Now that our breadnut tree is producing...
we can enjoy this fruit from right off our farm
the breadnut is believed to be the ancestor to the better known breadfruit...
the trees look so similar but, the leaves of the breadnut are a bit hairy...
while the breadfruit leaves are smooth
and while breadnut is young in it's green stage, it is eaten cooked as a vegetable
once it has matured into it's ripe brown color...
it is the seeds that are consumed...
boiled, roasted or turned into flour
the breadfruit as most people know it...
has a relatively smooth skin in comparison to the breadnut
(breadfruit)
as you can see in the photo below, the breadnut has a spiny exterior...
and we're happy to say, the blunt spines don't cut into the hand
I didn't catch a photo in time before the seeds were taken out of the fruit...
but, as you can see below...
when they are taken out and cleaned of the white fleshy covering...
they look much like chestnuts and come close to the same size
breadnuts are not true nuts but, are in the same family as the fig and mulberry
when they are boiled, they taste much like mashed potato
when they are roasted, they taste like coffee or chocolate and can be ground into drink...
as well as eaten roasted
when they are ground into a flour, they can be used in baking
this neat fruit is full of nutrients such as...
fiber, calcium, potassium, folic acid, iron, zinc, vitamin A, B, and C...
and for those who eat vegetarian, packed with protein and carbohydrates
we usually boil the breadnut in a pot of water and simmer till...
the thin skin cracks open a bit
then, we put sea salt in and let it simmer until...
the flesh starts to show through the crack and the skin is easy to push away with the fingers
below is what the fruit looks like after it is cooked
after the thin shell is brushed away...
the paper-like skin underneath the thicker one is edible and can be left on for more fiber
my husband and I love eating them when we have our cocoa tea in the evenings
the next ripened breadnut on our tree will be used roasted and ground into a drink...
and I hope to post on that when the time comes
for more info, click breadnut
or...
if you who are in the US are interested in trying the breadnut flour...
I believe Whole Foods carries it and some health food stores
if not, there is a website that sells breadnut flour at mayancafe
they are located in Buchanan Dam, Texas
I have not ordered from them but, just wanted to give you a supplier
May the Lord who gives all these good foods for us...
bless you with His grace this day or night.