Spicy Breadfruit Fries
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?
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
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
- Add the coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, and cumin to a bowl and mix well
- Then add in the olive oil and mix
- Add in the sliced breadfruit pieces and toss well so they are coated well with the olive oil/spice mix
- Spread out the breadfruit pieces on a foil-lined baking tray and bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Enjoy with ketchup or sambal oelek.
My mouth is watering and I can’t wait to get my hands on some breadfruit! Those fries look delicious!
Those teen centers in India sound amazing. Wish we had more like that here in the States. 🙂
Breadfruit is just starting to come to the US…I’d love to try it!
These ‘fries’ look incredible, but I have no idea what breadfruit is! I’m going to do some research and save this recipe to try. Gorgeous photos!
OMG – love learning about new fruits. And I’ve never heard of breadfruit before! Looks interesting and can’t wait to give it a try!
I HAVE seen these! I didn’t know what they were. The next time I come across them, I am going to make your savory breadfruit wedges. They look fantastic!
wow These look incredibly delicious! Don’t see jackfruit over here…such a pity because I am dying to try these!
Hmmm…breadfruit. That is most definitely not something I’ve come across in my wanderings here in upstate NY. Oh, how I miss Buford Highway and the DeKalb Farmer’s Market. You could always find interesting things in both of those areas! (Although I’m not sure I ever saw breadfruit at DeKalb?) Also, speaking of farmer’s markets, have you been down to the Atlanta Farmer’s Market? (It’s down in Forest Park near the airport.) It’s where restaurants go to stock up on stuff, and it’s worth a trip! We’d always find our SC peaches there…straight off the back of a farmer’s truck from SC. 🙂 Anyways, I’ll have to keep my eye out for breadfruit. This sounds super unique and interesting…not to mention delicious!
Like Jackfruit, I don’t think I’ve ever had Breadfruit before either Shashi. Both of these are now on my list of “must tries” that hopefully I will meet on more of my exotic holiday adventures to come!
I love the combination of spices that you’ve got here and might see if it works with sweet potato fries, Thanks! 🙂
@neil@neilshealthymeals.com,
Visit Barbados on one of your vacations. Breadfruit is a staple.
Yummy.
Well dang! I haven’t heard of breadfruit before but your recipe makes it look mouth watering! I just heard of Jackfruit too. Sadly, I don’t know if my local grocer sells either breadfruit or Jackfruit but if I ever find it, I’m coming back to try this recipe!
Hi, We are fortunate enough to have two breadfruit trees growing in our garden. When I found this recipe I went into the garden and got down two fruits, then following your instructions made the best spicy slices ever! Brilliant. I picked up a tip somewhere and I do not remember where. When you cut down the fruit from the tree there is a lot of latex flowing from the wound. If you cut off the very bottom of the plus a little way into the top of the fruit, turn them upside down in the garden and leave them for a few hours. Then when you prepare them there is almost no latex in the fruit. This makes life a lot easier if you do get the juice onto your hands use a little cooking oil to help remove it.
Great recipe and as they say a keeper! Thanks
I did not have any coriander, substituted paprika with cayenne pepper and reduced the amount. Then picked up a very ripe fruit that fell off the tree along the road. No ketchup was at home either, but the fries turned out great. On a rainy day it was exactly what we needed. The mix of sweetness and hotness of the pepper is a great balance. It turned out perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Those breadfruit look so good and delicious
some delicious snacking!
Please take down my recipe from your site. You can link to it but my recipe is copyrighted and you are engaging in copyright infringement by posting my recipe on your site.
Just made this and it’s really good. Thanks for the recipe!
followed the recipe and it came out perfectly. definitely will be making again . thanks
First time cooking with breadfruit – loved this recipe. Says spicy but I didn’t find it hot spicy, it was just flavorful spicy. Make sure to use enough oil (I used olive oil). The second time I skimped on the oil and it didn’t bake as crisp.
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
I have been cooking breadfruit for the past 30+ years. Favourites are breadfruit salad, fried breadfruit, and simple steamed breadfruit. Breadfruit tree dropped a slightly immature breatfruit, so I searched for recipes and found yours. This is my family’s new favourite way to prepared breadfruit. I was surprised that the breadfruit fries stayed crispy for ten minutes or so, and even then didn’t ever get mushy.
In the interest of science, I fried a few slices, allowed them to cool down and then froze them. Upon thawing, I blotted them with a paper towel, spruced up the spices, and refried them. Still very good. Thank you Shashi for this amazing and tasty treatment of the humble breadfruit!!!!
I’ve never had bread fruit but happen to have a tree in the yard where I’m staying right now. Wansnt sure if they were ripe or not but followed a guide to pick one. This recipe is super easy and the fries are pretty tasty! I just used salt and pepper on part of the fries and they are great either way.