Jackfruit Aviyal / Chakka Aviyal

Jackfruit is of tropical origin. It is the largest tree-borne fruit.  With the exception  of its spiky exterior,every part of this fruit is edible. At the tender stage it can be cooked into tasty side dishes. When the fruit matures further, it can still be used to prepare side dishes and can also be used to make chips. The best is when the fruit ripens, the jack fruit flesh is very sweet and it has a distinctive aroma. The sweet flesh can be consumed as it is or can be cooked into various sweet dishes. The seeds of the jackfruit are also edible. Check my recipe for *Fried Jackfruit Seeds. Seeds when consumed directly prevents constipation. Good for skin.

The raw jackfruit contains lots of vitamin A and vitamin C. It is a source of dietary fiber,potassium, iron and magnesium which helps in the absorption of calcium. Antioxidants in it can prevent cancer, especially colon cancer.

Raw Jackfruit has low glycemic index. Cooked Jackfruit dish should be consumed as main dish, once a day by diabetics along with a side dish rich in protein. It brings down and gradually normalizes blood sugar, if consumed daily. 

In jackfruit aviyal, all parts of the fruit can be used except the green spiky exterior. A few seeds can be used in the aviyal, not all seeds. Seeds can be boiled or cooked under burning embers or fried. 

Preparation: 

• Slice away the spiky exterior of the jackfruit. The fleshy portion just below the skin, the fleshy portion of the bulb, the spongy center portion and 4 or 5 de-skinned seeds are needed for aviyal. Cut all the above in the shape of finger chips. If you like you can add a drumstick. Scrape the drumstick,cut into 3 inch pieces and halve each piece.
• Pressure cook the jackfruit pieces and drumstick pieces along with a quarter cup of water and quarter teaspoon turmeric powder for 2 whistles. Remove from fire and set aside to cool. 
• Grind the coconut, cumin seeds, turmeric powder and green chilly into a not too fine mixture. Do not grind to a paste. 
• Transfer the contents of the pressure cooker into a pan. Add the coconut mixture and salt to taste. Add a few curry leaves. Add 2 - 3 table spoon water if needed. Mix well and cook on medium flame until all the water is gone. Remove from fire. Add 3 teaspoons of coconut oil and mix lightly. 
• Serve with rice. 

Ingredients: 

Cut Jack fruit pieces - 2 cups 

Drumstick - 1 small 

Coconut - I cup (grated) 

Cumin seeds - 3 pinches 

Turmeric powder - 1/4 teaspoon 

Green chilly - 2 

Salt to taste 

Coconut oil - 3 teaspoon ( add more if you like the taste.) 

Curry leaves - a few. 

*Link to Fried Jackfruit seeds:

http://ashasnairrajesh.blogspot.com/2015/04/fried-jackfruit-seeds.html

Mashed Jackfruit / Chakka Puzhukku

Jackfruit is of tropical origin. It is the largest tree-borne fruit.  With the exception  of its spiky exterior,every part of this fruit is edible. At the tender stage it can be cooked into tasty side dishes. When the fruit matures further, it can still be used to prepare side dishes and can also be used to make chips. The best is when the fruit ripens, the jack fruit flesh is very sweet and it has a distinctive aroma. The sweet flesh can be consumed as it is or can be cooked into various sweet dishes. The seeds of the jackfruit are also edible. Check my recipe for ***Fried Jackfruit Seeds. Seeds when consumed directly prevents constipation. Good for skin.

 The raw jackfruit contains lots of vitamin A and vitamin C. It is a source of dietary fiber,potassium, iron and magnesium which helps in the absorption of calcium. Antioxidants in it can prevent cancer, especially colon cancer.

Raw Jackfruit has low glycemic index. Cooked Jackfruit dish should be consumed as main dish, once a day by diabetics along with a side dish rich in protein. It brings down and gradually normalises blood sugar, if consumed daily. 

Chakka puzhukku is made with matured jackfruit bulbs, inside the jackfruit. Remove the seeds from the bulbs before chopping.

Preparation: 

• Cook the chopped jackfruit flesh with *turmeric and **water in a pressure cooker for 2 whistles. (i cooked in a 3 liter cooker). The bigger the cooker the lesser the whistles. Set aside, till the pressure inside becomes normal. 
• Grind the grated coconut cumin seeds, garlic, green chilly and turmeric powder. 
• Open the cooker and mash the jackfruit flesh. Add the ground mixture and salt. Mix well once more. Cover and cook on low flame for five minutes or until all the excess water is absorbed. 
• Add 3 teaspoons of coconut oil. Mix and serve.
• Can be served as a main dish and side dish. 
• When served as a main dish, non vegetarians can have fish /meat curry as side dish and vegetarians can have tomato curry. 
• As a side dish this can be served along with rice or rice porridge (Kanji). 

Ingredients:

Jackfruit flesh - 2 1/2 cups (chopped) 

Fresh coconut - 1 cup (grated) 

cumin seeds - 3 pinches 

garlic cloves - 2 

Green chilly - 2 

Turmeric powder - 1/4  teaspoon

Salt 

Coconut oil - 3 teaspoon 

*Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon for cooking the jackfruit flesh. 

**water - 1/4 cup. 

***Link to Fried Jackfruit seeds:http://ashasnairrajesh.blogspot.com/2015/04/fried-jackfruit-seeds.html

Tender Jackfruit Stir Fry / Idichakka Thoran

Jackfruit is of tropical origin. It is the largest tree-borne fruit.  With the exception  of its spiky exterior,every part of this fruit is edible. At the tender stage it can be cooked into tasty side dishes. When the fruit matures further, it can still be used to prepare side dishes and can also be used to make chips. The best is when the fruit ripens, the jack fruit flesh is very sweet and it has a distinctive aroma. The sweet flesh can be consumed as it is or can be cooked into various sweet dishes. The seeds of the jackfruit are also edible. Check my recipe for *Fried Jackfruit Seeds. Seeds when consumed directly prevents constipation. Good for skin.

 The raw jackfruit contains lots of vitamin A and vitamin C. It is a source of dietary fiber,potassium, iron and magnesium which helps in the absorption of calcium. Antioxidants in it can prevent cancer, especially colon cancer.

Raw Jackfruit has low glycemic index. Cooked Jackfruit dish should be consumed as main dish, once a day by diabetics along with a side dish rich in protein. It brings down and gradually normalises blood sugar, if consumed daily.

Here i am preparing idichakka thoran with half of a tender jackfruit. The tender jackfruit i purchased was around 9 inch tall when held by the stem. Remove the spiky green exterior skin. This is the hardest part in the whole process.  Things to do before cutting the jackfruit:1. spread out a sheet of paper beneath the jackfruit, so that the sticky sap coming out will not spoil your counter top, 2. apply oil on your hands as well as the knife, so that it will be easier to clean later.

Method:
Cut the skinned jackfruit into 1 - 2 inch wedges. Wash the wedges. Add half a cup of water, half teaspoon salt, a pinch of turmeric to the wedges and cook in a pressure cooker. Remove from the fire after the first whistle. Allow to cool. When cool shred the wedges, either by pressing with spoon or using your bare hands. Some use a blender for the purpose. Keep the shredded jackfruit aside.

Grind coarsely coconut, garlic, green chillies, turmeric and cumin. Keep aside,

Keep a pan on medium flame. Add split black gram, mustard seeds, finely sliced shallots,oil, red chilly pieces and curry leaves. When the shallots are light brown add the ground coconut mixture and stir well. Then add the shredded jackfruit, salt to taste and mix thoroghly. Press the mixture down using a spoon and cook on low flame. After a minute, stir the jackfruit mix, press down once more and cook for one or two minutes.OR Continue this until the water content goes. Do not allow the mixture to get burnt at the bottom. Add 1or 2 teaspoons of coconut oil and remove from the stove.

Serve with rice.

Ingredients:

Tender Jackfruit - Half of one (cut into pieces)
Coconut (grated) 1/2 cup - 3/4 cup
Green chilly - 3 - 4 (according to taste)
Turmeric- 1/4 teaspoon
Garlic - 2
Cumin seeds - a pinch
Salt
Coconut oil - 1 - 2 teaspoons

For seasoning:
Shallots (thinly sliced) - 2 table spoons
Mustard seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
Split black gram (urad dal) - 1 table spoon
Coconut oil - 2 table spoons
Whole red chilly - 3  (each broken into 2 or 3 pieces )
Curry leaves - 1 sprig

*   http://ashasnairrajesh.blogspot.com/2015/04/fried-jackfruit-seeds.html