical flavor, similar to a pineapple or mango. Perfect for jams and desserts, ripe jackfruit is used in smoothies and juices, and is commonly eaten as-is. When eaten unripe, young green jackfruit is neutral in flavor and has thick, stringy flesh that is ideal for cooking. This extremely versatile fruit, both when ripe and unripe, can be prepared in a variety of different ways, bringing plant versatility to a whole new level.
Plant-Based Alternative to Meat
As this plant becomes popular as an alternative to shredded meat, regions in countries like the U.S.A. and Mexico have started to introduce this unique fruit to farms that have the climate to support it. To find this ingredient locally, jackfruit is often sold in Asian markets or natural-foods stores fresh as a whole fruit, frozen, or canned in syrup, water, or brine. We use young green jackfruit as a meat alternative because of its neutral flavor suited for absorbing all of our favorite sauces and spices. To cook with it, break up the unripe jackfruit into pieces similar to shredded chicken and add to the beginning stage of any recipe calling for shredded meat to soak up any seasoning or marinade. Alternatively, cooking the prepped fruit at a high heat either in the oven or in a skillet will create a crispy, irresistible texture (we highly recommend!). You can use jackfruit in lots of recipes, including Jackfruit Marbella and fajitas.
Packed with Nutrition
In addition to its desirable texture, this tropical fruit boasts an impressive nutritional profile. In addition to being a good source of iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, jackfruit has a modest calorie count and is extremely low-fat too. Though it contains less protein than animal meat, we find it extremely satisfying, since it’s full of fiber and still contains a higher protein content than most typical fruits. In order to get a meal that contains full proteins, we recommend either seasoning with hemp seeds and nutritional yeast, or pairing it with sides like rice and beans, to guarantee you’re getting your recommended daily protein allowance.
- Nutritional Value of Jackfruit (3 oz)
- Calories: 38 kcal
- Carbs: 8 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Omega-3 fatty acids: 6.7 mg
- Omega-6 fatty acids: 17.6 mg
- Vitamin A: 6% DV
- Vitamin C: 9% DV
- Riboflavin: 6% DV
- Magnesium: 9% DV
- Potassium: 6% DV
- Copper: 9% DV
- Manganese: 9% DV
Full of Disease-Fighting Antioxidants
Jackfruit is naturally packaged with a variety of antioxidants helpful for preventing the progress of several chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Because of its high mineral and antioxidant content, jackfruit has also been said to promote immune and heart health. High in vitamin C, it is one of the rare fruits that is rich in B-complex group of vitamins and contains notable amounts of vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, and folic acid. Similarly, high levels of carotenoids and flavanones also contribute to anti-inflammatory properties that may help lower blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
A Sustainable Crop
Despite its huge culinary potential, this delicious and nutritious food is underutilized and commonly wasted, left unharvested each year due to overabundance, unawareness, lack of resources, and gaps in supply chain systems. The towering trees of jackfruit do not require pesticides, herbicides, or irrigation and, similarly to coffee beans, is a shade crop that can be inter-grown with other crops to create a regenerative ecosystem. This allows jackfruit farmers to also grow secondary crops, increase their revenues and enrich the soil by replacing nutrients. Luckily for us, jackfruit grows in abundance and is truly a sustainable crop.
This versatile tropical fruit is one of our favorites not only for its nutritional content but also for how delicious it is once it’s prepared. Using whole foods like jackfruit in place of highly processed foods is the obvious choice for a clean, well-balanced diet. Join us in adding jackfruit to your diet, not only as a healthy and sustainable option, but also because it’s a unique food to experiment with!
Jackfruit is not only an amazing source of vegan protein, but it is full of antioxidants that prevent the progress of several chronic diseases. The next time your recipe calls for shredded meat, look to substitute Jackfruit instead and take the first steps towards a plant-forward diet. The earth will thank you too!
As many of us begin to include more plants in our diet, the food industry has responded with a growing number of meat, dairy, and egg substitutes. Unfortunately many of these new products are ultra-processed with finely engineered ingredient lists as a result of chemical, biological, or mechanical manipulation, straying from using whole foods we are familiar with such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts. Eating whole foods instead of processed, unnatural foods is the obvious choice for optimal nutrition. Here at Thistle we celebrate whole foods that both satisfies and sustains our bodies.
Intro to Jackfruit
As the largest tree-borne fruit in the world, jackfruit is a tropical plant produced from South and Southeast Asia where it grows abundantly. When ripe, the inside of a jackfruit is bright yellow with a sweet and unique tropical flavor, similar to a pineapple or mango. Perfect for jams and desserts, ripe jackfruit is used in smoothies and juices, and is commonly eaten as-is. When eaten unripe, young green jackfruit is neutral in flavor and has thick, stringy flesh that is ideal for cooking. This extremely versatile fruit, both when ripe and unripe, can be prepared in a variety of different ways, bringing plant versatility to a whole new level.
Plant-Based Alternative to Meat
As this plant becomes popular as an alternative to shredded meat, regions in countries like the U.S.A. and Mexico have started to introduce this unique fruit to farms that have the climate to support it. To find this ingredient locally, jackfruit is often sold in Asian markets or natural-foods stores fresh as a whole fruit, frozen, or canned in syrup, water, or brine. We use young green jackfruit as a meat alternative because of its neutral flavor suited for absorbing all of our favorite sauces and spices. To cook with it, break up the unripe jackfruit into pieces similar to shredded chicken and add to the beginning stage of any recipe calling for shredded meat to soak up any seasoning or marinade. Alternatively, cooking the prepped fruit at a high heat either in the oven or in a skillet will create a crispy, irresistible texture (we highly recommend!). You can use jackfruit in lots of recipes, including Jackfruit Marbella and fajitas.
Packed with Nutrition
In addition to its desirable texture, this tropical fruit boasts an impressive nutritional profile. In addition to being a good source of iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, jackfruit has a modest calorie count and is extremely low-fat too. Though it contains less protein than animal meat, we find it extremely satisfying, since it’s full of fiber and still contains a higher protein content than most typical fruits. In order to get a meal that contains full proteins, we recommend either seasoning with hemp seeds and nutritional yeast, or pairing it with sides like rice and beans, to guarantee you’re getting your recommended daily protein allowance.
- Nutritional Value of Jackfruit (3 oz)
- Calories: 38 kcal
- Carbs: 8 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Omega-3 fatty acids: 6.7 mg
- Omega-6 fatty acids: 17.6 mg
- Vitamin A: 6% DV
- Vitamin C: 9% DV
- Riboflavin: 6% DV
- Magnesium: 9% DV
- Potassium: 6% DV
- Copper: 9% DV
- Manganese: 9% DV
Full of Disease-Fighting Antioxidants
Jackfruit is naturally packaged with a variety of antioxidants helpful for preventing the progress of several chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Because of its high mineral and antioxidant content, jackfruit has also been said to promote immune and heart health. High in vitamin C, it is one of the rare fruits that is rich in B-complex group of vitamins and contains notable amounts of vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin, and folic acid. Similarly, high levels of carotenoids and flavanones also contribute to anti-inflammatory properties that may help lower blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
A Sustainable Crop
Despite its huge culinary potential, this delicious and nutritious food is underutilized and commonly wasted, left unharvested each year due to overabundance, unawareness, lack of resources, and gaps in supply chain systems. The towering trees of jackfruit do not require pesticides, herbicides, or irrigation and, similarly to coffee beans, is a shade crop that can be inter-grown with other crops to create a regenerative ecosystem. This allows jackfruit farmers to also grow secondary crops, increase their revenues and enrich the soil by replacing nutrients. Luckily for us, jackfruit grows in abundance and is truly a sustainable crop.
This versatile tropical fruit is one of our favorites not only for its nutritional content but also for how delicious it is once it’s prepared. Using whole foods like jackfruit in place of highly processed foods is the obvious choice for a clean, well-balanced diet. Join us in adding jackfruit to your diet, not only as a healthy and sustainable option, but also because it’s a unique food to experiment with!
