Ulu Adventure
Making the most of Maui's island abundance
Outside my home sits an ulu tree, also known as breadfruit. Though the base of the tree is in my neighbor's yard, the branches extend out past the sidewalk and into the street. Looking up I see fruit the size of my head hanging like christmas ornaments from its squiggly arms waving their large leaves like Dr. Suess Rooster tails in the Midday sun. BOOM! a ripe one frees itself from the branch and falls meeting its previously liberated cousins on the sidewalk. They are browning, smashed and have transformed into edible castles colonized by hosts of neighborhood insects proudly exploring their new nests of nourishment. Good for them. Still, I refuse to let this be the fate of this ulu.
I heard that a Hawaiian tradition says to plant an ulu tree when a child is born and that the fruit from that tree will feed the child throughout their lifetime. I believe it. This versatile fruit can be prepared in different ways depending on the ripeness of the fruit. You can use it right off the tree as it is green and firm cooking like artichoke heart, through the yellow tinge phase, and also as it turns soft and browns (before the bugs get it). This particular ulu was soft with a nice yellow brown color. At this stage a lot of the sweetness comes out which makes for lovely deserts.
What I did was so simple. Cut and peeled the ulu, removing the hard center, boiled the meat of the fruit down and then mushed it in a bowl, taking time to meditate on natures gifts of bounty and feeling gratitude and awe for this beautiful island. I added coconut butter, cacao, cinnamon and local honey to finish creaming the fruit and ate it with a spoon like pudding. It was the perfect treat, moist and nourishing.
You can choose to repeat what I have done here, or experiment with breadfruit in your own way according to your personal tastes and constitution. There are many resources online to help with ideas as you come to explore and find what works for you. Have fun and enjoy :)
Erin Benson
NO ULU LEFT BEHIND COALITION