What exactly is a jackfruit?
Well, it is likely the largest fruit you’ve ever seen. My first encounter with them was in Brazil, the photo at the right was taken in Ubud-Bali, Indonesia. When I say big, I mean when they are sitting on the ground they would come up to about mid-thigh, some perhaps even to your waist.
I might also mention that they are quite scary. There were many growing in the park around the zoo where we lived in Brazil. On more than one occasion I heard a ripe one fall out of a tree and hit the ground. Beneath such a tree you do not want to be. Loudest thud I’ve ever heard.
I only tasted them once when we were in Brazil at the local farmer’s market. It was a sticky, gooey piece of fruity flesh that tasted somewhat like a mix between a mango, banana and pineapple. I had a difficult time with the texture, but the fruit has a delicious flavor.
Despite my easy access, I never bought one. I often regret that decision now, but there were two reasons for this. The first was their size. About 98% of the time I went to the market by myself and this required a 20 minute walk each way. Yeah, lugging a fruit the size of my lower body back to the apartment wasn’t going to happen.
Second, anytime we got into a conversation about jaca (the Portuguese word for jackfruit) we were warned of the sticky flesh. Apparently it is no less binding than a good glue and I heard horror stories from friends about how they spent days trying to get it off their hands after they would eat them outdoors as kids. I really didn’t want to tackle that either.
Before we left Brazil, Tracey at the Tangled Noodle posted a recipe for Langka Muffins. Langka is jackfruit in the Philippines. What a language lesson you are getting in this post!
After seeing the recipe, I wanted to try it, but still didn’t get up the courage to buy fresh jackfruit. Then, when we were in Thailand I tried a jackfruit shake that was incredible and my interest grew.
The next thing I knew we had moved back to the US and I found canned jackfruit at our international market. I know it is a bit backwards for a real foodie to have access to the fresh and go for the canned, but the canned I knew I could handle.
I know one thing though, Tracey wasn’t kidding! Those muffins are delicious! I modified the recipe a bit to use whole grains, coconut oil and some mascavo sugar I have left from Brazil. I also topped some of them with coconut before baking.
Jackfruit Muffins
Modified from Langka Muffins at Tangled Noodle
Ingredients
2 cups white whole wheat flour
3 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
¼ cup minimally refined sugar
½ cup milk
1/3 cup virgin coconut oil, melted
1 egg, beaten
1 cup chopped jackfruit with ¼ cup syrup reserved
½ cup shredded coconut,unsweetened (optional)
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease or spray the bottom of each muffin tin with coconut oil or non-stick spray. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. In a separate bowl whisk together the sugar, milk, oil, egg and jackfruit syrup.
Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry. Stir in the jackfruit just until everything is combined. This batter will be very thick. Divide into 12 muffins. Press coconut into the top of each muffin if using. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until muffins are browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool and remove from pan. Makes 12 muffins.
I’ve never had jackfruit before, but the muffins look yum! I will keep them in my mental must-try-one-day portfolio.
I’m on a bit of a muffin kick right now & these sound so good
I need to look for jackfruit to try soon! Yummy looking muffins!
Your jackfruit muffins look awesome! (I will have to try your modified version – they look much fluffier than mine). It’s rather funny that your introduction to langka/jaca was with the actual, enormous fruit, whereas mine was with the canned variety. So, when I first saw the real thing in the Philippines, I was shocked by how gigantic they are.
So happy that you tried this out and thanks for the shout-out! 😎
I adore jackfruit!! but i would have never imagined putting them in a muffin! now i’m going to have to try this
What an interesting fruit, I can’t even imagine something that big!!!
Thanks for the info on jackfruit. I have heard of this fruit before, but I have never tried one. Seems you can find just about anything in asian markets. Great idea to use it in muffins.
Lori, although I am not a jack fruit fan, your muffins look very tempting 🙂 Like the picture…
The muffins look yummy. I like jackfruit but have never had it in a muffin. 😉
Cool, sounds great! I love experimenting with random “weird” fruits.
Jackfruit is a special treat from my childhood, and I look forward to someday reliving your adventure of visiting a jackfruit tree. I bet I’ll have to wear a helmet! Those muffins look great!
I’ve actually never heard of jackfruit and I can’t believe how big they are! What kind of nutritional profile do they have? Those muffins look wonderful 🙂
I never had jackfruit before Lori. I bet they are delicious in the muffins. And wow – they are so big – must be the largest fruit.
Wow!!! A fruit I haven’t seen or tried! If I can find it here I will definately have to try it.
I really don’t like jackfruit that much but I like the muffins. They look yummy.
I’ve never had jackfruit before but based on your description, I would love it. (Pineapple AND mango in one!). It was funny to hear about your misadventures with it but sometimes canned is the way to go…it makes preparation so much easier. These muffins look delicious!
Tamara – It is amazing how many fruits there are out there. I still have a lot left to try too.
kat – Me too, I’m already thinking of making more.
5star – Thanks!
TN – They turned out pretty good, not as fluffy as with white flour, but not as dense as whole wheat either. When I first saw them I had no idea what they were. It took some investigating and translating to figure it out. 🙂
Elizabeth – Its all thanks to Tangled Noodle. 🙂
Emily – They are pretty wild.
Melinda – I know! Asian markets are so great. I love ours, but I wish there was more variety there in addition to mostly Indian foods.
Juliana – A baked good can make things we once didn’t like look better. 🙂
Deb – I wish I would have eaten more of it fresh whenI had the chance.
Sagan – Yeah there is a lot out there.
FLB – Yes, I would recommend it. Ha, ha! They are massive.
eatingRD –
Reeni – Thanks. I need to research that. They could definitely be the largest fruit, it would be interesting to know if they really are.
Sarah – Happy to introduce you. 🙂
blanket chest – Thanks, I think. I hope you’ll be back and didn’t just stop by to share your product site.
Joanne – They have such a unique flavor. The tropics are just overflowing with great tasting fruit.
eatingRD – Sorry I skipped over your answer. It isn’t really a nutritional superstar like some other fruits, but not bad. 150 kcals for a cup with 3g fiber and 2g protein. 56mg calcium and the major vitamins are 18% or below on the DV. 18% vitamin C.
I’m so curious about jackfruit now! I’ll definitely keep an eye out for it.
This recipe looked delicious the first time Tracey made them and this version looks equally so. Love the tweaks! I think I may have to try both for a side by side taste comparison – I unfortunately never got around to making TN’s version before.
I was so intrigued when Tracey posted her original recipe that I made it my business to go out and source a tin of jackfruit (which I’d never eaten before) and make them. Now it looks like it’s time to make them again!
Mo – It’s really interesting. I do wish it were fresh in the US, so unique.
OysterCulture – Oh yes, a FFF and TN bake off! 🙂
Daily Spud – Great! I hope you like them the second time around. 🙂