More about our biggest fruit - Jack fruit

Jack fruit is a common fruit, which is familiar to everyone. But no one knows about its precious value. We have to know from young jack fruit to its ripened form. Small jack fruit is used in making a delicious food known as "idichakka thoran” in Kerala. In Kerala the jack fruit is called in the name 'Chakka". We can make many wonderful dishes like 'sambar' using small jack fruit. The grown jack fruit is more delicious fruit for all the people. Some of the important food items prepared in Kerala using jack fruit are, "jack fruit pappad" and "jack fruit erissery". "jack fruit erissery" is one of the famous curry in Kerala prepared suing jack fruit. These are usually prepared in Kerala for some of the festivals. Fried jack fruit or jack fruit chips is used as tea or coffee snacks.

Next we have to understand about the uses of ripened jackfruit. The ripened jackfruit is a common fruit which is very tasty to eat. Ripened jackfruit is used for the preparation of jackfruit jam. For the preparation of jackfruit jam we have to cut the jackfruit and take the fruit from it one by one and put them together in wide container. Then add some water to its level and heat it for an hour. After one hour it will become a paste like form by continuous stirring. Then add some jaggery and ghee to it and stir. After half an hour it will become a golden colored paste which is known as jackfruit jam. The jam can be put in a tight container and can be stored for many years by placing it in a cool place.

We can make many sweet foods by using this jackfruit jam. The names of some of the food items prepared in Kerala with the help of jackfruit jam are jackfruit appam, Jackfruit dosa. These are very famous and delicious food items. The seeds of the jackfruit are also an important item for preparing many dishes. Jackfruit contains many vitamins and minerals that are needed for our better health We can plant more and more jackfruit trees in our farms and houses and can use them for variety of purposes.

Jack fruit chips is one of the popular and tasty dish of Kerala. These Chips are made using young jack fruit

Ingredients

1. Slices of jack fruit - 10 or 12 slices

2. Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon

3. Salt - as per need

4. Oil - for frying

Method of preparation

1. Cut the slices of jack fruit to thin pieces and put it in a bowl.

2. Mix the turmeric powder and salt to the thin jack fruit pieces and place it for 5 minutes.

3. Place a frying pan in the gas stove and add oil to heat.

4. Take the mixed jack fruit pieces to the oil to fry.

5. Fry until the pieces becomes crispy.

6. Take the pan from the gas stove and put the fried chips to a serving plate.