Thursday, April 30, 2009

Chakka/ Jackfruit Thoran


I
have always refrained from making jackfruit-based dishes due to the fear of getting my hands (knife, cutting board, etc. also) sticky with the white gum. Jackfruit too has played an important role in making my childhood memories special, second only to the king of fruits in India, mango. I remember grandmother choosing the ripe/unripe jackfruit that needed to plucked from the tree depending on whether it was going to eaten or cooked, ensuring everything it touched was covered in coconut oil first and then cleaning it thoroughly, peeling and removing the flesh and seeds separately. The smell of a ripe jackfruit and biting into the soft, sweet yellow fruit itself was refreshing during the summer!

Amma makes so many mouth-watering jackfruit delicacies like chakka chips, chakka thoran, chakka sambar, chakka payasam, chakka varatti (jackfruit jam), chakkakuru-muringa curry (jackfruit seeds-drumstick curry), etc. during the season when jackfruits are available in plenty.

After the Vishu feast (I did prepare a feast, but had no time to take pics of the Sadya on the plantain leaf:-(), I had the jackfruit from the Vishu Kani waiting to be cooked, and I chose to make the thoran. Of course, I was scared I would make a mess of it, especially cutting and cleaning. With lots of oil applied on the knife, cutting board, my hands and plates, I set about the task of peeling and chopping the unripe inside of the fruit into big chunks. After following Amma's recipe, the result was the thoran in the picture below (unfortunately, I did not even plate them and take some good pics:-(), and R and I loved eating it by itself, and also with rice for lunch and with phulkas for dinner! A called it 'chakka noodles' and had it with her 'mammam' and yellow sambar.



To make the Chakka/ Jackfruit Thoran, you will need:

Jackfruit - unripe medium sized fruit/ 1/2 kg of the peeled fruit
Onions - 2 - finely chopped
Ginger - peeled and pounded - 2 tsp
Garlic - peeled and pounded 4-5 cloves
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Red chilly powder - 1/2 tsp
Grated coconut - 1/2 cup
Chana dal - 2 tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Red chillies - 3-4
Curry leaves - 2 strands
Asafeotida/ Hing - 1/4 tsp
Oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - to taste



Method:

  • Apply lots of oil the knife, cutting board, hands and plates, and peel the jackfruit
  • Chop the inside fruit into chunky cubes (seeds and flesh and all) and wash in lukewarm salt water
  • Boil the pieces in enough water with salt and turmeric powder until cooked
  • Pound the pieces. I transfered the boiled pieces back on the cutting board and used my rolling pin to kind of mash them
  • Heat oil in a large pan and add the chana dal, urad dal, red chillies and roast, add the mustard seeds and curry leaves and asafeotida
  • Add onions, ginger, garlic and stir fry for a few minutes
  • Mix the jackfruit into this with salt, red chilly powder and grated coconut
  • Keep stirring and mixing well on low flame until all the ingredients are blended well and a lovely smell wafts into the air from the dish



Serve with rice/ chapathi (or eat it as it is!)


Dear Priti of Indian Khana is hosting Festive Food: Summer Treat event and I am sending the Jackfruit Thoran as my entry.

31 comments:

Subhie Arun said...

love it....looks yummy n delicious..my fav..thx 4 sharing

Priya Suresh said...

Looks delicious, yet to try this thoran!

FH said...

I made this for RCI Kerala and LOVED it, so yummy! :)

Indian Khana said...

Thanks for the wonderful entry babe....I love this too..so yummy...

Valarmathi Sanjeev said...

Never made this. Looks delicious.

chef and her kitchen said...

Never cooked raw jackfruit so far..looking yummy...

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

I have never made this myself but ahd it many times when My Mom makes it I dont get these down here gotta hunt them your recipe is very handy and you have made it really clear of how to make it...

ARUNA said...

looks yummy......never tried this dish!!!

Varsha Vipins said...

oh..Chakka upperi..my fav..kothiyakunnu..Loved this thoran as well Shreya..:)

Pavithra Elangovan said...

Love to taste it .. I love this very much...but i make somewhat different.

Unknown said...

Looks delicious.. nice entry..

Pooja said...

Wow Mallu blog! My first visit here and I love it. The thoran looks delicious :)

Uma said...

looks so yummy. Nice curry.

notyet100 said...

this is new for me,..looks yummy,..;-)

Unknown said...

sounds good..looks really good..have to try this one..

Unknown said...

The Jacfruit Thoran looks yummy...my MIL follows the same receipe albeit the dals...but will surely try this version...

Vaishali said...

Shreya, I so well remember those days in my childhood too when we'd go to my stepmom's family home in Goa and they'd bring out the jackfruit. If I remember right, I think they even made something with the seeds, although I could be mixing that up with something else :) It's been so long!
It surely is a strange yet delicious fruit. I love jackfruit chips, and I haven't had the yellow flesh in a long, long time. If I ever find it here at my local store, I will have to try this dish.

bee said...

it is so difficult to get raw jackfruit where we live. i adore this dish.

Cham said...

Delicious looking but never tasted !

Sum Raj said...

hey sherya..how ur doing? after ong time...and looks i have my fav throan in ur bog...chakka is one of my fav item...i can also have them as a snack...

Srivalli said...

Oh nice traditional dish!

Cynthia said...

I have always refrained from making jackfruit-based dishes due to the fear of getting my hands (knife, cutting board, etc. also) sticky with the white gum. - what is life without getting the hands, knife and cutting board stained a few times :)

amna said...

I love this! But getting raw jackfruit here is out of the question!

Dori said...

I've never tried jackfruit, for some reason, it looks like shredded chicken to me... Looks yummy, though :)

A_and_N said...

I've never tried this before. I'd love to. Now, all I need is a jackfruit.

Ashwini said...

Hi first time here. Nice recipes. Love thoran. Looks delish and yumm.

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

yummy thoran. love jackfruit.

Anonymous said...

chakka thoran is my all time fav.I will die for it.I am headin to the grocery store to buy it. u got me all tempted with this one.

Unknown said...

aaahaaaaa!!!!!! vaayil vellamoorunnu!!!!

Param said...

all your dishes are healthy and increased haemoglobin, they have a distinct taste of Thuvarpu and hence are good for harmonal balancing for women after 40.
I advise as a naturopath consultant drumstickleaves soup and you are making all worthier nutrients for home. I just love Idichakka(unripe)Poduthuval or dry sabjee.
www.sunflowerdance.com

Anonymous said...

cool and easy recipe..tried today and came out delicious!!! thanks....
Varsha