Chakka Varati/Jack-fruit Jam

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 20 – 25 mins | Makes – 1 bowl

Ingredients

Chakkai/Jackfruit puree – 2 cups
Grated Jaggery – 1 cup
Cardamom Powder – 2 tsp
Ginger Powder – 1 tsp (Optional)
Ghee – 3 tbsp
Water – 1/2 cup

Method

1. Remove the seeds carefully from the fruit and wash the pulp and blend it in a mixture without water.
2. In a pan, heat water and add grated jaggery and melt it completely. Boil it for sometime so that the jaggery water thickens up slightly.
3. Heat a non-stick or heavy bottomed pan, filter the jaggery water and allow it to boil.
4. Now add the jack-fruit puree to it and keep stirring. Once you add the jack-fruit puree the mixture starts to splutter to keep it in a low flame and stir well.
5. Now add cardamom powder and ginger powder. Mix well.
6. Once the mixture starts to thicken start adding ghee slowly and stir well.
7. Keep stirring occasionally and add the remaining ghee as well.
8. Once the mixture is cooked well switch off the heat and allow to cool completely.
9. Once cooled, store it in an air tight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 month.

I made chakka pradaman using chakka varati for Tamil New Year/Vishu.

Notes

1. Always use a clean dry spoon to take the jam out of the container.
2. You can use this jam to make payasam/pradhaman or can use it as such for breads.
3. Increase or decrease the amount of jaggery based on the sweetness of the fruit. The fruit I used was deep orange in color and very sweet.
4. I used one medium size fruit to get 2 cups of jack-fruit puree. The quantity might vary depending on the fruit size.