5 Healthy Recipes Made From the Breadfruit of the Caribbean

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Breadfruit is a unique fruit as it can be used as both a starch as well as a sugary dish.

According to Latina Kitchen, the fruit is used for a variety of dishes in the Caribbean and is a staple in many culinary traditions.

Jamaican Recipes reports that the history of the bread fruit dates back to 1793 when Captain William Bligh brought the fruit to Jamaica from the South Pacific. The main use for the fruit was to feed the slave population.

The fruit, while initially not popular due to its bitter taste, has grown into a national treasure as Jamaicans use it for dishes that can be eaten any time of the day.

One of the most popular ways of cooking breadfruit is simply frying it and eating it as chips. To do this, all one has to do is peel the bread fruit and slice it into equal portions. Place the portions into an oven and let them cook for an hour to an hour and a half. Once finished, fry the portions in oil for a minute or two and then sprinkle salt over them.

Another popular way of preparing bread fruit is in a dish called tostones de pana. Here, you peel and slice the bread fruit equally, then fry the portions. After frying the portions, you smash them up until reaching a consistency similar to mashed potatoes and fry them again. Once finished, place salt to taste.

Bread fruit can also be used instead of potatoes in soup. Simply mash the bread fruit until it is of mashed potato consistency, add water and milk to thicken the mixture, and then heat like soup. In Caribbean countries, this is a popular way of treating colds, much like chicken soup!

Since the bread fruit can be used as a starch as well, the common practice is to make them into fritters. To do so, mash the bread fruit into a dough. Afterward, simply place some meat filling into the dough and roll it into a ball. Cook in an oven at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

As stated, bread fruit is also considered a fruit and can go with any fruit to become a fruit salad. In Caribbean countries, fruits such as pineapples, mangoes and bananas are abundant. All that needs to be done is cut and peel the fruits and serve them mixed in a bowl. This can be served at room temperature but is always better slightly chilled.