Discover: Jackfruit and Banana Blossom

May 14, 2023 by

By Chef David

While no single food can provide a full range of nutrition, eating a varied plant-based diet has been shown to improve overall health. Dietitians suggest eating the rainbow and filling 2/3 of your plate with high-fiber foods. Two trending superfoods, jackfruit, and banana blossom have now made their way to the kosher market.

Jackfruit and banana blossom are becoming popular as vegan meat replacements and can be found in prepared pouches from Upton’s Naturals [certified by Kosher Check Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia]. Both offer a mouthfeel that approximates meat and absorbs the flavors of the spices or ingredients surrounding them. Upton’s Naturals products are pareve, offering vegans and meat lovers alike a taste and texture of fleshings with the nutritional benefits offered by plants.

Jackfruit

Jackfruit

Jackfruit, Artocarpus Heterophyllus, is a tropical tree fruit grown from the same family as figs and mulberries. It is the largest tree fruit weighing up to 40 pounds, with a flavor that can flip from sweet and savory, depending on how ripe it is. The flesh of unripe jackfruit is green, changing to yellow as it ripens.

This massive fruit has a thick, bumpy green rind with stringy yellow flesh. Both the flesh and seeds are edible. The flesh provides vitamin C, while the seeds are a source of protein, potassium, calcium, and iron.

A portion of shredded jackfruit (1/2 package of Upton’s Naturals) contains 60 calories and provides 5 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. It contains no sugar. Because of its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, jackfruit has been used as a medicine to promote wound healing and skin health.  Avoid eating jackfruit if you have an allergy to latex or birch pollen.

Taste and Texture

Jackfruit has become popularized as a meat substitute because of its texture, which has the mouth-feel of meat. It is easily integrated into recipes because it is plain and its pulp takes on the flavor of other foods and spices. At the same time, ripe jackfruit has a sweet, tropical fruit flavor described as banana pineapple.

When purchasing prepared jackfruit as a meat substitute, look for the words “young” or “packed in brine, ” indicating that it’s unripe jackfruit.

Upton’s Naturals produces several varieties of jackfruit in flavors ranging from BBQ, chili-lime, shredded and natural. Each Upton’s Naturals box contains two portions. The jackfruit is enclosed in a clear plastic wrapper, in an attractive box providing protection from light. Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit is easy to use and is delicious when well seasoned (recipe below).

Banana Blossom

Banana Blossom

Banana blossoms are the flowers of a type of wild banana, Musa Acuminata, which when left on the tree turn into banana fruit. The banana blossom grows under inedible dark outer petals, covering yellowish tightly packed petals. The banana blossom has a neutral taste and a stringy consistency. Banana blossom is an emerging superfood, nutritious, low in calories, and fibrous. It is used as a meat replacement because it contains no fat or cholesterol. It works best when used to replace chicken or fish.

A portion of banana blossom (1/2 package of Upton’s Naturals) contains 20 calories and provides 3 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. Banana blossoms, like the fruit, contain calcium, iron, and potassium.

Similar to jackfruit, banana blossom takes on the taste of the other ingredients. We prepared it several ways and we found the texture and flavor best when fried (we used an air fryer)

Upton’s Naturals

Upton’s Naturals offers the kosher consumer jackfruit and banana blossom, in prepackaged, ready-to-use boxes. While the jackfruit can be added directly into a recipe, banana blossoms require a bit of preparation. Begin by removing it from the packaging and patting it dry with a clean cloth before marinating, battering, and frying. We tested the Cajun Style Banana Blossom recipe using an air fryer and found the taste and texture reminiscent of a kicked-up artichoke.

Upton’s Naturals was founded in 2006 by Dan Staackmann, a longtime vegan who wanted to provide meat alternatives that use recognizable, simple ingredients, and are easy to prepare. Staackmann had no culinary background before starting Upton’s Naturals. He began with Italian Seitan, a meat-free alternative to ground sausage which is CRC kosher certified. Seitan was one of his favorite foods because “There weren’t a lot of people making seitan—there were only a few restaurants doing it. So, I … decided to do it.” Upton Naturals has since expanded from Seitan. (Unfortunately not all their products are kosher certified including, their soups and Ch’eesy Macs).

Upton’s Naturals adds a clever twist to their packaging, distinguishing the products by including a different mustache. They can be purchased online or at select stores.

Next-Generation Vegan

Experiment with Upton’s Naturals, and their next generation of exciting meat-textured products. For vegans and carnivores, alike Upton’s Naturals expands your options, and gives kosher consumers a taste of these unusual high-fiber foods, in convenient packs.

We found they were enjoyable paired with boldly flavored sauces. Variety is the spice of life, try jackfruit and banana blossom. Taste it for yourself.

Sriracha Jackfruit Stir-Fry

Recipe – Sriracha Jackfruit Stir-Fry (adapted from Upton’s Naturals)

Ingredients

  • 1 package of Upton’s Naturals Original Jackfruit
  • 1 tablespoon of soy sauce – (we used Sempio soy sauce Jin Gold S or another high-quality soy sauce)
  • 1-2 tablespoons of water
  • 1-2 tablespoons Sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon Edenfoods toasted sesame oil
  • 1 medium onion – chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic – minced
  • Sliced vegetables to stir fry– 2 carrots sliced, 1 red bell pepper, 1 head of broccoli, celery, corn (have fun with the vegetables use your favorites)
  • 2 tablespoons Gochujang sauce – (we used KOKO Kosher)
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 4-5 teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken

Peanut Butter Sauce: 

  • ¼ cup peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons soy sauce – Sempio soy sauce (Jin Gold S or another high-quality soy sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon grated or finely chopped ginger
  • Juice of 1/2 a lime

Instructions

  1. Heat a deep fry pan or wok (the times will be shorter if using a wok), and add the onion. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the onions are soft and transparent.
  2. Add the garlic fry until fragrant (30 seconds) then add the stir fry vegetables. Cook until vegetables begin to soften (7-8 minutes).
  3. Add Upton’s Naturals Jackfruit package. Cook until thoroughly heated.
  4. Mix the remaining ingredients together, and drizzle onto the stir-fry, stirring constantly.
  5. In a separate pan combine the peanut sauce ingredients and cook over low heat. 
  6. Mix all the peanut sauce ingredients (except the lime juice) together in a small saucepan over low heat until the brown sugar dissolves, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the lime juice.
  7. Plate each serving. Add the desired amount of peanut sauce, garnish with peanuts, and serve with rice.

Notes:  The recipe calls for coconut milk, which we omitted due to picky eaters. We used additional lime juice as a substitute for the tablespoon of tamarind concentrate.

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