Sunday, January 29, 2012

Chakka Varatti / Jackfruit Halwa

Chakka varatti is a speciality of Kerala. Typically these are made during the summer season when the Jackfruits are in abundance as a way of preserving the fruit.  During the summers my mom's kitchen would have at least one uruli (thick bottomed bell metal cookware) bubbling with chakka varatti in progress. I was such a lover of this that on some days I would have just this alone for break fast. Though it may sound a bit weird to some, if you were a jackfruit and sweet lover like me, you won't mind having it as breakfast yourself. As a fruit preserve, this can be stored for months altogether and can be converted into the chakka pradhaman (the jackfruit payasam) in a jiffy. This way you can enjoy the goodness of jackfruit, year round, even when jackfruits are not in season.
Ingredients
Jackfruit - 7 cups
Jaggery - 1 kg
Dry ginger powder - 1 tsp
Cardamom powder - 1 tsp
Ghee -  2 to 3 tbsp or as required
Cashews - 2 tbsp optional
Method
Take a heavy bottom pan and add ghee, melted and starined jaggery, and pureed jackfruit.  Stir continuously until it becomes thick and the mixture leaves the sides of the pan and roll to form a soft ball. Add dry ginger powder, cardamom powder and ghee roasted cashew.Transfer it to a greased plate.Cut into desired shapes when it cools.
Sending this to Kerala Kitchen hosted by Kaveri 
Kerala Kitchen - Jan 1st to 31st 2012

17 comments:

  1. Mmm...That's my favorite too..I also don't mind having it for breakfast..but since we were never in Kerala, as such, could not lay hands on enough Jackfruit..but always made a small batch, with which mom used to prepare ela adai and pradhaman.
    Thanks for linking it

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  2. superb recipe there Vidya...i have been searching for this recipe for some time....nice to see a mouthwatering one....will try this soon.


    next month's Kerala Kitchen is being hosted by me..the announcement will be made tomorrow...do send in your recipes...

    cheers

    roshan

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  3. Halwa looks yummy and delicious..

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  4. Yummy halwa,sounds so delicious.

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  5. wow..thats a fab, spft & delish looking halwa!!
    Prathima Rao
    Prats Corner

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  6. enikku kothiyavunnu...im aiting for chakka season

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  7. Omg, feel like grabbing that plate and having rite now those super tempting halwa..

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  8. Hey ingane kothipikanno...Njan ee pravishyam nattil poyal attack cheyan ammenodu indakki vekkan paranjittundu...Super aayittundu ketto..

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  9. wow, these are so yummy halwa, feel like having it now :)

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  10. very tempting halwa...its been very long time i had these halwa...looks so yummy!!

    Spicy Treats
    OnGoing Event ~ Dish It Out-Brinjal n Garlic

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  11. Very new recipe for me.....a must try.

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  12. Quiet new to me !! looks wonderful !!

    Ongoing Event - CC-Chocolate Fest

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  13. Vidhya one of my close friend back home is from palghat, I have enjoyed enough of this goodness in her house. Making me feel nostalgic and craving for some right now.

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  14. I love jackfruits an your pics are making me drool!

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  15. My grandma used to make this and I'm crazy about it... It's been a while since I had this. Now that I'm in Kerala and its Jack fruit season I can try this... Thanks for sharing the recipe... :)

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  16. First time here...I love Chakka varati.since my mom is from tvm,we were introduced to all Kerala specialities...

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