Palakaai Thoran is a sweet and savory dish made of tender jackfruit and plenty of coconut. Jack fruit is a well known tropical fruit with a distinct aroma and sweet nector taste when ripe. Its tender version, Palakai in Tamil or Kathal as it is called in the Hindi, is also popular fruit and used as a vegetable when tender. It make an awesome candidate for savory dishes, and recently been a popular meat substitutes in many cuisines especially in Thai curries,Tacos and Burgers.
Some of my favorite Indian dishes are Kathal ki Biryani, Kathal ki sukhi sabzi (Jackfruit dry fruit), Palakai tengai kari ( Jackfruit coconut fry). I am itching to try those dishes for other dishes from other cuisines using jackfruit as well.
Even though the jackfruit is widely available in stores here, it is hard to find fresh tender jackfruit in US and usually the only option is to get it froze. Here I have used the frozen tender jackfruit but its goes without saying, fresh veggie is always better but bit more work when it comes to cleaning and cutting.
I have added the steps for prepping both the frozen fruit and the fresh one.
Palakai Thoran | Tender Jackfruit stir fry
Ingredients :
Jack fruit – 2 cup
Coconut – 1/2 cup shredded
Turmeric -1/2 tsp
For tempering:
Mustard seeds – 1 tsp
Curry leaves – 1 strand
Urad dal
Salt to taste
Pinch of sugar.
Hing/Asafoetida – 1/2 tsp
Red chillis – 1-2
Oil – 2tsp
Preparing tender jackfruit
If using frozen jack fruit:
– First defrost the required amount of the jackfruit.
– Once defrosted, microwave it for 4 to 5 min at 1 min interval to remove excess moisture.
– Once the excess moisture is removed, pulse it in mixture and shred it.
– Do not grind it for too long as it will become mushy. You want it to be course.
If using fresh tender jack fruit:
– Oil your hand thoroughly.
-Peel of the thick skin and the scaly part to get to the flesh of fruit. The tender jackfruit is little bit different from the fruit.
– Break the jackfruit into small pieces and cook with a bit of salt and turmeric on stove top till soft and done.
– Or in Instapot. Turn Instapot to manual mode and pressure cook for about 4-5 mins ( or till its well cooked).
– Make sure to add about 1/2cup of water for 2 cups of the fresh jack fruit. (You just want to speed up the cooking but it should still hold shape)
Method:
Stove top method:
- Once you have prepped the fruit as mentioned above its ready to cook.
- Pulse the cooked jackfruit it in the mixie to get the shredded consistency.
- In a small pan add oil and add mustard seeds, when it starts to crackle add in the urad dal and the red chillis.
- When the dal turns golden brown add the curry leaves, hing powder and give it a quick stir.
- Now add the cooked and shredded veggie to the pan.
- Cover and cook the mix for 2-3 mins.
- Once the veggie is cooked add in the shredded coconut to it and give it a quick stir.
- The most delicious Jack-fruit kari ready to taste.
Instapot Method
If you wish to make this in Instapot it can be done in jifty:
- Once you have prepped the fruit as mentioned above its ready to cook.
- Pulse the cooked jackfruit it in the mixie to get the shredded consistency.
- Turn on the Instapot to saute mode in and add oil and add mustard seeds,
- When it starts to crackle add in the urad dal and the red chillis. when the dal turns golden brown add the curry leaves, hing powder.
- Add the shredded jack fruit and give it a quick stir.
- Then change the mode to manual add few tbs of water. Now cover and cook it for 2 mins.
- Once the veggie is cooked turn IP to saute mode again add in the shredded coconut.
- Give it a quick stir. and remove in to another bowl.
- The most delicious Jack-fruit kari/poriyal ready to taste.
One thought