Meena's Taste Mantra

Chakkavaratti | Jackfruit Jam

Come Jackfruit season and Appa has to get fresh ripe Jackfruits so that Amma makes Chakkavaratti! Amma Appa love jackfruit...I prefer them in a bit more processed form like Chakkavaratti or delicacies prepared from this jam such as Elai Adai and Chakkapradamam | Kheer.

During the season...fresh ripe juicy Jackfruit is selected and them made into this exotic Jam with a strict warning "This is for storing and not immediate consumption". We had been to South last year and Appa manged to get the best quality Chakkai from Kodaikanal. It was a hilarious experience right from packing two heavy duty chakkais in our baggage and then at the Security screening...the Security Personnel giving us mysterious glances! But Appa was oblivious to all that and his only concern was his lovely chakkais reach home INTACT and by God's grace and Amma's packing skills they did! This Chakkavaratti is from those famed Chakkais!

Ingredients:

1 kg Chakka Cholai | Jackfruit, cleaned and de seeded

250 gm Vellam | Gur | Jaggery

1 tsp Homemade Ghee | Clarified Butter
For Preserving:
Homemade Ghee | Clarified Butter
Sugar

Method:

Slice the Chakkai Cholais into small pieces.
Transfer cut pieces to a vessel that can be kept inside a pressure cooker and pressure cook for 5 whistles.
Once pressure is released, remove cooked jackfruit slices and keep to cool.
Grind them to a smooth batter, in batches.
Transfer this smooth jackfruit paste to a non stick kadhai and add grated jaggery.
Place kadai on gas on low flame stirring continuously till jaggery is melted and mixed well with jackfruit paste to form a thick dough like that of roti.
At this stage, add ghee, mix well.
Switch off the gas.
Chakkavaratti is ready and you can eat it as is or along with roti.
If you are storing this as we have done, you need to apply a coating of ghee and sprinkle sugar on top so that the Chakkavaratti remains fresh! Each time that you take out some portion, ensure you save the rest in the above mentioned manner! By doing so Chakkavaratti can last for years under refrigeration when kept in freezer!

About C R Meena

(c) 2014 - 2016, Meena's Taste Mantra is the result of my ardent desire to share my recipes, with all who appreciate and celebrate food. These recipes are as a result of 60 years of cooking experience, influenced by tradition and exposure to various concepts, new recipes/ingredients and a passion for cooking - adapting to healthier alternatives.