“Food is a lot of people’s therapy-
when we say comfort food, we really mean that.
 It’s releasing dopamine and serotonin in your
 brain that makes you feel good.”
~ Brett Hoebel

 

Kathal or Jackfruit (in English) is my Comfort Food… it’s the one food item that has been my LOVE since I was a little kid. You know how each one of us has that ‘specific’ food that Mum makes that makes our tummy and soul happy?! …Well, fried kathal is just that for me.

Now I know it’s not the healthiest food out there, but when I’m really craving something to uplift my spirits and make my soul happy – this is my go-to recipe!

So let’s dive right in… Remember you don’t need to use this recipe as is – twist it around a little to suit your taste and I bet you’ll love it!

 

Ingredients

 

• Unripe Kathal/Jackfruit (I usually use about 250 gms – serves 2 people for 1 meal)

• 1 large red onion, chopped up roughly

• 1 tomato, chopped up

• 2 green chillies, chopped

• 1/2 tbsp Ginger – Garlic (adrak-lehsun) paste

• 1 tsp garam masala

• 1 tsp chilli powder (if you like it really spicy, go crazy with it!)

• 1 tsp coriander (dhania) powder

• 1 tsp turmeric (haldi) powder

• Salt to taste

• Coriander leaves, finely chopped

• Oil for deep frying

 

 

Method

 

• Start by washing the kathal/jackfruit. I personally like to buy kathal/jackfruit that has already been peeled and cut into pieces. But if not, then you’ll also have to peel and cut it into small cubes. TIP: apply some oil into your hands before you peel and cut kathal/jackfruit as a lot of people feel itchiness and discomfort while handling this fruit. Massaging oil into your palms will ensure you feel no such discomfort.

 

• Heat oil in a pan/kadhai for deep frying. Once the oil is hot, gently place the kathal/jackfruit pieces into the oil and deep fry until they are golden brown.

 

• Once done, you can take them out of the oil and place them on absorbent paper/kitchen roll to absorb the excess oil.

 

• In a pan, take 2 tbsp of oil and add in the chopped onions. Sauté until it turns golden brown. I like to add in salt at this point to help the onions lose their moisture.

 

• Next, add in the ginger-garlic (adrak-lehsun) paste and keep stirring the masala until it’s all a nice golden-brown colour.

 

• Add in the green chillies and stir again before you add in the tomatoes next.
  

 

• Sauté for about 5 more minutes on medium heat.

 

• Once your masala is nice and brown, add in your masalas.

 

• Sauté for another 2 minutes till you see the oil separate from the masala.

 

• Finally add in the kathal/jackfruit pieces that we fried earlier.

 

• Make sure you mix everything well and coat all the kathal/jackfruit pieces with the masala.

 

• Add in a tiny amount of water into the pan and cover it with a lid. Cook on medium heat for about 5 minutes.

 

• Add finely chopped coriander leaves and serve hot. Your fried kathal/jackfruit is ready to eat!

 

You can enjoy this recipe with rotis or paranthas…you could also eat this with rice and dal (lentils)…not just that – you can also shred the kathal/jackfruit pieces and make a yummy burger or sandwich with it!

I hope you guys give this recipe a try… if you do, I’d love to hear back from you – so please leave me a comment down below!

Until we meet again!
xoxo