yaca = jackfruit

2019-08-14

Topping at about 100 lbs. jackfruit (yaca in Sp.) is the largest fruit in the world.

Since a few months, Peppers, our local grocery store here in Deming, NM sells this. At about $2/lbs., it is not cheap, considering that 3/4 of the weight is waste and the smallest of these fruits are easily 30 lbs. Luckily enough, they do cut them up in smaller pieces, which makes it more reasonable to try.

You can bake / cook the jackfruit whole after cutting the skin. The white tendrils are edible but pretty much flavorless. Usually, only the yellow pods and seeds inside them are eaten and the rest – about ¾ of the weight – is discarded, making this an expensive fruit here in the US of A.

I find the flavor very similar to mango with a mildly unpleasant aftertaste of latex. Other people mention banana and pineapple flavors.

Food allergy warning:

Do not eat this raw if you are sensitive to latex. Only very ripe jackfruit should be eaten raw. If the yellow pods are still firm, boil them for about 45 minutes, with some sugar if you like it sweet.

INGREDIENTS

This is what you need for 2 servings:

2-3 lbs. jackfruit ( = piece of)
sugar
S&P

Pic1: raw yaca pods — internet picture

Directions

Pic2: jackfruit - internet picture
Pic3: remove the seeds from the pods - internet picture
Pic4: boiled yaca pods, served with chicken and rice - 2019-08-14

Wear gloves to cut the jackfruit
Rub cooking oil on your knife to prevent the latex from sticking to it.
Cut the jackfruit in at least 8 pieces: lengthwise, crosswise and lengthwise again.
Alternatively, cut it in thick slices.
Cut away the hard center stem.
Turn the peel inside out, like you do with a mango. The yellow pods will stand out.
Harvest the yellow pods one by one. Remove any white tendrils.
Each pod holds one large seed. Remove it. (Pic2)
Unless the pods are very ripe, boil / steam the yellow pods for 45 minutes in a little bit of water.
The white tendrils can be sautéed in oil as a vegan substitute for pulled pork.
The seeds can be roasted like chestnuts in the oven or in a frying pan.
Serve and enjoy.

growing jackfruit from seeds

It is easy enough to do. These are large seeds with lots of energy reserves. That means they can go for a long time before they need a good root system.

Pic3: yaca pods and seeds — internet picture
Pic4: 3 weeks after planting
Pic5: 2 months after planting — 2019-11-10

Use only undamaged seeds.
Scarify (cut the tough outer shell)
- or soak the seeds for 48 hrs. to facilitate germination.
- Alternatively, wrap in a moist paper towel and store in a plastic bag until germination occurs.
Plant the seeds just under the surface.
- If they have already started, make sure the root is down, the sprout up.
Water lightly to keep the soil moist, not soaking wet.
Wait and see.
After a few weeks to months, the seeds start germinating.
I doubt we'll ever see fruits on this tree, but it's fun to watch it grow.

growing jackfruit from seeds

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more and avemariasongs.org

See also: Deming, NM gardens, animals and more
and avemariasongs.org