Breadfruit is considered a staple food for many island cultures, but it’s also grown in tropical climates worldwide. It’s been cultivated for thousands of years, and some claim that breadfruit was introduced to Hawaii from Polynesia as early as 750 AD.
Can You Eat Breadfruit?
Breadfruit can be eaten raw or cooked, but it’s most commonly used in savory dishes like curries and stews, as well as sweet desserts like breadfruit pudding. The flesh of breadfruit is high in calories, protein and dietary fiber, which makes it a good food choice for people looking to boost their intake of healthy nutrients.
What Is Breadfruit?
Breadfruit is the fruit of an evergreen tree that grows in tropical regions around the world. It has been cultivated for thousands of years, and it’s a staple food in many countries today.
Unlike some other varieties of fruits, breadfruit doesn’t need to ripen before being eaten; it is ready to eat when harvested.
Breadfruit trees can grow up to 100 feet tall, but they have small leaves and don’t have many branches. The trees produce large fruits that grow on their trunks—not from branches like other trees do.
Are There Any Risks To Eating Breadfruit?
Like all fruits, breadfruit does have its own unique set of risks.
Breadfruit is a very high-fiber food and for some people, this may cause digestive issues such as bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.
It’s also worth noting that breadfruit contains oxalates, which can cause kidney stones in individuals with an existing history of oxalate-containing kidney stones.
Benefits Of Eating Breadfruit
Breadfruit is a delicious and nutritious fruit. Below are the benefits of eating breadfruit:
It is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that protect our bodies from free radicals. Free radicals cause damage to our body, making it vulnerable to diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Eating breadfruit regularly helps us fight these diseases.
It lowers the risk of cancer. The presence of antioxidants in breadfruit reduces the risk of cancer by preventing the formation of new blood vessels in tumors, thereby restricting their growth.
Breadfruit has benefits for our heart health too. It lowers bad cholesterol levels in our bodies and increases good cholesterol levels. It also prevents plaque formation on artery walls and thus prevents cardiovascular diseases like stroke or heart attack from occurring in people who consume this fruit regularly.
Breadfruit has anti-inflammatory properties which makes it an excellent remedy for arthritis patients as well as people suffering from chronic joint pains due to injuries or surgeries.
What Does Breadfruit Taste Like?
Breadfruit taste like a cross between banana and pineapple, with a texture similar to a potato. Breadfruit has a mild, sweet flavor that makes it perfect for desserts.
How Is Breadfruit Prepared?
Breadfruit can be eaten raw, baked, boiled, or fried. It can also be used in recipes that call for potatoes.
Breadfruit is often used as a substitute for rice in Asian countries where it is considered a staple food. The fruit is also used as a substitute for bread in some parts of the world such as Tonga and Hawaii where it was first introduced by British explorers and missionaries during the 19th century.
How To Eat Breadfruit
Breadfruit is a starchy fruit that can replace bread, potatoes, and rice.
Breadfruit can be eaten fresh, cooked, or fried.
Fresh Breadfruit
You can eat breadfruit raw, but it’s not the most appealing option when compared to other fruits such as an apple or banana. The taste is similar to a potato or sweet potato with a fibrous texture like an eggplant. The skin of the fruit is bitter and best removed before eating. The flesh can be eaten raw or cooked but will become brown when exposed to air so it should be consumed immediately after peeling if you choose this method of preparation.
Cooked Breadfruit
The most common way of preparing breadfruit is by boiling it until soft then mashing it into a paste similar in texture to mashed potatoes or cooked polenta (cornmeal). The skin has a bitter taste so it should be removed before cooking unless you enjoy this flavor. Boiling takes about one hour for half-ripe fruit and up to three hours for fully ripe fruit depending on size and ripeness. Boiled breadfruits may be used as side dishes or appetizers with dips such as hummus.
Fried Breadfruit
This can be done by cutting the fruit into slices or cubes and then placing them in a pan filled with hot oil. The heat should be turned off when the fruit turns brownish. The fried fruit can be eaten with salt or sugar as desired.
Where To Buy Breadfruit?
You can buy breadfruit from grocery stores and farmer’s markets, as well as Asian markets. If you want to get your hands on the fruit without a trip to the store, you can also order it online.
And did you know that you can grow your own breadfruit tree? If you have a big backyard, you can grow them since the tree needs a lot of space to grow. After a couple of years, it will start to produce breadfruit, which you’ll be able to enjoy each year.
Conclusion
It’s time to give breadfruit a try! Whether you prepare it as a side dish or serve it as a main course, this amazing fruit is sure to become one of your favorites.
Kate has been in the food business for over 20 years. Worked as a cook at several buffets which include Old Country Buffet, Five Star Buffet, and Ichiban Buffet. Now, I’m mostly at home cooking for my family, caring for chickens and ducks, and tending the garden.
