Easy Spicy Breadfruit Fries Recipe by Savory Spin (2024)

Jump to Recipe

Breadfruit was a staple when I lived in Sri Lanka – and, boy-oh-boy, is it versatile! It can be boiled, baked, and roasted and enjoyed either in a sweet, savory or spicy dish – like these Spicy Breadfruit Fries.

If you come across breadfruit, this is a quick, easy, and tasty way to enjoy it. In this easy recipe, breadfruit is cut into wedges and spiced with coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, and cumin. These breadfruit wedges are then baked until they are ever so slightly crispy.

When I lived in Abu Dhabi, I used to frequent a Social Center with a bunch of other friends. There were badminton courts, table tennis tables, foosball setups, study-nooks, and the like, geared towards us teens!

Back then I took this teen hangout totally for granted (if you are new to this space of mine, I spent my elementary school years in Sri Lanka and my middle and high school years in Abu Dhabi due to my parent’s jobs).

When I came to the States to attend college, other than The Y, I couldn’t seem to find anything like that teen Social Center here in Atlanta.

At one time, I had this brilliant idea to open one up myself – but then abandoned it when some friends started pointing out all the not-so-rainbows-and-unicorns scenarios that could happen.

While there might not be a whole lotta teen social centers here in Atlanta, there sure are a good number of Senior Centers.

And, am so thankful my mom ended up joining one shortly after my dad passed (this August will mark 3 years since he passed), as it has given her something to look forward to.

Recently, she went with some of her buddies from the Senior Center to The Buford Highway Farmers Market and told me I had to take my daughter there as there were more fruits and veggies there from our early days in Sri Lanka.

Of course, I had to take her up on her suggestion – and that’s where my daughter and I ran into Breadfruit.

What is breadfruit?

From the outside, Breadfruit looks similar to its cousin, Jackfruit with a prickly-looking green exterior. However, on the inside, it is paler – with a more beige / white-colored flesh.

Also like jackfruit, it’s incredibly versatile and, some say, has a distinct odor.

What does breadfruit taste like?

Ripe Breadfruit is considered to be a fruit, but some folks refer to it as a vegetable when it’s mature and not fully ripened. Some folks say it can taste like freshly baked bread, others say it tastes like a cross between a pear and water chestnut.

In Sri Lanka, it used to be a budget-friendly, nutritious option to enjoy in many, many different ways.

How to eat breadfruit?

Breadfruit can be boiled, roasted, baked, curried, and enjoyed as a sweet treat or a savory/spicy dish – ripe, sweet, breadfruit can also be enjoyed raw!

When my mom gets her hands on breadfruit, she uses it to make a killer curry. But, I didn’t go the curry route when I got my hands on one.

I, instead, peeled it, sliced it, and treated it like I would potato wedges.

I spiced these breadfruit wedges with coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, and cumin. And, then baked the heck out of them. When they were ready, we enjoyed them with ketchup. They are also delicious dunked into some sweet chili sauce or served alongside some apple chutney or mango chutney.

Have you happened to run into breadfruit in your neck of the woods? If you do -maybe you’d give these Spicy Breadfruit Fries a try?

Easy Spicy Breadfruit Fries Recipe by Savory Spin (5)
Easy Spicy Breadfruit Fries Recipe by Savory Spin (6)

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Like it’s cousin, Jackfruit, Breadfruit was a staple when I lived in Sri Lanka – and, boy-oh-boy, is it versatile! It can be boiled, baked, and roasted and enjoyed either in a sweet, savory or spicy dish – like these Spicy Breadfruit Fries.

Ingredients

  • 1 breadfruit , peeled and sliced
  • 3 tsp coriander
  • 3 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
  2. Add the coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, and cumin to a bowl and mix well
  3. Then add in the olive oil and mix
  4. Add in the sliced breadfruit pieces and toss well so they are coated well with the olive oil/spice mix
  5. Spread out the breadfruit pieces on a foil-lined baking tray and bake for 18-20 minutes.
  6. Enjoy with ketchup or sambal oelek.
Nutrition Information

Yield 4Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 189Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 0mgSodium 78mgCarbohydrates 17gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 4gSugar 6gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 1g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram &/or Pinterest tagging @SavorySpin #SavorySpin

Easy Spicy Breadfruit Fries Recipe by Savory Spin (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to boil breadfruit before frying? ›

Frying. Raw breadfruit can be fried, but you can also use roasted or boiled breadfruit for this, since it remains firm and sliceable after cooking. Cooking fresh breadfruit in oil calls for slicing it or cutting it into sticks and cooking it in hot oil until golden brown and cooked through.

Can you fry breadfruit without roasting it? ›

Breadfruit can be pan- or deep-fried, much like potato. If peeled fruit is desired, blanching raw fruit before peeling helps loosen the skin from flesh. A variety of oils complement the taste of breadfruit, including coconut and olive oils. For deep- frying, vegetable oil (such as canola) is recommended.

How to prepare breadfruit? ›

As with steaming, cut the fruit into quarters or smaller pieces to fit in the pot. Skin can be removed before or after. Boil fully or halfway to freeze and store for future use. When boiled until soft, breadfruit can be mashed and eaten just like mashed potatoes.

Can you eat raw breadfruit? ›

Bright green, underripe fruits are said to have a similar flavor to artichoke hearts, and are popular as pickles, though they can be eaten raw or boiled and added to any normal recipe. When breadfruit is fully ripe, it's a little softer and at its most starchy, with a mild flavor similar to a nutty potato.

How do you know if breadfruit has gone bad? ›

How to tell if your breadfruit has gone bad. If the fruit is soft to the touch, it has gone bad. Other signs of spoilage include mold or fungus growing on it and patches of black or brown bruising on the surface of the fruit.

How do Jamaicans prepare breadfruit? ›

Breadfruit is typically roasted directly in charcoal embers in a coal pot or on a drum-pan charcoal grill. In this manner, the starchy fruit is cooked until the skin is charred and black. While the exterior blackens, the inside steams and becomes soft and doughy, like bread.

How to make breadfruit in the oven? ›

Cover the hole in the top of the breadfruit (I tried using about an inch of a plantain to stuff the hole and it worked pretty well). Place in a baking pan with 2 cups of water and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hours. Allow breadfruit to cool for 15 minutes. Cut into quarters and dig inches.

Is fried breadfruit good? ›

'Ulu (breadfruit) is one of my favorite foods. It is a big beautiful ball of starch that can be eaten green (like a potato), half-ripe (more like a sweet potato), or super ripe and on the verge of spoiled (sweet and sticky).

How many minutes to cook breadfruit? ›

Place your whole 'ulu in a boiling water for 40 minutes, constantly rotate the 'ulu. To know when your 'ulu ready, a knife can be inserted easily into the center. Once you know it's ready and cooled. Cut the portion needed and remove the skin by scraping with a knife or spoon.

Is breadfruit good for you? ›

Breadfruit comes with an extremely impressive nutrient content that delivers a host of medicinal and therapeutic properties. It is high in fibre, proteins including essential amino acids that are valuable in regulating diabetes, lowering cholesterol levels and enhancing skin and hair health.

How do jamaicans prepare breadfruit? ›

Breadfruit is typically roasted directly in charcoal embers in a coal pot or on a drum-pan charcoal grill. In this manner, the starchy fruit is cooked until the skin is charred and black. While the exterior blackens, the inside steams and becomes soft and doughy, like bread.

How long should you boil breadfruit? ›

Carefully add the breadfruit wedges to the boiling salted water. Reduce heat to medium high and cover with lid. Cook for 30 minutes or until breadfruit wedges are fork tender. After 30 minutes of cooking, the boiled breadfruit wedges are fork tender.

How do you soften breadfruit? ›

Set a cooking pot on heat, add 5 cups of water and start cooking the ukwa (breadfruit). Once it boils, add the potash. Dissolve the potash in one cup of water, filter in the clear water and throw away the residue. It is needful to note that Ukwa does not ever get soft (done) without the use of the catalyst (potash).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Arielle Torp

Last Updated:

Views: 5332

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Arielle Torp

Birthday: 1997-09-20

Address: 87313 Erdman Vista, North Dustinborough, WA 37563

Phone: +97216742823598

Job: Central Technology Officer

Hobby: Taekwondo, Macrame, Foreign language learning, Kite flying, Cooking, Skiing, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Arielle Torp, I am a comfortable, kind, zealous, lovely, jolly, colorful, adventurous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.