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    BLANK » Recipe Index » Caribbean Dishes

    Breadfruit Fries (Air Fryer)

    Last Updated February 2, 2023. Published August 25, 2022 By Charla 14 Comments

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    Hey breadfruit lovers, you have got to try these delicious air fryer breadfruit fries. There are crispy, tasty, lightly seasoned and highly addictive. These island style fries are definitely a must try recipe!

    Fries on a plate with dipping sauce

    I haven't dropped a breadfruit recipe in what feels like forever, breadfruit in these neck of the woods isn't cheap at all.

    Infact breadfruit is very expensive albeit worth the money if you know when to buy it and what you are after, nothing beats some Roasted Breadfruit.

    The local Caribbean grocery store has them in abundance right now so I ended up buying a total of 2.

    One breadfruit for trial and error (yes, I know! It's my job!) and the other was for my family to have Breadfruit Pie.

    Breadfruit makes the tastiest fries in my humble opinion and are a great island style alternative to McDonalds French fries.

    The plan was to cut the breadfruit into the shape of fries BUT, after trying this, there was too much waste from trimming off the rounded edges to make perfect cut fries.

    Because breadfruit is so expensive and I refuse for any to go to waste we are now working with small slices rather then the traditional rectangular shape.

    **For the benefit of this recipe post, I'm going to refer to them as fries or slices interchangeably.**

    You get the French fried influence by way of the Caribbean. They are super easy to make, I do recommend parboiling the fries before frying them in your air fryer first.

    The seasoning used is very light, I used my jamaican curry powder, mixed with oil and a few other additional spices and herbs for flavour and colour.

    What is breadfruit?

    To keep things brief, breadfruit is a large prickly oval to oblong shaped fruit. The fruit derives from the mulberry and jackfruit family.

    As the crops matures and ripens it goes from having bright green bumpy skin, to a more smooth yellowish/dark green mottled smooth skin.

    The flesh is more of an off white slightly yellow colour.

    The crop that grows in the Caribbean is closely related to the Breadnut which is a seeded version.

    Although breadfruit is eaten throughout the Caribbean, Central America and certain parts of South American it is not native to the region.

    Infact, contrary to popular belief breafruit was cultivated in May Archipelago (New Guinea, Phillipines etc..) and then spread through out Oceania.

    It was Captain Bligh who, at the time, that introduced this crop to the slaves in the Caribbean islands. He thought that breadfruit would be a cheap source of high energy food for them.

    Close up of the slices

    Breadfruit nutrition

    In terms of breadfruits nutritional content it is majority carbohydrate which means it is starch enriched and a good source of energy/fuel for the body.

    Its fat content is virtually non existant which is great for anyone who is avoiding dietary staples with a hight fat content.

    It does have high levels of magnesium, calcium and fibre. More fibre than potatoes and pasta so this is a win for promoting healthy bowel movements.

    Magnesium and calcium support healthy teeth and bones. It does have other nutritional value such as potassium, vitamin B and C but I wanted to highlight the highest nutritional content.

    What does breadfruit taste like?

    I honestly think breadfruit has it's own unique taste, you either like it or love it. Some people say the aroma, when cooked, reminds them of freshly baked bread.

    While others say the texture and taste, reminds them of potatoes. I would say its more in line with the potato theory than the bread one.

    I think the texture is close to potato when soft but it doesn't taste of potato, maybe a small percentage but it's not a 1:1 replica in my humble opinion.

    Breadfruit on a white background

    How do you eat breadfruit?

    You can pickle it, roast it, fry it, bake it...the list is endless! it is such a versatile fruit, the list is endless!

    The most popular thing that is done in the islands is to roast breadfruit openly on a flame.

    This is my favourite cooking method, but you see this method is more popular in the Caribbean/Polynesia than you would find in the disapora.

    You can serve breadfruit as mash with saltfish/poultry/vegetables or with an assortment of ground provisions on the side or in soup.

    Some islands like Puerto Rico use it to make sweets, pancakes and dessert like flans so this list is endless in terms of what you can do with it.

    Breadfruit vs Jackfruit

    The main difference between the 2 is their flavour and appearance. Jackfruit is much bigger than its counterpart.

    While both fruit are green in their young stage. Jackfruit appears to have curvy spikes all around it while breadfruit has more of a bumpy exterior.

    Breadfruit is savory in taste although it can be used to make sweet dishes. Jackfruit when it is young and immature is savory in taste and is often used by many vegans to make "mock meat" meals.

    When jackfruit ripens/matures, it is much sweetener in taste and is eaten in its raw state as a snack or used in desserts.

    The stepssteps 1-6 Removing the core and peeling the breadfruit

    • Slice the breadfruit in half so you are left with 2 quarters.
    • Use a paring knife to cut away the core (this is known as "the heart")
    • Use a paring knife or use a vegetable peeler if you find it easier to remove the skin.
    • Cut each quarter of breadfruit vertically into medium sized slices  (not too thin nor too thick, somewhere in between).steps 7-12 slicing up the breadfruit and parboiling it
    • Add the slices to a large saucepan of boiling water with pink salt and vinegar.
    • Simmer for roughly 6-8 minutes until the fries are tender (check with a fork).
    • Drain off the fries in a colander and rinse them with cold water to prevent them from cooking any further.
    Steps 13-16 blotting the fries and mixing the coating
    • Leave the fries to completely cool before blotting dry with kitchen towel.
    • Mix the curry powder, paprika, parsley, thyme, scotch bonnet powder, all purpose seasoning, black pepper, pink salt, olive oil, lime juice together in a small bowl.
    • Place the fries in a large bag or zip lock bag, secure the bag accordingly then shake the bag so the fries are completely coated.
    • Preheat the air fryer.
    Steps 17-20 coating the fries and air frying them
    • Place fries in the basket and bake @ 356f/180c for 12-16 minutes (you may need to do this in batches).
    • Turn the slices half way through the cooking time and lightly spray with oil (this is optional).
    • Repeat the last 2 steps with the remaining slices.
    • Sprinkle additional pink salt on the slices if you want to and serve.

    Notes and tips

    • You want a breadfruit that is just ripe, so not overripe, it should be quite firm, green with some brown spots (refer to the picture of the breadfruit).
    • The recipe isn't very spicy, if you want more heat then add more scotch bonnet powder.
    • There is no substitute for breadfruit, you WILL need to get hold of some breadfruit in order to try this recipe.
    • The thinner you cut the breadfruit slices the crisper the overall results.
    • You can buy breadfruit from neighbourhood that are frequented by Caribbean/ Latinos and Polynesian people (depending on your location).
    • The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the slices and air fryer model.
    • To re-heat the slices, it is best to spritz the slices lightly with oil.
    • Any leftover breadfruit should be wrapped securely in aluminium foil and a zip lock bag and stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days (you will need to spritz with oil before re-heating).
    • Reheat the slices in the air fryer 180C/356F for several minutes.
    Side shot of the breadfruit slices

    Jackfruit recipes to try

    • Vegan Mofongo
    • Brown Stew Jackfruit
    • Jackfruit Rundown
    • Curried Jackfruit

    Dipping sauces

    • Caribbean Curry Sauce
    • Mango Pineapple Sauce
    • Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce

    More recipes to try

    • Okra Punch
    • Jamaican Coconut Rice
    • Jamaican Steamed Cabbage
    • Baigan Choka
    • Plantain Curry

    **Don't forget to comment below and star rate if you have tried my recipes. Let's be friends and engage on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram I also like to pin on Pinterest, where you can find more amazing recipes.**

    breadfruit fries on a plate

    Breadfruit Fries (Air Fryer)

    Hey breadfruit lovers, you have got to try these delicious air fryer breadfruit fries. There are crispy, tasty, lightly seasoned and highly addictive. These island style fries are definitely a must try recipe!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetiser
    Cuisine: Jamaican
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 134kcal
    Author: Charla

    Ingredients

    To parboil the breatfruit

    • ½ a breadfruit
    • 1 teaspoon pink salt (6g)
    • 1 tablespoon apple cidar vinegar (15g)

    To prepare the coating

    • 1½ tablespoon curry powder (9g)
    • 1½ teaspoon paprika (3g)
    • 1 teaspoon all purpose seasoning (5g)
    • 1 teaspoon parsley (1g)
    • 1 teaspoon thyme (2g)(preferably fresh)
    • ¼ teaspoon scotch bonnet powder (1.5g)(optional)
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper (0.25g)
    • ½ teaspoon pink salt (3g)
    • 1 tablespoon lime juice (15g)
    • ¼ cup olive oil (60ml)

    Instructions

    To parboil the breadfruit

    • Slice the breadfruit in half so you are left with 2 quarters.
    • Use a paring knife to cut away the core (this is known as "the heart").
    • Use a paring knife or use a vegetable peeler if you find it easier to remove the skin.
    • Cut each quarter of breadfruit vertically into medium sized slices  (not too thin nor too thick, somewhere in between).
    • Add the slices to a large saucepan of boiling water with pink salt and vinegar.
    • Simmer for roughly 6-8 minutes until the fries are tender (check with a fork).
    • Drain off the fries in a colander and rinse them with cold water to prevent them from cooking any further.
    • Leave the fries to completely cool before blotting dry with kitchen towel.

    To coat and air fry the breadfruit

    • Mix the curry powder, paprika, parsley, thyme, scotch bonnet powder, all purpose seasoning, black pepper, pink salt, olive oil, lime juice together in a small bowl.
    • Place the fries in a large bag or zip lock bag, secure the bag accordingly then shake the bag so the fries are completely coated.
    • Preheat the air fryer.Place fries in the basket and bake @ 356f/180c for 12-16 minutes (you may need to do this in batches).
    • Turn the slices half way through the cooking time and lightly spray with oil (this is optional).
    • Repeat the last 2 steps with the remaining slices.
    • Sprinkle additional pink salt on the slices if you want to and serve.

    Notes

    • You want a breadfruit that is just ripe, so not overripe, it should be quite firm, green with some brown spots (refer to the picture of the breadfruit).
    • The recipe isn't very spicy, if you want more heat then add more scotch bonnet powder.
    • There is no substitute for breadfruit, you WILL need to get hold of some breadfruit in order to try this recipe.
    • The thinner you cut the breadfruit slices the crisper the overall results.
    • You can buy breadfruit from neighbourhood that are frequented by Caribbean/ Latinos and Polynesian people (depending on your location).
    • The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the slices and air fryer model.
    • To re-heat the slices, it is best to spritz the slices lightly with oil.
    • Any leftover breadfruit should be wrapped securely in aluminium foil and a zip lock bag and stored in the refrigerator for no more than 2 days (you will need to spritz with oil before re-heating).
    • Reheat the slices in the air fryer 180C/356F for several minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 874mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 441IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @ThatGirlCooksHealthy or tag #ThatGirlCooksHealthy!
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    About Charla

    I'm Charla. Caribbean foodie & Certified Health Coach. Welcome to the heaven of gluten and dairy free recipes as well as modernised healthier alternatives to some of your favourite Caribbean recipes.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Claudia

      September 13, 2022 at 2:52 am

      Thanks, I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. Just got an air fryer, have only fried breadfruit the old way, we call ulu here in Hawaii. Our tree produces a lot, so I’m always looking for new ideas to use it.

      Reply
      • Charla

        September 13, 2022 at 12:00 pm

        Hi Claudia, I hope you enjoy this recipe. I managed to try some Hawaiian ulu (breadfruit) and taro (we call it dasheen) when I visited there a few years ago and really enjoyed it.

        Reply
        • Claudia

          September 15, 2022 at 2:39 am

          I noticed that added vinegar when parboiling the breadfruit. Is there a particular reason? Thanks

          Reply
          • Charla

            September 15, 2022 at 5:17 am

            Hi Claudia, the vinegar helps yield more crispiness when it is being air fried. I hope that helps to clarify things 🙂

            Reply
    2. Seema Sriram

      August 27, 2022 at 12:00 pm

      5 stars
      We're huge fans of breadfruit fries. It is hard to get them but flavour and the texture is amazing.

      Reply
      • Charla

        August 27, 2022 at 12:25 pm

        Yay! I'm so happy to hear that Seema

        Reply
    3. kushigalu

      August 27, 2022 at 10:42 am

      5 stars
      Breadfruit is our favorite but never tried it on an air fryer. So delicious. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • Charla

        August 27, 2022 at 10:48 am

        You are most welcome.

        Reply
    4. Ieva

      August 27, 2022 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      It took me a while to find some breadfruit here in North Wales, UK, but I was adamant to try this recipe, and I am so glad I did! Really lovely fries, crispy and well seasoned. I think i prefer these to potato fries 🙂

      Reply
      • Charla

        August 27, 2022 at 10:16 am

        Thank you so much Leva. I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe.

        Reply
    5. Anjali

      August 27, 2022 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      You know, I had actually never heard of breadfruit before I found your recipe, and now I can't wait to find it so I can try this recipe at home! It looks delicious and a fun twist on regular fries!

      Reply
      • Charla

        August 27, 2022 at 10:16 am

        Thanks Anjali. Yes, it is a fun alternative to fries.

        Reply
    6. Dannii

      August 27, 2022 at 8:16 am

      5 stars
      I am always looking for new ways to use my air fryer and these were delicious.

      Reply
      • Charla

        August 27, 2022 at 10:17 am

        I'm so glad to hear that Dannii

        Reply

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