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A rich, dark, and intensely fruity preserve from Kerala, made by slow-cooking ripe jackfruit with jaggery and ghee. This traditional delicacy, known as Chakka Varatti, is a labor of love that results in a halwa-like consistency, perfect as a dessert or a key ingredient for other sweets like Chakka Pradhaman.
For 10 servings
Prepare the Jackfruit Pulp (Approx. 20 minutes)
Create the Jaggery Syrup (Approx. 7 minutes)
Begin the Slow Cooking Process (Approx. 40 minutes)
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A rich, dark, and intensely fruity preserve from Kerala, made by slow-cooking ripe jackfruit with jaggery and ghee. This traditional delicacy, known as Chakka Varatti, is a labor of love that results in a halwa-like consistency, perfect as a dessert or a key ingredient for other sweets like Chakka Pradhaman.
This kerala recipe takes 110 minutes to prepare and yields 10 servings. At 190.96 calories per serving with 0.82g of protein, it's a moderately challenging recipe perfect for dessert or snack.
Incorporate Ghee and Finish Cooking (Approx. 25 minutes)
Add Flavor and Cool (Approx. 5 minutes + cooling time)
For extra crunch and richness, stir in a tablespoon of chopped cashews or almonds fried in ghee along with the cardamom powder at the end.
Add 2-3 tablespoons of thinly sliced coconut pieces (thengai kothu), fried in ghee until golden, for a traditional Keralan touch.
While jaggery is traditional, you can use dark brown sugar or coconut sugar as an alternative, though it will alter the authentic taste and color.
Jackfruit is an excellent source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion, promotes regular bowel movements, and contributes to a feeling of fullness.
Jaggery is an unrefined sugar that retains more minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium compared to refined white sugar, contributing to overall mineral intake.
The combination of natural sugars from jackfruit and jaggery, along with the healthy fats from ghee, provides a quick and sustained source of energy.
Chakka Varatti is a traditional sweet and should be consumed in moderation. While jackfruit provides dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals, the dish is high in sugar from jaggery and fat from ghee, making it a calorie-dense dessert.
A 50g serving of Chakka Varatti contains approximately 190-210 calories, primarily from carbohydrates (jaggery and jackfruit) and fats (ghee).
When stored in a clean, dry, airtight container, it lasts for several weeks at room temperature. For longer shelf life, you can refrigerate it for up to 6 months.
The best type is a firm, ripe jackfruit, known as 'Varikka Chakka' in Malayalam. Avoid the softer, mushier varieties as they contain more water and will take much longer to cook down.
This usually happens if the jackfruit variety used had high water content or if it wasn't cooked long enough. Continue to cook on a low-medium flame, stirring continuously, until it reaches the right consistency where it leaves the sides of the pan.
Yes, you can use white or brown sugar, but it will significantly change the flavor, color, and aroma. Jaggery provides a distinct, earthy sweetness that is characteristic of the authentic dish.