Cool Runnings Catamarans wants to tell you something about Breadfruit or breshay as it may be called in Jamaica (Artocarpus altilis).
Why?
Because this is a fruit that is eaten as a vegetable and the first time visitor to Jamaica may want to know something about what they are being offered.
You may be given breadfruit at your hotel and it may be fried, boiled or baked. It has a sweetish, doughy flavor, much like that of tasty homemade bread or fine potatoes.
The breadfruit grows on a tall tree, with broad dark green leaves that glint in the sun. The fruit itself is a little larger than a grapefruit, oval with a light green, rough skin, as shown in the photo.
You can bake breadfruit whole in coals or in the oven, or peel it and slice it for boiling.
It was with some happy surprise that we found that breadfruit is in fact good for you as it is a source of Vitamins A, C and the elusive K and is also a source of potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Cool Runnings Catamarans Breadfruit Recipes
Fun Cruises with Cool Runnings was surprised to find that some people eat breadfruit raw, but here in Jamaica breadfruit is one of our stable foods, we eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner and perhaps even for picnics or a snack.
We can tell you that some say that the light green young breadfruit is best for soups, whereas the ‘fit’ or ripe breadfruit is better for roasting or, as we will find out, for making desserts.
The plant originated in the South Pacific where it was found by the famous Captain Bligh who is credited with having brought the plant from Tahiti, which he reached in 1788, but his plant collecting expedition was interrupted by the Mutiny on his ship the Bounty, and it was not until some years later that breadfruit was brought to Jamaica.
Perhaps one of our favorite recipes for a breadfruit snack is to make breadfruit chips.
For those unfamiliar with a breadfruit you will need to cut it in half, then quarters and cut out the heart, peel off the skin. Then slice the breadfruit into slices, and soak the slices in either salted water or coconut milk. Drain the slices so that they are dry for frying. Heat your oil (peanut oil, we are told, is best for frying but some prefer coconut oil) and fry your chips until they are golden brown. Take them out drain off the excess oil and eat them up.
Our favorite dessert recipe is from Vanilla Lemonade, and uses a ripe breadfruit teamed with sesame and coconut and you can find it here .
Cool Runnings Catamarans The Breadfruit Tree
Fun cruises with Cool Runnings finds that if you are planning on building a house the wood from the breadfruit tree is resistant to termites. The tree can grow to 25 m (85 ft). The latex from the leaves can be used for medicine, glue, or for calking boats.
If you are now hungry enough you might want to book a Cool Runnings Catamaran Cruises Caribbean Sunset Dinner Cruise and fill yourself with good views and tasty food.
