Recipe

They can vary in weight from 4-40kg, and although you can buy whole jackfruit, they are often sold ready prepared, particularly in the markets in Asia. A fully ripe, whole fruit can emit a strong aroma, with the flesh inside being generally sweet, like a combination of pineapple and banana. Different varieties have varying degrees of sweetness. The flesh has a texture unlike any other fruit, being soft but springy. Some varieties are softer and mushier, while others can be crisp and crunchy.

Most recipes that require prepared jackfruit call for the canned fruit. This just needs to chopped and any stray seeds removed before being simmered in the spices of your choice for 10-30 mins.

Jackfruit seeds are also edible and are often dried and ground into a flour. The seeds can be boiled and eaten, but you need to peel off the white membrane first – this is time-consuming but not difficult, especially once the seeds have started to dry off. The inside of the seed is a bit like a waxy potato.