Let me be clear, I love meat. I am not a vegetarian. However, I do like to cut down on my red meat for health reasons.
Moderation is the key to a healthy diet. Moderation with anything you eat. There are all types of meat substitutes on the market. Some are good, some are just okay, and some are not good at all.
Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis knows I like to try new and different foods. They know that I am not afraid to eat something that I have never heard of before.
Recently I purchased a meat substitute made from Jackfruit. It was already seasoned and ready to use. I made tostados using traditional taco shells, taco blend shredded cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce (spinach actually). (See picture below) It turned out really good and it was really easy to prepare.
Moderation is the key to a healthy diet. Moderation with anything you eat. There are all types of meat substitutes on the market. Some are good, some are just okay, and some are not good at all.
Anyone who reads my blog on a regular basis knows I like to try new and different foods. They know that I am not afraid to eat something that I have never heard of before.
Recently I purchased a meat substitute made from Jackfruit. It was already seasoned and ready to use. I made tostados using traditional taco shells, taco blend shredded cheese, tomatoes, and lettuce (spinach actually). (See picture below) It turned out really good and it was really easy to prepare.
A few things you should know about Jackfruit:
If you are interested in trying Jackfruit, you can purchase a package that has already been seasoned and is ready to use or you can find many recipes online to make your own from scratch.
If you use a recipe and make your own from scratch, do yourself a favor and purchase the Jackfruit canned. If you buy a whole green Jackfruit, you will find it filled with a sticky white resin that stains whatever it gets on. Trust me, you really don't want to do this from a fresh Jackfruit. It is messy and you can ruin a lot of things with the staining resin.
The canned version is so much easier and not at all expensive. Trader Joe has a canned version for only $1.99 for a 20 ounce can (45 calories to a 1 cup serving).
Here is a link to a good recipe for using this fruit as a substitute in BBQ: Jackfruit BBQ Recipe
What can you do with Jackfruit? Here are a few more ideas:
1. The fleshy part (the "bulb") can be eaten as is or cut up and cooked.
Here are a few nutrition facts about Jackfruit:
Magnesium = 12% of Daily Value
A, Calcium, Iron = 2-4% of Daily Value
Jackfruit doesn't provide a lot of protein, but it is packed with several other nutrients and without the animal fat and cholesterol. A great substitute if your goal is not to eat meat.
I would buy this product again and make tacos, I will admit it is different than beef or pork, but it is good. The texture is like meat and the seasonings are right on the mark for a tex-mex dish.
Do you try to limit your diet of red meat? Are you vegan? Are you open to meat substitutes? Have you ever tried Jackfruit? What was the experience like? Share with us any recipes you may have for using this tasty fruit as a meat alternative.
XOXO
If you are interested in trying Jackfruit, you can purchase a package that has already been seasoned and is ready to use or you can find many recipes online to make your own from scratch.
If you use a recipe and make your own from scratch, do yourself a favor and purchase the Jackfruit canned. If you buy a whole green Jackfruit, you will find it filled with a sticky white resin that stains whatever it gets on. Trust me, you really don't want to do this from a fresh Jackfruit. It is messy and you can ruin a lot of things with the staining resin.
The canned version is so much easier and not at all expensive. Trader Joe has a canned version for only $1.99 for a 20 ounce can (45 calories to a 1 cup serving).
Here is a link to a good recipe for using this fruit as a substitute in BBQ: Jackfruit BBQ Recipe
What can you do with Jackfruit? Here are a few more ideas:
1. The fleshy part (the "bulb") can be eaten as is or cut up and cooked.
- Jackfruit Salad (recipe at: Spicey Jackfruit Salad Recipe )
- Jackfruit Tacos (recipe at: Jackfruit Fish Free Tacos Recipe )
- Buffalo Jackfruit Spinach Dip (recipe at: Buffalo Jackfruit Spinach Dip Recipe )
- Jackfruit Tuna Melt Sandwich (recipe at: Jackfruit Tuna Melt Sandwich Recipe )
- Jackfruit Salad (recipe at: Spicey Jackfruit Salad Recipe )
Here are a few nutrition facts about Jackfruit:
- Calories: 157 per 1 cup sliced fruit
- Fiber: 3 grams or 10% of Daily Value
- Potassium: 110 mg
- Protein: (not much) 1 gram
- Low Sodium: 0%
- Carbohydrates: 12% of Daily Value
- Vitamins: C = 37% of Daily Value
Magnesium = 12% of Daily Value
A, Calcium, Iron = 2-4% of Daily Value
Jackfruit doesn't provide a lot of protein, but it is packed with several other nutrients and without the animal fat and cholesterol. A great substitute if your goal is not to eat meat.
I would buy this product again and make tacos, I will admit it is different than beef or pork, but it is good. The texture is like meat and the seasonings are right on the mark for a tex-mex dish.
Do you try to limit your diet of red meat? Are you vegan? Are you open to meat substitutes? Have you ever tried Jackfruit? What was the experience like? Share with us any recipes you may have for using this tasty fruit as a meat alternative.
XOXO
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