Jackfruit is one of heaviest fruit, here are tips to successfully how to cut Jackfruit and extract its fruit and seed. This is more cheaper than store bought sliced ones.
Here is the picture of full fruit
Jackfruit is one of my favorite fruit. In Kerala during summer months that is from April to June there will be an abundance of jackfruit and mango. There are several varieties of mango, but only two kinds of Jackfruit. The jackfruit fruit is the largest tree-borne fruit some time reach about 80 pounds (36 kg) in weight and up to 36 inches (90 cm) long and 20 inches (50 cm) in diameter.
It is native of south East Asia and believed to originate in south western rain forest in India. This tree is widely cultivated in tropical regions of India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Jackfruit is also found in East Africa, e.g., in Uganda, Tanzania and Mauritius, as well as throughout Brazil and Caribbean nations such as Jamaica. It is heaviest fruit of world.
Two types of Jackfruit, Koozha chakka, the fruits of which have small, fibrous, soft, mushy, but very sweet carpels where as other one will be more important commercially, with crisp carpers of high quality known as Varika.
We eat Jackfruit in all forms, including young, unripe and ripe form. Young and unripe forms are used to make curries, stir-fry and chips. Where ripe ones will eat as such or some time convert them into a jam or preservative form called Chakka varatti with jaggery /unrefined sugar. It is not good for eating with bread because it is very viscous and hard to spread; and later used to make desserts and sweets with them.
If you ask me what taste of jackfruit is, I can’t explain in words, but here it is explain as cross of banana and pineapple.
In Kerala, almost every house will have trees like, coconut, mango, jackfruit, banana etc. I remember my grandma used to cut two three unripe jackfruit using a big knife we call it vettukathi (Machete) .
How to cut a Jackfruit ?
It is not easy to clean the jackfruit as it oozed out latex which is so sticky; you need newspapers and coconut oil. Whenever latex oozes you need to removes it with newspaper and then apply coconut oil over it. First you need to cut the fruit into two then removes inedible central core and patiently removes each fruit and its fibrous rag and then cut open and removes the seeds. If it is unripe she will cut into 4 pieces and makes chips.
If you find your fingers getting sticky make sure to apply coconut oil in fingers as well as knife you used to cut them.
Usually our neighbor will join the cleaning process as she had a cow which liked to eat jackfruit cover and rags, and a goat who loved to eat jackfruit leaves. I can only dream nowadays about chips. I have seen jackfruit chips in Indian store; unfortunately nobody knows when it is made.
With that I made Jackfruit preserve pudding and steamed rice packet with sweetened jackfruit preserve. Then I realized how much pain grandma used to take to make the preserve and chips. When I was young she used to ask me if I can help with removing the seeds, and then I will tell Grandma, I have to play. But I will be timely present for chips when it is removed from the oil. Love to munch at any time of the day. She will be giving to me in my small bowl, telling that it is hot eat is carefully, otherwise you will burn yourself.
Here are following steps you need to take to cut the jackfruit . You can use this techinque for cutting non-ripe one too, but not tender ones as tender we use everything except the peel.
First remove the top thick sponge like white portion of the jackfruit
Remove the top portion like this
Extract the fruit like this
Fruit with immature fruit
Remove chunk of the white fibers at the top of the fruit
After slicing the fruit you will see the seed
.
Fruit with seed
Here is Jackfruit after removing from immature fruits
Last week when my hubby went to Indian store, he saw a jackfruit and normally it cost the price of gold. But he was able to get in lesser prices. When I saw them in Fiesta local grocery there is not much fruit in there, but price was sky high. In Hong Kong market it was the same story. So when he brought it home, it was like a million dollar to me.
I remembered the entire tip and tricks my grandma used to say and do while cutting it. Finally I was able to get 50 pieces. Yesterday I cooked the seeds with little turmeric and salt and removed skin and made stir-fry with onion and red chilies.
If you get a whole jack fruit cut it in the middle to form two halves. Once you cut it don’t touch the center core, you will see sticky latex; first remove that latex using oiled tissue paper. Then cut out central core just like pineapple.
The cut the bulbs from its base, if it is ripe one you can just pull them out and remove chunk of the white fibers at the top of the fruit. Then peel back all of the white fibers (actually they are immature fruits) surrounding the fruit. As only yellow part is edible. Make a cut from top to bottom of the yellow fruit to extract the seed.
Wash and keep the seed for future use. Best you can make curries with itor just boil in salted water and eat or you can even roast them.
If you get a chance to buy this fruit, buy and try them. It is delicious.
Ready to consume. Fruits peeled into halves.
Jackfruit seeds
Recipes with Jackfruits
Jackfruit Coconut Muffins
Jackfruit shortbread cookies with cardamom
Chakka appam/Steamed Jackfruit Rice Cake
Jackfurit milk shake
Chakka payasam /Jackfruit pudding
Jackfruit icecream
Jackfruit preserve
Chakka pradaman
Tender Jackfruit Stir Fry with Coconut
Plantain and jackfruit stir fry
How to Cut Jackfruit
Jackfruit is one of the heaviest tropical fruit. Here is the tips for successfully cut them.
Yield: 20 servings
Cost: $13 for 20 lb
Equipment
- Knife
Materials
- 1 19-20 pound Jackfruit
- 3 tbsp Coconut oil
Instructions
- If you get a whole jack fruit cut it in the middle to form two halves.
- Once you cut it don’t touch the center core, you will see sticky latex; first remove that latex using oiled tissue paper.
- Then cut out central core just like pineapple.
- The cut the bulbs from its base, if it is ripe one you can just pull them out and remove chunk of the white fibers at the top of the fruit.
- Then peel back all of the white fibers (actually they are immature fruits) surrounding the fruit.
- As only yellow part is edible. Make a cut from top to bottom of the yellow fruit to extract the seed.
This is Swathi ( Dr. Ambujom Saraswathy Ph.D) from Zesty South Indian Kitchen who loves to explore cuisines from all over the world. Whenever possible I try to to give an Indian touch to several of the world cuisine, and has weakness for freshly baked bread. All the recipes you see here are created by me and approved after taste-test by my family.
Mich PieceofCake says
My family is big on jackfruit but do not have the courage to buy such a large one. Thanks so much for the tips on how to cut... very useful.
Cindy DG says
I need to try jackfruit! 🙂 Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! Its awesome bloggers like you that make our party wonderful! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 See you next Friday! Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Divya Pramil says
Love jack-fruit its too good..Well explained dear!! A very useful tutorial Swathi 🙂
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mjskit says
I've never had Jackfruit before nor have ever seen one. Thanks for all of the pictures and the great tutorial!!!!
Priya says
Omg, do you get fresh jackfruits there Swathi,you are sooo lucky dear, such an excellent post, definitely useful for many of us.
Julie says
lovely & useful post dear..am drooling here looking at the ripe ones,yummy!!
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Candace says
I adore mangoes; but I've never heard of jackfruit. What an interesting post! I love discovering new foods. Now if I could just find some of those to try, I would be all set. I can't believe how pretty the seeds are.
From Calculus to Cupcakes says
Very interesting post! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday! Don't forget to come back Sunday and vote.
Lizzy Do says
Jackfruit is one of those exotic fruits that I only read about in blog posts! I'm hoping some day to have a taste 🙂
Rosita Vargas says
Interesante fruta y gracias por sus consejos,abrazos hugs,hugs.
Shailaja Reddy says
Very useful post. While cutting jack fruit apply oil to the knife & hands.
Vijayalakshmi Dharmaraj says
very sweet post n sweet fruit... i love it more... n 2 weeks before my uncle too clean the jack fruit, i thought to take fotos but at last stage only i remembered... be'coz i sat in front of my uncle n saw the whole procedure n had the fruit in between:-)
Navaneetham Krishnan says
Great info with so much of knowledge for me. Have you tried making a curry with the seeds?
Rani Acharyulu says
Nice and informative post. I love this big fruit.
Guru Uru says
A very clean and good cut my friend, thank you 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Sherin Deepu says
Kidilam. Hats off to u dear. Good post as well 🙂
kitchen queen says
wow I just love jack fruits and U have tempted and attracted me to grab all the flakes from the bowl as shown beautifully in the picture.Thanks for sharing.
Swasthi says
Thanks for sharing this swathi! very useful post.
Angie's Recipes says
I could almost smell this amazing fruit from here! These seeds look pretty cool.
Beena.stephy says
NICE PRESANTATION
radha says
Yes, it used to seem easy when it was done by someone else. When I attempted one a few years back I made a mess. Now I just buy a few of these peeled ones at an exorbitant price just to satisfy a craving!
Amrita Vishal says
Very informative Swathi, I guess now I can take the courage to try one myself!!
Sanoli Ghosh says
Wonderful post with excellent write up dear. I had the raw jackfruit in curry, but not the ripe one. But I admire your patience, Swathi.
Today's recipe:
http://sanolisrecipies.blogspot.com/2012/09/bengal-gram-fritters-curry-daler-borar.html
Jemini says
nice write up, my favorite fruit
Reshmi Mahesh says
Vayayil oru kudam vallam vennu...Swathi evideya...Oru chekka parcel ayakamo...Njan USil annu...Inni aayakan pattilengil inganne oro sadanam ittu kothipichu kollarathu...;)
Beautiful detailed post...Wish that I cud see one in our Indian store on next visit...;)
Swathi Iyer says
Yes I can Parcel one
Reshmi Mahesh says
Thanks dear...Ini samadanam aayi swapnam kandurangam...:)
Shweta in the Kitchen says
very useful & well explained.
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Reeni Pisano says
I never had jackfruit before Swathi! Thanks for teaching me all about it! I love hearing your stories.
DivyaGCP says
Useful post. It is one of my favorite fruit.
Divya's Culinary Journey
Smita says
Great post...took the help from your post to clean the chakka we bought on our last trip to the grocery store...mine was mostly raw...hope you dont mind if I link my chakka recipe to your "chakka cleaning" post
Swathi Iyer says
No problem, you can link.
Smita says
Thanks Swathi...
Here's the link to my post
http://tastebuds1.blogspot.com/2012/09/jackfruit-chips.html
Balvinder Ubi says
I love jack fruit and cook with it but I never learnt to cut it. Reason, when I was unmarried my mother cut it and after marriage our orderly did that job. Here I buy canned jack fruit. I am bookmarking this and will try cutting when ever I get a nice one.
Shri says
Swahti, where did you find this adorable giant and how much did you end up paying for it? :-D!
We always end up reaching there at the wrong time: monsoon soaked end-of-the season fruits await us! However, I have some home-made chakka varatti which keeps forever, if made with care. 🙂
Swathi Iyer says
I found this in Indian Store, Paid around 15 dollars for this Piece.
Yes visiting India just for chakka varatti is worth it. Because it is made by adding extra love.
divya says
wonderful post dear...
Suja Manoj says
Nice post dear,cleaning needs a little patience,but love it,chakkum chakkakuruvum kanichu kothipuchu 🙂
Swathi Iyer says
I have no choice, if you are here, I will give you Suja.