Scientific name: Artocarpus heterophyllus
Family: Moraceae
Order: Rosales
Kingdom: Plantae

Fruit as a meat substitute? Yep, when it’s jackfruit. This massive tree fruit flips its flavor between sweet and savory, depending on how ripe it is.
Like many fruits, jackfruit contains some fiber for healthy digestion and very little fat. A 100-gram portion of jackfruit has:

95 calories.
2 grams of protein.
0.6 grams of fat.
3 grams of fiber.

Jackfruit also contains vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that have health benefits. It’s a good source of:
Vitamin C.
Pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
Niacin (vitamin B3).
Riboflavin (vitamin B2).
Folic acid (vitamin B9).
Calcium.
Magnesium.
Potassium.
Phosphorus.

“The combination of potassium, fiber and antioxidants can benefit heart health,” Ilic says. “Jackfruit also contains flavonoids and lignans, plant compounds that may help fight inflammation.”

Jackfruit’s health benefits aren’t a new discovery. “Ancient people used jackfruit as medicine,” Ilic says. In folk medicine, where jackfruit is grown, people have used it for its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. But no large studies have proven that it has medicinal value, so don’t use it to treat health conditions.

Jackfruit as vegan “pulled pork”
When jackfruit is unripe, it has a neutral flavor that pairs well with savory dishes. You can use unripe jackfruit in vegetarian curry and in place of tofu or chickpeas.
But jackfruit’s biggest claim to fame is its ability to imitate a barbecue meat sandwich. Jackfruit’s stringy texture makes it a good vegan substitute for pulled pork or chicken.It has under 3 grams of protein per cup, making it much lower in protein than meat. Keep that in mind as your consider the protein sources in your diet.
Look for packages in supermarketd  that label jackfruit as “young” or “packed in brine.” These words indicate that it’s unripe and suitable as a meat substitute.

Ripe jackfruit: sweet and fruity
Ripe jackfruit has a sweet, tropical fruit flavor that works well as a snack or added to sweet dishes. When ripe, it tastes like other tropical fruits, such as banana, mango or pineapple.

If you’re trying ripe jackfruit, use it like you would any other tropical fruit. Serve it as a healthy dessert or add it to a smoothie.