The PANAPEN TREE (or BREADFRUIT) , which large green leaves (over a foot long) are pictured here is very special. 

Today it is grown in some 90 countries throughout South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Caribbean (Puerto Rico) , Central America and Africa.

Research of worldwide tropical fruits available to eliminate hunger and starvation revealed that this tree had the greatest capacity of feeding a hungry world the fastest. It can grow faster than any other tree, and produces a huge amount of food via the panapen fruit.

The panapen (also called PANA) is spread all over the tropics in many countries - but it's kind of assumed tree and has not been developed fully as a commercial product. Possibly because it's fruit is delicate and spoils quickly - it became like a gelatin...

Less known are the many dishes it can be used for. Two of my MOST FAVORITES foods are:

1. Simple boiled panapen. Just cut in slices following in half, then half of the half until 1 inch thick slice. Cut the green skin and throw on boiling water (large pot) with salt for about 30 mins - until soft. Eat alone with olive oil - 2-3 slices per person.

2. Here like above you then cut the slices (no skin) in small about 2 inch blocks and put them to FRY in oil. When done about 5 mins take them out and flatten them with a proper kitchen device. Then place them again to fry until golden yellow or a little brown. Please see the illustrated recipe below for details.

Add salt, place in towel paper to remove excess oil and serve 3-10 per person.

This is called a type of TOSTONES (or fried flat food) usually made from plantains, here its from pana.

I LOVE this PANA TOSTONES so much it is in the top 1% of my favorites - i can eat 10 of them easily and is even better than plantains!

For me it is a gourmet food. Rare and of delicate and UNIQUE soft flavor - a special fried sweet.

REF:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breadfruit

Detailed tostones de pana recipe:

https://platanosmangoes.com/2011/09/06/pana-breadfruit/

https://www.britannica.com/plant/breadfruit

cooked in campfire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEB-c0eQ2n4

How to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0u1fP0bpag