Interesting ways to eat jackfruit seeds

The versatile jackfruit seed lends itself to a variety of dishes. Here are some interesting dishes that include it.

15 Mar 2021

The year gone by taught us a lot of things. Many of us turned to cook ourselves and, in the process, developed an increasing curiosity and connect with the produce that we worked with and the food that we prepared. We found ourselves returning to our roots, often relying on the simple traditional fare that our mothers and grandmothers cooked. Fuelled by direct-from-farm sourced indigenous ingredients, we also ended up exploring ingredients that we might not have cooked earlier.

While this trend sparked off in 2020, it is expected to continue, according to the Godrej Food Trends Report 2021. Over 57 percent of our panel of experts predicts a deeper exploration of indigenous Indian ingredients. “The pandemic definitely made us realise how we should reduce our carbon footprint as well as connect with our farmers who have indigenous knowledge about local produce. There are numerous varieties of rice and pulses grown in India that are a tremendous source of nutrients and can promote a far healthier and more sustainable way of eating. We have realised the merit in conserving these, now, to prevent them from going extinct,” says Alka Jena, food blogger, food stylist and photographer.

One such indigenous ingredient is the jackfruit seed. At first glance, it may seem underwhelming. But when paired with the right spices and cooking techniques, the jackfruit seed’s buttery texture and distinct nutty flavour lend itself to a variety of recipes. Here are some regional recipes where the jackfruit seed is the star.

Palakottai poriyal

This nutty and spicy dish can be enjoyed on its own or pairs well with rice and rasam. This recipe doesn’t contain any onion and garlic, and it requires just a few ingredients such as mustard seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, sambar powder and turmeric powder. However, all these together pack a punch.

Kathal bichi diye murgi

As the name suggests, kathal bichi diye murgi translates to chicken curry with jackfruit seeds. This Bengali dish is made using caramelised onions, coconut milk, spices and aromatics such as ginger and garlic. The result? A creamy, mildly sweet curry with succulent chicken and relatively crunchy jackfruit seeds. This rich curry is best served with hot rice and topped with a dollop of ghee.

Halasina beejada saaru

The slightly sweet flavour of jackfruit seeds goes well in this spicy and tangy rasam or saaru, as it is called in Karnataka. A paste of cooked jackfruit seeds, grated coconut, tamarind, onions and rasam powder is mixed with water and then tempered. While it is usually had fresh, many swear that the flavours mature overnight, which is why halasina beejada saaru tastes even better the next day.

Chakkakuru mezhukkupuratti

This popular side dish from Kerala stars jackfruit seeds or chakkakuru (as they are called locally). Chakkakuru Mezhukkupuratti is a stir-fried dish with jackfruit seeds, onions, garlic, spices and coconut oil bursting with flavour. This simple dish is bursting with flavours and pairs well with hot steamed rice.

Jackfruit seed halwa

It sounds like an unusual dessert, but jackfruit halwa tastes delicious. With their buttery texture and mildly sweet flavour, jackfruit seeds lend themselves to this sweet. Variations of this dish are prepared in different parts of the country. Cooked jackfruit seeds are usually ground up with sugar, jaggery or milk and then further cooked with ghee, cardamom and dried fruits.

Are there any other dishes you have tried which are made of jackfruit seeds? Let us know in the comment section below.

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regional cuisines Indigenous ingredients jackfruit seeds Godrej Food Trends Report 2021
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