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08/04/2026
Kathal has a lot of recipe variations across India, and these dishes show how this one ingredient can turn into rich meals. From kofta and biryani to bhuijiya and regional curries, raw jackfruit adapts very well to spices. This article looks at five regional kathal recipes in detail for you to recreate easily at home. Dive deeper to know more.
Kathal, or raw jackfruit, has been a part of Indian kitchens for generations. It is known for its firm texture and ability to absorb spices. Kathal works well in a wide range of savoury dishes. While it is now recognised globally as a plant-based substitute, Indian regional cooking has long used kathal in everyday meals, from slow-cooked gravies in the north to coconut-based curries in the south. Kathal is versatile, which makes every kathal recipe unique and adaptable as per the regional and local flavours and cooking styles. Here are some kathal recipes from around the country that you can try this season.
There are a few reasons why kathal works well in savoury dishes:
Firm texture that holds shape during cooking
Absorbs spices easily
Works in both dry and gravy dishes
Adapts to regional masalas
Kathal koftas are soft jackfruit dumplings cooked in a rich gravy.
Ingredients
2 cups boiled and mashed kathal
2 tbsp besan
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
1 green chilli (chopped)
Salt to taste
Oil for frying
Gravy:
2 onions (chopped)
2 tomatoes (pureed)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp garam masala
Method:
Mix kathal with besan, spices, and shape into balls
Fry the balls until they turn golden, and keep aside
The next step is to prepare the gravy by cooking onions, tomatoes, and spices
Add water and let the curry simmer
Add koftas just before serving
This kathal recipe works best with roti or naan.
Kathal biryani is a layered rice dish with spiced kathal.
Ingredients:
2 cups kathal (parboiled)
1 cup basmati rice
1 cup curd
1 onion (sliced)
Whole spices
Mint and coriander
Method:
First of all, marinate kathal with curd and spices
Later, cook the rice till it is partially done
Cook kathal separately
Once the kathal is cooked, layer rice and kathal together
Add fried onions and herbs to the pot
Let the biryani cook on low heat (dum)
This kathal recipe is a complete one-pot meal ideal to enjoy the jackfruit to its fullest.
Kathal ki bhujiya is a dry and spiced stir-fry.
Ingredients:
2 cups kathal (boiled)
2 tbsp mustard oil
1 tsp panch phoron
1 onion
Turmeric, chilli powder, salt
Method:
Heat mustard oil and add spices
Add onions and cook
Add kathal and spices
Cook until dry and slightly crisp
These bhujiyas are ideal with dal and rice.
The chakka curry from Kerala is a mild, coconut-based kathal curry.
Ingredients:
2 cups jackfruit
1 cup coconut paste
Mustard seeds
Curry leaves
Coconut oil
Method:
For this recipe, cook jackfruit with turmeric in a pan
Later, add coconut paste to it and let it simmer
Prepare the tempering with mustard seeds and curry leaves
Lastly, pour over the curry
This curry pairs very well with rice or appam.
Kathal masala is a semi-gravy dish made with potatoes and spices.
Ingredients:
2 cups kathal
1 potato
Mustard oil
Onion, tomato
Turmeric, coriander powder
Method:
To make this, cook onions and tomatoes with spices
Add potatoes and kathal to it
Add water and simmer
Finish with garam masala
Kathal masala is best served with steamed rice.
Dish |
Texture |
Cooking Texture |
Best Paired With |
Kathal Kofta |
Soft and rich |
Gravy |
Roti |
Kathal Biryani |
Layered |
Dum |
Standalone |
Bhujiya |
Dry |
Stir-Fry |
Dal-rice |
Chakka Curry |
Creamy |
Coconut Based |
Rice |
Kathal Masala |
Semi gravy |
Curry |
Rice |
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