Jackfruit

Simplicity Coimbatore , The wholesome jackfruit

My friend posted a picture of palakottai vadai (jackfruit seed snack) on her instagram page saying that it was an old family recipe. My curiosity is insatiable when it comes to learning about such heirloom family favourites.

I have to admit , my own association with the jackfruit all through my childhood was rather minimal. The jackfruit intake was usually in the form of the ripe jackfruit chips. But nevertheless I was familiar with the tree ; the way it looked , the size of the fruit, it’s distinct aroma etc.

That’s because these trees were in abundance on the winding ghat roads leading from Mettupalayam to Burliar and Coonoor. The size of the jackfruits would leave me in awe .I still remember that despite being engulfed in waves of travel sickness,I would always try and catch sight of the monkeys gnawing away at the fruit.And the heady scent of this fruit hung heavy in the air and to this day it’s not an unpleasant smell for my nostrils.

I was introduced to eating the fresh slivers of ripe jackfruit by my mother-in-law. After carefully peeling it, she would drizzle honey and serve it to us in small plates. She also told me that jackfruit must be paired with honey so that it digests easily.I simply took her word for it and never questioned the wisdom .Ever since then I always add honey (pure) to fresh jackfruit slices and have taught the same to my children.

I mention this memory because the other day , we had a guest visiting from over seas. She had visited the supermarket and was fascinated by the sight of all the tropical fruits. Before she came over to our place for dinner she had a couple of helpings of the fresh jackfruit and loved the taste.An hour later ,sitting at our home, she began to feel a bit uneasy and bloated.When I asked her if she had added honey to the jackfruit,the answer was no.So of course I had to prove to her why certain combinations are advised. I  knew Ayurveda was my best source for such information and sure enough ,there it was. This is the link. https://www.ayurhelp.com/articles/healthy-way-to-eat-jackfruit/ Basically jackfruit is quite hard to digest and is never recommended as an evening meal. It’s also important to eat it on an empty stomach ,when hungry ,with a dollop of real honey. The golden nectar from the bees does indeed aid in the digestion of the jackfruit!

Another ingredient which has found it’s way to my kitchen fairly recently is the jackfruit seed or palakottai. I absolutely love the texture and the nutty taste. Peeling the jackfruit pulp to remove the seed is a therapeutic process for me. There are two skins that need to be removed from the seed before it can be cooked.Once the outer coverings are peeled,the white portion can be boiled, steamed or directly fried in hot oil. Boiling softens and cooks the seed thoroughly. Thereafter a light stir fry or shallow frying method, gives it a crunchy coating on the outside and a chewy,floury inside. Seasoned with red chilli powder , ginger garlic paste and salt ,it is delicious.

It’s a great lunch time side dish or nice just as is for an evening snack. The tender bits of seeds turn so crisp when stir frying and adds a great crunch factor.. It’s also really tasty when made into a kolambu , looks like a bigger version of a double beans gravy. It’s also remarkably similar in size to the brazil nut of South America.

While jackfruit is high in vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and electrolytes, consumption of the fruit must be limited. Over consumption of jackfruit can have adverse effects on digestion and thereafter give rise to other ills. Jack fruit seeds also must be eaten only after they are properly cooked.

Once I made a vegan ‘pulled pork’ using jackfruit (no offence meant to pork aficionados). The trick is to use slightly under ripe or just ripe fruit which is not overly sweet. When sautéed with onions and spices and slow cooked it caramelises and tastes really good.

A single tree is capable of giving us a multitude of ingredients which can then be cooked in varied ways. When we practice eating local and seasonal,it truly does open up a whole other world of culinary adventures !

p.s. Please note the newest addition to my food prop collection (spoils from the CCtn craft bazaar :D)