Meet jackfruit, your new meat substitute + 6 jackfruit recipes

Forget perusing the freezer section of your supermarket for over processed veggie burgers or picking up a pack of tofu and dreading the hours-long 'pressing' process, there has been an all-natural meat substitute hiding in the produce isle this entire time.

Jackfruit are the largest fruit to grow on trees, often weighing up to 35g a piece, native to Southeast Asia, South America and the Caribbean. While this tropical treat is an integral part of the cuisine in its home countries, it's recently generated a buzz by appearing in tacos and sandwiches across the Western world as a vegan alternative to 'pulled pork'.

'Pulled jackfruit' is actually made from the slightly more immature 'green jackfruit' which can be bought in tins - great news for everyone who doesn't feel like carrying home a piece of fruit as heavy as the average 11 year old child.

While 'fake meat' is more readily available and increasingly realistic than ever before, jackfruit is a clear winner. The fact that it's a fruit means it's packed with vitamins and minerals - vegans will be especially pleased to learn that one cup serving of jackfruit provides 25% of their daily B6 needs (the B vitamins being the harder vitamins for vegans to come by). It's completely natural, fibrous flesh takes on the flavors of any dish you toss it in, making it not only the ideal vegan 'pork' for pulled pork sandwiches but a delectable vegan 'braised beef' for burritos and the juicy vegan 'crab' for crab cakes.

We've scoured the net for a few of the most delicious looking vegan jackfruit recipes and the question is - is there anything jackfruit can't do?

1. Spicy Chipotle Garlic Jackfruit Tacos by Veganricha
2. Jackfruit "Tuna" Melt Sandwich by Keeping It Kind
   
3. Buffalo Jackfruit Spinach Dip by Vegan Yack Attack
4. Vegan Jackfruit Crab Cakes by Veganosity
   
5. Mu Shu Jackfruit Lettuce Wraps by Fat Free Vegan
6. BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches with Avocado Slaw by The Minimalist Baker

Feature image: The Minimalist Baker