Jackfruit Kesari

Summer months in  India means ,  sultry hot day time but it also means arrival of summer vacations.  The market gets flooded with  Fruits such as  Mango and Jackfruit. Both the fruits , which are seasonal  are  loved and relished by one and all. Jackfruit ,  the tropical fruit is native to South India. However  it is difficult to cut and remove the sections of the fleshy  large fruit. It requires special skill and loads of patience as it is sticky and cumbersome . Once you cut them. after applying loads of coconut oil on your hands , this  yellow fleshy sweet  delight will  be devoured  in a jiffy. Jackfruit has loads of benefits. Its a amazing protein source and is alternative to meat .

In the South, lots of dishes are made from unripe and ripe jackfruit like curry , payasams , jams etc.  Jackfruit kesari too is a popular recipe , made when they are in season. Generally Kesari is made with semolina or vermicelli . However this Kesari is made with the jackfruit pieces only . Its a different and unique recipe.

Jackfruit Kesari

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • Jackfruits finely chopped 1 cup
  • Sugar 1 1/2 cups
  • Ghee 3/4 cup
  • Cahewnuts 10
  • Cardamom Powder half a teaspoon
  • Saffron few strands
  • water 1/4 cup

Method

Method

  1. In a deep thick bottomed kadai or saucepan , add  one teaspoon ghee and shallow fry cashewnuts till light brown.
  2. Remove and keep aside. Grease a plate with sides or a cake tin.
  3. Add  water to the sauce pan , boil. Add sugar to the boiling water and dissolve the sugar. Keep cooking in low heat till you get one string consistency.
  4. Add jackfruits bits and continue cooking till they become soft . Add rest of the ghee and cook till the mixture starts leaving the sides of the vessel.
  5. Add cardamom powder ,cashewnuts and saffron dissolved in a tablespoon of water to the mixture .
  6. Mix well . Once the mixture moves in one single mass ,transfer to a greased plate . Tap and let it settle.
  7. After it has cooled , cut into squares.
  8. Serve hot or cold and relish  when in season.