Kathal Ki Sabzi Recipe | Jackfruit Curry

Our easy jackfruit curry or kathal ki sabzi recipe scores at the top of our list of recipes to make with the wondrously delicious jackfruit – known as kathal in Hindi. Savoury, slightly tangy, and gently spiced, this is the best jackfruit curry I have had the pleasure of eating. Made Delhi style without the addition of onion or garlic, our kathal ki sabji is often eaten as a meat substitute for vegetarians due to it’s texture and bite, but it would be a travesty to relegate this to just a substitute. It’s delicious and shines as a dish that can hold its own against any other Indian curry, veg or non veg.
 

▲ Jackfruit Curry is a wondrously delicious dish that needs to be tried

Where is Jackfruit eaten?

Jackfruit is eaten widely in South and South-east Asia. Both the ripe and unripe fruit is eaten. Ripe as a fruit and unripe as a vegetable that is cooked. This summer fruit is the state fruit of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the national fruit of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. While jackfruit can be purchased in its fresh form in various Indian cities and towns (cut and whole), elsewhere in the world it is available in canned or frozen forms. Jackfruit flour is considered highly nutritious and is a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour. Jackfruit chips, noodles, kababs, biryani, pulao, and pickles are also widely eaten.
 

▲ Gently tip jackfruit - kathal into hot oil in a pan

Why is Jackfruit a good meat substitute?

jackfruit is often referred to as 'vegetarian meat' due to its fibrous texture and meaty flesh. When cooked, the texture is close to that of mutton or lamb. It also has the ability to pick up the flavours of the ingredients it is cooked in, making for a tasty dish. It has become very popular in vegan cuisine with jackfruit recipes like pulled jackfruit sliders and pulled jackfruit tacos common in the vegan landscape.
 

▲ Fry the jackfruit - kathal till golden brown all over
 

▲ Add spices to the oil followed by the chopped tomatoes while making the masala

What is the difference between raw jackfruit and ripe jackfruit? Are both eaten?

While our jackfruit curry recipe uses raw and unripe jackfruit, both raw and ripe jackfruit is loved by many. Ripe jackfruit is yellow in colour versus the white flesh of the unripe jackfruit. It is sweet and can be eaten on its own. It is often used to make desserts such as custards, cakes and more. Jackfruit seeds are boiled or roasted and eaten as a snack and the leaves are used to wrap and steam food.

Fun fact: Jackfruit is the largest tree fruit in the world.
 

▲ Stir and cook till the tomato is cooked through and the oil leaves the masala

Is Jackfruit healthy?

Yes, jackfruit is healthy and is sometimes even called a superfood for its various health benefits. It is not only rich in Vitamin C and B vitamins, but also contains folate, potassium, and magnesium. Ripe jackfruit gets a yellow colour due to the carotenoids, and hence is rich in Vitamin A too. The carotenoids are antioxidants that also protect the body from illnesses such as heart disease and cancers.
 

▲ Add the jackfruit - kathal and stir to mix  with the tomato masala

Ingredients for our kathal ki sabzi recipe

Our kathal ki sabji recipe can be easily rustled up with ingredients and spices commonly found in most Indian kitchens. Besides raw, chopped kathal (jackfruit) and oil, you will need cumin seeds, asafoetida or hing it is known in Hindi, green chillies, coriander powder, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, fennel or saunf powder, finely chopped tomatoes, dried mango powder or amchur, garam masala powder, and salt. Yogurt and fresh coriander leaves are also required.
 

▲ Add hot water to the jackfruit - kathal masala

How to make jackfruit curry well

Cutting Jackfruit:

Many people prefer to buy jackfruit that has already been peeled and cubed by the vegetable vendor as it has a thick and prickly outer layer which is a bit of a task to remove. Jackfruit also has a sticky sap on the inside, and hence a professional knife is better suited to cutting it. Cook's tip: Use well-oiled hands if you are cutting jackfruit yourself and ideally use a big knife with a sharp blade. Some people even prefer to wear gloves while cutting it for easy handling. Oil prevents the sap from sticking to your hands.

▲ Cover and cook till the jackfruit - kathal is tender and cooked through, about 25 minutes

Leftover Kathal:

Since jackfruit is large and you may have leftover raw jackfruit after using what you need for our kathal ki sabji recipe, you can store it in the fridge and use it within two-three days or parboil it and place it in a ziploc bag for freezing. Freeze and use within a month.
 

▲ Finish the dish by adding dried mango powder (amchur), garam masala powder, and then stirring yogurt through for a couple of minutes

Frying the kathal:

Jackfruit or kathal is usually deep fried to make it tender (or at least fried in 1/2-inch of oil). If you prefer to avoid deep-frying, you can choose to air-fry the jackfruit as well. To air-fry, brush the jackfruit with oil and place in the air-fryer till it takes on a golden-brown colour.

Masala preparation for Jackfruit curry:

To make the kathal ki sabzi well, after the kathal has been fried, use part of the oil reserved from frying the kathal to prepare the masala. The fried kathal must be added to the masala only after the oil separates from the masala.
 

▲ Garnish with coriander leaves and serve the jackfruit curry hot
 

Yogurt should be whisked to a  smooth consistency. It is added in the end and gives a creamy texture and slightly tangy taste to the kathal ki sabzi.

Serving suggestions for our Jackfruit Curry Recipe

This easy jackfruit curry is one dish that can be served for daily meals with a side of hot chapatis smeared with ghee and also at celebratory meals and get-togethers for a more elaborate meal. Garnish this kathal sabji with chopped fresh coriander leaves and serve it hot with chapatis or breads of your choice. It can also be served with dals or curries, pomegranate raita, and fresh kachumber salad to make a complete meal.

Variation: Use any leftover kathal sabzi in a taco shell and top with shredded cabbage, onion slices, and cheese for a tasty treat the next day.
 

▲ Time to eat - delicious kathal ki sabzi | Jackfruit Curry
 

Learn how to make tasty kathal ki sabji at home with step by step photos and video recipe. Find the easiest way to cook Jackfruit Curry including all ingredients and cooking method right here.

And if you have an interest in learning about Indian cuisine, read more in our article on Traditional Indian Cooking Techniques.