Sunday, April 21, 2013

Chakka Varatti/Jackfruit Preserve



I'm back with another Jackfruit post. Those who have been following my blog would’ve known that my Fil, recently got, 3 Jackfruits. With one of them, we prepared the chakka curry and the remaining, was made into this delicious Chakka Varatti or jackfruit jam/preserve.

Since my maternal grandparents were settled in Chennai, we used to come to Chennai from wherever we were for our summer vacations. So we never actually got many chances to visit Kerala, our native place and spend time there. I have very vague memories of my few visits to our village in Kerala, where my great grandparents lived. Though, few things are clearly etched in my memory, like running around the big house from the backyard to the front yard, playing hide and seek with my brother and others.



I cannot forget the food that was served there, fresh and hot. It tasted so good. Once when I visited, it was Jackfruit season, and I clearly remember my Great Grandma sitting and frying Jackfruit Chips, the aroma of coconut oil wafting throughout the house. I and my brother would stand next to her waiting for our share of fresh homemade chips. Everyone in the house would be invariably eating jackfruit dipped in honey. She also made Chakka Varatti in big uruli and packed for us to carry back. Even the Jackfruit seeds were used in Molagootal and Mezhukuperatti. So that’s how versatile this fruit is and how every part of it is used up in a delicious way. Hmmm….some precious memories.

Coming back to the present, like I said earlier, we made chakka varati with the remaining jackfruits. I owe this post totally to my FIL and Mil, without whom, this post would’ve never appeared on my space. Making Chakka varatti is easy but very laborious and time consuming. First the fruits need to be pulled out and deseeded. Then it is cooked and pureed and later cooked with jaggery, stirring every now and then. The whole process can easily take upto 3 hours (not including the cleaning of fruit). But the time depends on the quantity you are making. If you are preparing in lesser quantity, it will take lesser time. But I can assure you of a really sweet and delicious end result. Phew! A long post, after a very long time. Off to the recipe:



What you’ll need
  1. Jackfruit Puree – 6 cups *(refer notes)
  2. Powdered Jaggery – 6 cups
  3. Ghee – ¾ cup

Method
  1. Heat a heavy bottomed Kadai or Uruli, add the jaggery.
  2. Dissolve the jaggery in about 1 cup of water.
  3. Strain and remove the impurities. Wash the kadai and pour back the jaggery syrup into the kadai.
  4. Let it boil on medium heat till one string consistency.
  5. Then add the pureed jackfruit and cook on medium heat, stirring once in a while to avoid burning.
  6. Do not cook on high flame.
  7. Once all the moisture is absorbed and the mixture starts thickening add the ghee little at a time or whenever you feel the mixture sticking to the bottom.
  8. Keep stirring and cooking till the mixture leaves the sides of the kadai. To reach this stage it took me almost 3 hours for the 6 cups of jackfruit puree.
  9. Remove from flame and let it cool naturally. Transfer into clean containers and keep dry.

Delicious chakka varatti is ready. Eat it as it is or make ela adai, Pradhaman or have it with Adai or even as bread spread.



Note:
  1. Remove the fruit bulbs, deseed them. Pressure cook in a vessel for 3 whistles, with about ½ cup water. Allow to cool naturally and grind to a smooth paste.
  2. This preserve stays fresh for a long time if used with care. Do not use wet spoons or put your hand to remove the preserve.





25 comments:

Rafeeda AR said...

i've heard of chakka varatti, but never had it because in our home, whenever chakka is bought, it just finishes!!! this looks quite interesting... thank u for sharing such classic recipes! :)

Shella said...

This is really making me greedy!

Unknown said...

very new recipe to me. looks good and healthy. very nice clicks Kaveri

Divya A said...

Wow this looks super delicious.. :) Feel like grabbing that whole bowl, nice clicks :)

Sanoli Ghosh said...

Very new to me, would love to taste this yummy jackfruit jam.

Priya Suresh said...

The colour of the chakka varatti itself is very pleasing..Wat an authentic dish.

Hema said...

I have never tasted this, looks so delicious..

Unknown said...

I Simply love this. Thanks to your MIL & FIL.

Can understand how it must have tasted the entire area the aroma of the cVarti.

Unknown said...

Chakka varatti looks delicious Kaveri. I miss them here.

Unknown said...

its new to me dear.. will try it..

Nalini's Kitchen said...

Wow!!looks so tempting,was waiting for the recipe..nice clicks too..

Kaveri I have a doubt does it really need equal quantity of jaggery or it can be increased or decreased depending on the sweetness of the jackfruit.


divya said...

drooling out here... :)

Kaveri Venkatesh said...

@ Nalini: This measurement for the varatti is perfect...adding lesser amount may result in shorter shelf life as jaggery acts as preservative.

Julie said...

love this alot,missing it..yummmy!!

www.mahaslovelyhome.com said...

new t me..but tempting very much n ncie cliks kaveri..
MAHA

Unknown said...

I am sure this tastes wonderful, I am drooling over that thick sauce-ey varatti. Yum!

CS said...

Delicious and mouth watering. I miss it a lot as I haven't had it in 20 years. My aunt lived in Palakkad and made it all the time when we visited her. These are sweet memories from childhood.

Anonymous said...

point no 5 should be edited as it should say pureed cooked jackfruit pl take note...sunkan

Kaveri Venkatesh said...

@Sunkan..Thanks for pointing out..Have made the corrections

jp said...

preparing chakkavaratti in a nonstick, will be much dried for long term preservation with out much waste by sticking at bottom

www.mahaslovelyhome.com said...

New to me .tempting really

రవి said...

Madam,

I am watching your site recently and learned few recipes. My mother use to prepare these dishes, and she left us many years before. Now my wife is learning these, thanks to your site. :)

Chekkai varaTTi revoked all the sweet memories for me once again.

Thanks,
Ravi ENV

Anonymous said...

We are in Chennai n my grandma used to do this when we visit our native place.now my granma is no more n thank you for sharing this delicious receipe to us.

Praveen

shobhana said...

Hi,
I make small quantities of Chaka Varati by cooking the pieces in microwave for 10 minutes in a glass bowl with little water . Then cool and grind , prepare jaggery syrup add to the paste and microwave again for 20 minutes or till it thickens. This method is very easy and we can make in small quantities and preserve in fridge and use everyday with adai ,Dosai,etc.

Unknown said...

Is it for sale I love this and pl let me know if it can be prepared will send my person to habe it collected do let me know the price would need about 5 kgs

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