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Vegan
You Don't Know Jackfruit?
Meatless Mondays just got… fruitier?
In 2014, NPR called jackfruit “A Ginormous Fruit To Feed The World” and The Guardian heralded jackfruit as a “miracle crop” for its potential to replace food supplies under threat by climate change, while this summer, a puzzled National Post writer dubbed jackfruit “the produce that needs a user’s manual.”
Jackfruit is…
If you’ve tried ripe jackfruit in a dessert, seeing it served as pulled pork might confuse you.
See, this tropical fruit has a dual identity. When ripe, jackfruit tastes sweet and somewhat tangy, like a pineapple or mango, but unripe this mild-mannered relative of the mulberry becomes a single-ingredient, meat-substituting superhero.
My first experience with Jackfruit was four years ago, through a link to a YouTube video titled “TV Host Calls Vegan Chef a Liar on National TV.” The clip featured chef Timothy Moore preparing pulled pork-style jackfruit on an Indianapolis morning show, and the host’s utter disbelief convinced me to track down a can in 2012.
These days it’s a lot easier to get this amazingly versatile fruit into your hands - we sell cans of organic young jackfruit at our Kardish stores.
Take a look at some of the unbelievable recipes we’ve tried:
- BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches with Avocado Slaw - Made with just 10 ingredients.
- Sriracha “Pulled Pork” Sammiches with Pickled Red Onion - Made with just a ½ cup of sriracha.
- Brown Baggin’ It: Crab Salad - Think gourmet tuna salad, and it’s 100% dolphin-safe.
- Jackfruit Fish-Free Tacos - Great for taco night! Also includes a recipe for cashew cheese sauce.
- Easy Jackfruit Curry - Want to learn how to make curry from scratch?
- Vegan Gyros with Jackfruit and Creamy Tzatziki - This recipe even name-checks the brand of canned jackfruit that we stock.
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Which recipes do you want to make? Feel free to share your thoughts below, and send photos of your favourite jackfruit dishes to Twitter and Facebook. We read everything you send us.
The Power Of Plants
plant-based, vegan protein powder has spiked over the past few years and health conscious brands are always coming up with new and innovative ways to boost your protein intake using plants.
Fortunately, the days of chalky, bland tasting protein powders are behind us! We now have hundreds of different powdered proteins to choose from, and they go far beyond dairy-based options like casein and whey.
Plant based proteins offer some benefits over their animal based counterparts; they are low in saturated fat, free of the growth hormones and antibiotics found in animal proteins, and tend to be more alkaline-forming.
You may have heard that most plant-based proteins are ‘incomplete proteins,’ with a few notable exceptions including hemp, soy and quinoa. What this means is that on their own, some proteins do not contain each of the nine essential amino acids: histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. You do not need to eat each of these amino acids at every meal, but getting a balance of them over the whole day is important.
Let’s take some time to delve into this topic and better understand our nutritional needs and how the power of plants can help us to fulfil them.
Top Four Sources of Plant Derived Protein
Yellow Pea
As one of the most popular, well-known plant proteins, yellow pea is the foundations of protein powders like Vega and VegEssentials. Thanks to its array of amino acids, mild flavour and light texture it is often a top pick for plant-based powders. Pea protein has also been shown to lower blood pressure and increase muscle growth just as efficiently as whey protein.
Brown Rice
Where you find yellow pea protein, you will often find brown rice. Brown rice is a great source of the amino acids, cysteine and methionine, something that yellow pea lacks. When combined, the two protein sources are able to balance each other and take on a similar nutritional profile to whey or egg white, but without the allergy concern.
Hemp Seeds
These little seeds (also referred to as hearts) are a source of complete protein, meaning they contain all nine essential amino acids. These essential amino acids cannot be made by the body and must be obtained from food, making hemp seeds a great choice. They are easily thrown into smoothies or baking all on their own, but you can also purchase a powdered version. Hemp seeds also contain anti-inflammatory omega-3 and fiber.
Chia Seeds
Like hemp seeds, chia can also be added on their own to smoothies and baking. Thanks to their ability to absorb water, they curb appetite and keep us feeling full. They are also a great source of fiber and a part of the protein blend in VegEssentials and Raw Fit.
Blended is Best
You no longer need to devour bowls of beans and rice to maintain a balanced intake of essential amino acids. Most plant-based powders like Raw Fit and Sun Warrior are a blend of various grains, legumes, algaes and/or seeds in order to achieve this completeness. Powders with various protein sources will also have a higher bioavailability (your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients), a better nutritional profile, and a higher overall protein content.
It’s important to keep in mind that it’s nearly impossible to know the exact ratio of amino acids in every single meal that we consume. When it comes to plant-based protein powders, this is why blended is often best. Incorporating a protein supplement with a blend of ingredients will provide an array of amino acids and other nutrients.
So, go ahead, harness the power of plants today!
Local Spotlight: Zengarry Cashew Cheese
Need a lactose-free option for your holiday party? Zengarry Cashew Cheese not only a delicious and 100% dairy-free option, it's also local! Scroll down to watch our interview with Lynda Turner, owner and founder of Fauxmagerie Zengarry. Lynda produces her vegan cashew cheese in Alexandria, Ontario, just an hour's drive outside of Ottawa.
As part of Kardish's Local Spotlight, all of Fauxmagerie Zengarry's cashew cheeses are on sale for $9.99 during the month of November. Find them at Kardish Barrhaven, Kanata, Blossom Park, Westboro, Orleans, Merivale and Glebe!
https://youtu.be/8eRH30Uc2ZU
Local Spotlight: Oat & Mill
https://vimeo.com/217073205
Oat & Mill is made using 100% whole grain, Canadian and certified gluten-free oats, and a little bit of magic. It begins as oat cream, which is churned into decadent frozen desserts, made using only the most natural vegan and gluten-free ingredients right here in Ottawa.
Oat & Mill was a recipient of the Premier Agriculture Innovation Award 2016 in Ontario for the use of Canadian oats as an ice cream alternative. They use 100% of the oat groat in their frozen desserts, eliminating any form of waste by creating whole grain products. Oat & Mill founder Candace has developed over 100 unique flavours to date (that's a lot of oats)! She often partners with local and innovative bakeries to assist in the creation of delicious inclusions such as cookie dough, fudge, and almond biscotti.
Find four great flavours at your local Kardish!
*Product not sold at Merivale location.
Are you screaming for more ice cream? Check out these 3 tasty cool down treats + 4 chilly chocolate treats.