Jackfruit or Kathal (in Hindi) can be a very intimidating fruit and one that certainly piques curiosity. It can be cooked when green and up-ripe, as a in a savory dish or had as a sweet fruit in it’s ripen form. The texture is close to meat and hence known as Vegetarian meat and can be substituted in a lot of non-vegetarian dishes. Here we have made Kathal Kebab, a recipe similar to Shammi Kebab, perfect for those vegetarian guests or when you are in the mood for something different. Enjoy these delicious kebabs and remember to serve them with a side of Green Mint Chutney.
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 45 min + cooling time
Makes: 25-30 pieces
Ingredients:
Jackfruit – 500gm / 1 lb / 2 cans (250gm each), peeled, drained & cubed
Channa Dal – 1/2 cup, washed and drained
Onions – 1/2 of a large one, roughly chopped
Garlic Cloves – 6
Ginger – approx 2 tbsp, roughly chopped
Green Chillies – to taste
Garam Masala – 2 tsp
Black Peppercorns – 1/2 tsp or to taste
Salt – to taste
Dry Methi (Fenugreek) leaves – 1/2 tsp
Water – 1 cup
Dry Mint Leaves – 1 tbsp
Fresh Lime Juice – 1 tbsp
Egg – 1 (or boiled potato – mashed)
Oil – for pan-frying
Panko Breadcrumbs – for coating
Method:
1. Prep the Jackfruit and put into a pressure cooker.
2. Also add in Channa Dal, Onions, Garlic, Ginger, Green Chillies, Garam Masala, Salt, Black Peppercorns, Dry Methi Leaves and Water.
3. Mix well, close pressure cooker and allow it to whistle once on med-high flame, reduce flame to low and cook for 25-30 minutes. Allow the pressure to go down by itself.
4. Once the pressure has gone down, open and stir and allow the mixture to cool down a bit before food-processing it.
5. Transfer to the food-processor, saving 1/4 of the mixture and Dry Mint Leaves.
6. Blend until it’s an even consistency. May need to push down and help blend well.
7. Once done, add in the mixture that we saved to the food-processor and pulse a few times.
8. Transfer into a bowl and add Fresh Lime Juice.
9. Check seasonings and Salt. Break an Egg and mix well.
10. Heat a skillet with a few teaspoons of Oil to pan fry.
11. In a plate, put some Panko. Make flat round kebabs of the mixture and coat it in the Panko bread crumbs.
12. Put the Kebabs on the hot skillet and cook on both sides. You may need to drizzle additional Oil and cook.
13. Once both sides are light golden brown, take off the skillet and serve hot with chutney.
Tip:
1. They are great make ahead and re-heat in the oven or skillet for parties.
2. Great to make a big batch and freeze for later use.
Hello Anuja and Hetal
You guys are doing a fantastic job. I have made this and it was delicious.
Question # 7 inquiring about the ingredient stuck in the center of the Kebabs has no answer yet.
This is a brilliant recipe especially for those who don’t like jackfruit’s original texture. Kids will love this…
Thanks Neha! Glad you think so, too 🙂
The video did not work. Could you please look into it? Love your all recipes.
Looking forward to try this appetizer.
Thanks
Interesting recipe. In the final presentation photograph, what is that ingredient stuck in the center of the kabab? is it a raisin?
Another question. Using fresh unripe jackfruit, are the large seeds removed or left in? Thanks and love your videos.
After cooking (pressure cooking), if you can still feel the seeds, then you need to remove them. Sometimes, there is a skin on the seeds that is hard to chew and inedible, that needs to be removed as well.
All these are dependent on how young a Jack Fruit you use, the really young ones, the seeds are soft and can be cooked as well.
Hope that helps.
How would the cooking change if using fresh unripe jackfruit?
The cooking time may increase a bit but overall, everything else remains the same.
did not like this one
ok….
Have you tried it? We love it.
But as we always say, every dish/recipe is not for everyone – we are all unique and have taste buds that can’t be explained.
Happy Cooking!
you meant ginger instead of garlic 🙂 in the video
I caught that, too. 😉
Yup, we messed up and mentioned that it was an oops moment for us 🙂
Hi Hetal and Anuja,
Yay Anuja is back 🙂 in last video I missed her.. Your recipes are great and they never fail and disappoint me. Though I few questions to ask can we add coriander and mint in the mixture? If I add mashed potato in the kebab mixture will it taste like vegetable cutlet?
Thanks
Hi Hetal & Anuja,
Love you both.. Your recipes are great and they never fail..
Amazing recipe as usual. I have few queries about it.. Can we add coriander and mint both? If I add mashed potato will it taste like vegetable pakoda.
Hi Aditi,
Yes, you can add both coriander as well as mint. Regarding the potatoes, we add just a bit of potatoes – max 1, just to help with the binding.