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Breadfruit

Breadfruit

Breadfruit

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis), is a species of flowering tree in the mulberry family (Moraceae).

Breadfruit trees grow to a height of 25 m (82 ft). The large and thick leaves are deeply cut into pinnate lobes. Both male and female flowers grow on the same tree. The male flowers emerge first followed by female flowers.

It is one of the highest yielding foods plant with a single tree producing more than 200 fruits per season. In South-Pacific regions it yields 50-150 fruits annually. In India, it produces 150-200 fruits per year.

The breadfruit is very closely related to the breadnut, from which it might have been selected. It is noticeably similar in appearance to the also related jackfruit.

Its latex is useful for boat caulking.

Nutritional Facts

  • They are very rich in starch, which transforms to sugar when ripe.
  • It is used as a laxative
  • Rich in fiber
  • reduce blood cholesterol by preventing its absorption in the gut
  • reduce obesity, blood pressure and help protect the colon mucous membrane
  • has flavonoid anti-oxidants in the form of xanthin and luein
  • Vitamin-C
  • moderate source of vitamins, especially thiamin, pyridoxine, and niacin.
  • Excellent source of potassium, copper, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus
  • contain average levels of protein; 100 g seeds provide 7.4 g or 13% of daily-recommended values.

Before being eaten, the fruits are roasted, baked, fried or boiled. They taste like bread when cooked so the name breadfruit. Fresh ripe fruit is eaten much like dessert. It can be added to make sweet bread, muffins, cakes, puddings.

Some of the recipes are:

  • Srilankan breadfruit curry with coconut milk and spices
  • Breadfruit fritters
  • Breadfruit chips and fries
  • Cooked Sheema Chakka(breadfruit)

Breadfruit Pie
Ingredients

  • 1 breadfruit (about 4lbs)
  • 1.5 cups evaporated milk
  • 2 tablespoons parsley (chopped)
  • 1 cup grated "medium" cheddar
  • 1/2 cup Monterrey jack Cheese
  • 3 tablespoon butter
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
  • 1 tablespoon powdered mustard
  • 1/4 scotch bonnet pepper diced fine
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • * salt the water when cooking the breadfruit (1/4 teaspoon)

Method

  1. We've got to pre-boil the breadfruit before we can assemble it in the pie for baking. Cut off the stem part, then rest that flat side down on your counter and cut into wedges. Then peel the skin off with a potato peeler or sharp pairing knife. The final step is to remove the sort of spongy center (almost like the continuation of the stem), so you're left with a wedge that all breadfruit meat.
  2. Rinse with cool water, place in a deep pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, salt and allow to cook until it's tender. It will take about 20 minutes and as it boils you'll notice it will change color (a bit darker). To be sure it's fully cooked, pierce with a sharp knife and make sure there's no resistance. Drain and set aside to cool a bit
  3. In another sauce pan heat the butter on low heat, then as it melts add the flour and cook for about 4-5 minutes. It's important that you constantly whisk it, so the flour does not clump or burn. Now add the evaporated milk, turn up the heat to medium and whisk. Add all the other ingredients (except the breadfruit.. remember to save back a bit of cheese for topping) and cook for a couple minutes. Until you have a thick, but smooth sauce. Remember to add a bit more liquid if it's overly thick.
  4. It's now time to assemble the breadfruit pie. Slice each wedge of cooked breadfruit about 1/4 inch thick, then place a layer onto a greased cooking dish. Add a layer of cheese, then another layer of sliced breadfruit and top with the remaining cheese sauce. Sprinkle on the grated cheese we reserved.
  5. Place on the middle rack of a pre-heated 350F oven and bake for about 30 minutes. Since I used a shallow baking dish I placed it onto a cookie sheet, so it would be easy to remove from the oven and if any cheese bubbled over, it wouldn't cause a mess in my oven. After 30 minutes I turned on my broiler and let it go for 2-3 minutes to give it that wicked golden touch on top.
  6. Allow it to cool for a couple minute to really set, then dig in. This breadfruit pie would be enough to serve 5-6 people as a side dish.

Breadfruit Fries

Breadfruit Fries

Cooked Sheema Chakka(breadfruit)

Cooked Sheema Chakka(breadfruit)

Fried Breadfruit

Fried Breadfruit