Can jackfruit be an alternative to meat? Does jackfruit have more protein than meat? These questions are not only controversial but also a point of debate for a long time. The reason behind considering jackfruit as a meat alternative is its hard body, texture, taste, and nutritional value it adds.
Undoubtedly, including jackfruit on one’s plate is essential for vegetarians looking to up their health profile. Jackfruit has recently made an appearance as jackfruit meat in restaurants, grocery shops, and Western kitchens.
In this article, we will try to understand if jackfruit has as much nutrition as meat does. We will compare it’s taste and nutritional value in search of the answer. Let’s begin this fun and knowledgeable article.
What is Jackfruit Meat
Growing on trees in tropical regions, jackfruit is an ancient fruit and relatively new to North America. It comes originally from south and southeast Asia including Bangladesh, Thailand, and India, where it is frequently consumed.
Jackfruit that has not ripened enough to have much flavor. The starchy fruit may be marinated or diced and then used in delicious stews or garnishes. What makes jackfruit different from other similar fruits is the amount of protein which is almost negligible in others.
It offers a good source of vitamins also that include vitamin B6, niacin, potassium, riboflavin, and folic acid. These vitamins and rich amounts of phytochemicals not only reduce inflammation but also protect you from serious diseases like cancer.
Nutritional Value of Jackfruit
According to FoodData Central, Jackfruit offers a good source of nutrients. Following are the common nutrients found in jackfruit though they can vary based on the maturity and freshness of jackfruit:
- Calories: 95-150 kcal
- Protein: 1.5-3 grams
- Fat: less than 1 gram
- Carbs: 23 grams
- Copper: 8% of the DV
- Magnesium: 7% of the DV
- Niacin: 6-9% of the DV
- Sugars: 19 grams
- Vitamin B6: 19% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Vitamin C: 15% of the DV
- Potassium: 10% of the DV
- Fiber: 1.5-2.5 grams
- Thiamine: 9% of the DV
- Folate: 6% of the DV
But it won’t provide you the iron, zinc, or vitamin B12 that you might get from various plant-based protein sources. These vitamins and minerals are present in foods including beans, peas, almonds, and seeds.
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Is Jackfruit Taste Like Meat?
Though jackfruit’s texture, especially when unripe, might resemble ripped pork, it doesn’t truly taste like meat. But due to this property, it’s a well-liked meat alternative for vegans and vegetarians. However, when roasted deeply, excluding its seeds and flashy part, it tastes similar to pork but not exactly.
How jackfruit will taste highly depends on how you are consuming it. It is generally consumed as ripe jackfruit and unripe jackfruit. Ripe jackfruit has a sweet and fruity flavor, often described as a combination of banana, apple, and mango. While unripe jackfruit possesses a neutral flavor and a fleshy texture that absorbs the seasoning it’s cooked with.
The texture is rubbery, almost like flesh, according to a lot of people. It is delicate and possesses a unique kind of tenderness. Notably, the amount of acidic substances decreases and the sugar concentration rises considerably throughout the ripening phase. Ripe jackfruits have a sweet flavor as a result of this.
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Can You Really Eat Jackfruit as a Meat Substitute?
Though jackfruit has high nutritional value and a fleshy texture that resembles pork, it can’t substitute for meat. The primary reason is the lack of protein. In 100 grams of jackfruit, the protein is 1.7 to a max of 2.8 grams including unripe jackfruit. While 100 grams of meat contain up to 35 grams of protein with an average of 26 grams.
So even at its best nutritional value, a jackfruit can’t compete with meat and jackfruit cannot be considered as meat substitution. But, since jackfruit has several health benefits, we do not advise against consuming it in your diet.
Jackfruit offers a good amount of Vitamin B, C, and fiber but it lacks protein, iron, and zinc. To compensate for these minerals while being vegetarian, you can add ingredients like beans, peas, nuts, and seeds to your diet.
Note: Jackfruit may be added to beans, peas, almonds, or seeds to boost the nutritional value of your vegan diet and get more health advantages.
Conclusion
Jackfruit can be a valuable addition to a vegetarian or vegan diet for high nutrition though it can’t replace meat as a whole. Its meaty texture and neutral flavor make it adaptable for various dishes especially if you are a vegetarian. But it should be remembered that it doesn’t inherently taste like meat and its nutritional content fairly differ from animal protein sources.
For a complete meat alternative, jackfruit is not the sole solution, however, you can supplement it with beans, peas, nuts, etc.
