A sweet jackfruit recipe

This sweet jackfruit halva recipe is vegetarian, quick and easy to make. It is paleo, grain free and gluten free.

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Origins of this sweet jackfruit recipe

This is a traditional, recipe originating in Kerala, the southern most state of India. It is made with jackfruit, preserved in the form of a sweet jam. I call it chakka varattiyathu in Malayalam, my native language. Chakka means jackfruit and varattiyathu means cooked in a fat until there is no moisture left.

This recipe brings back fond memories of a corner snack room where my maternal grandmother used to keep jars of this delicious preserved jam, making it when the jackfruit is in season and then storing it for the rest of the year to distribute among her children and grandchildren. It was a laborious process, from harvesting the jackfruit from trees in the backyard to separating the flesh from the fruit and making this recipe.

I chose the easy route. With the help of an Instant Pot and frozen organic jackfruit from Pitaya foods , this recipe can be made in under 25 minutes.

What is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit grows in tropical climates and is native to South India. It is the largest tree fruit in the world and has a tough spiky outer skin. I was bemused to find that the name jackfruit comes from the Portuguese word jaca that in turn is derived from, you guessed it right, the Malayalam word chakka.

The most commonly consumed part of jackfruit is the flesh, or fruit pods, which are edible both when ripe and unripe. It can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. The seeds are also edible. Read more here. The flesh has a subtle, sweet taste and can be enjoyed in a number of ways. It has gained popularity in recent years in the west as a vegan meat replacement option because of its texture that resembles shredded meat.

What does Jackfruit taste like?

Jackfruit has a subtle sweet flavor, it is said to taste like a combination of different fruits like apples, pineapples, mangoes and bananas. It belongs to the fig and breadfruit family.

Is Jackfruit nutritious?

Jackfruit is high in nutrients and antioxidants and has numerous health benefits, including being a low glycemic index, fibrous, fruit that provides improved blood sugar control.

Is this recipe vegan?

No, this recipe uses ghee, hence it is vegetarian. I used coconut sugar (traditionally, jaggery is used to sweeten this recipe) from Madhava Foods in this recipe to make it paleo friendly.

Step by step method to make the Halva

Add the frozen, deseeded, jackfruit flesh and water to an Instant Pot.

Pressure cook on high for 4 minutes. Let it naturally release.

Transfer the cooked jackfruit along with the water to a blender and blend to a fine puree.

Transfer the blended paste to the Instant Pot and put it in sauté mode.

Sauté the puree for 8-10 minutes, stirring now and then until water evaporates from the puree and the mixture becomes a thick gluey consistency. (Stir now and then to make sure the jackfruit puree doesn’t stick to the bottom of Instant Pot)

Check sweetness of the puree and add coconut sugar to taste to the mixture.

Add 3 tbsp. of ghee little by little to the mixture, stirring continuously. You can find pure, organic, ghee from Pure Indian Foods. Use this link to get attractive offers at Pure Indian Foods.

Keep cooking until the mixture starts to leave the sides of the pot.

Spread all the spice powders on the mixture and mix well.

Transfer to a bowl and let it cool. Enjoy!

If you loved this yummy dessert with an exotic fruit, you should give my recipe nut-stuffed, baked persimmons a try too!