There are some strange fruits out there with pretty strange name, but we have to admit, breadfruit is by far one of the oddest named fruits we have ever come across.
You might think that breadfruit taste like bread, but this is actually not true. It has a closer similarity with potatoes and beans after it has been prepared.
Let us dive a bit deeper into this somewhat odd fruit and some of the benefits that it can bring to the table.
What is breadfruit?
Breadfruit is a fruit which comes from (can you guess?) a breadfruit tree! These unique trees are common to the Pacific and the Caribbean.
The tree itself belongs to the same family tree as Jackfruit, another oddly names and strange looking fruit.
The fruit of the breadfruit tree is extremely high in starch, which is why its taste resembles that of a potato.
They are round, big, and kind of spiky on the outside. Imagine a green puffer fish all puffed up, but those needles all throughout the body aren’t very sharp.
That is exactly what a breadfruit looks like. Most people who eat breadfruit use it as a vegetable and some even use it as a substitute to flour.
What are the benefits of breadfruit?
As odd as it looks, believe it or not, this fruit contains a ton of nutrients and can be very beneficial for your health.
Antioxidants found in breadfruit are capable of helping your body reduce infections. Those same antioxidants can help remove free radicals out of your body which can cause harm.
Breadfruit is an amazing source of energy. It contains a huge amount of carbohydrates, a main energy source our body’s use.
It is estimated that one cup of breadfruit contains about 60 grams of carbohydrates. That’s equal to about four slices of bread.
Some of the nutrients found in breadfruit are also responsible for keeping your hair healthy and shiny. Of course, Vitamin C also plays a big role in healthy hair.
Luckily, breadfruit is filled with Vitamin C. More specifically, one average sized breadfruit can produce about 30mg of Vitamin C, which is equivalent to almost half of the daily recommended Vitamin C intake.
Another important benefit of breadfruit is its ability to help with digestion. It is packed full of fibers which can help your body flush out harmful toxins.
It can help with digestion related diseases like gastritis and heartburn. Those same fibers found in the fruit can help remove toxic elements which might be stuck in your gut. The fruit can do wonders for your overall gut health.
Omega 3 and omega 6 acids are also found in breadfruit in high amounts. This means that your body can utilize these acids to develop your mind and body.
Both of these fatty acids are not produced by your body and have to be absorbed from outside sources.
They are extremely important for brain development, immune system function, and blood pressure regulation.
Furthermore, because of the increased intake of these fatty acids, you will see great improvement in the condition of your scalp, reduction in itchiness and redness of skin under your hair, and reduced hair breakage.
Your skin will also improve if you continue using breadfruit for personal benefits. The antioxidants found in breadfruit promote new cell growth by warding off toxic ingredients and giving your cells an opportunity to multiply.
When new cells grow at a steady rate, your skin starts to look clearer and become more elastic.
Drinking breadfruit juice helps increase the intake of Vitamin C, which increases your skins elasticity by producing more collagen.
How can you cook breadfruit?
We aren’t going to lie to you, breadfruit doesn’t actually taste like a fruit. Since its high in starch, it’s kind of similar to potatoes but a bit less flavorful. The taste is hard to describe, you should really try on your own.
There are a couple of ways you can prepare the fruit, which is mostly used as a vegetable, to cater to your taste buds.
Our favorite method to cook breadfruit is by cutting it into average sized slices and frying it in some butter until they are nice and golden. Put everything onto a plate and grate some of your favorite cheese over the slices and presto! You have yourself breadfruit cheese nachos.
You can use breadfruit as an addition to traditional dishes. For example, shrimp pasta can easily be turned into breadfruit shrimp pasta.
All you have to do is add breadfruit to your sauce with your cooked shrimp and let it simmer until it is cooked then pour everything over your cooked pasta. Trust us when we say that this is delicious!
Breadfruit Wonton Wraps is yet another delicious dish we have come across. Simply adding breadfruit to the filling of the wonton will add an amazing twist to your typical wontons. By the way, we like frying these.
Breadfruit Casserole is also a wonderful recipe that you can make and even put your own spin on. You will need to boil one breadfruit for about an hour, let it cool, peel it and remove the core, then cube it into about one inch cubes.
Half-cook some bacon and dice it. Sauté some onions and some bell peppers in olive oil and add some seasoning. When the onions get soft, add the half cooked bacon into the pan and finish sautéing everything.
Grab a large bowl and mix everything in it while adding about three quarters of a cup of cheese. Empty everything into a casserole dish and sprinkle one-quarter cup of cheese over the top.
Bake everything at 375O for about 40 minutes until golden brown. Even though this takes a little bit of extra work, we guarantee you that you will not regret it.
Breadfruit Review Summary
Breadfruit is amazing. It has many different benefits which you can take advantage of and use to improve your health.
It is gluten free and can be a wonderful alternative to many common foods. All you have to do is make the decision to eat it.
There are plenty of different recipes out there that you can utilize to prepare your breadfruit, and most of them are delicious. So get to it, grab a breadfruit, and create something unique and tasty!
