Jackfruit Chips | Chakka Varuthathu | Chakka Upperi & Happy Vishu !!!

" Wishing all Keralites a very happy & prosperous Vishu !! "

Vishu is a festival of feasting,wearing new clothes,setting off fire crackers and elders gift money to kids,servants and other tenants known as Vishu kaineetam.The other important part of Vishu is the Vishu kanni(the first thing seen on the day after waking up)The usual ritual is the arrangement with the raw rice,vegetables,fresh fruits,flowers mainly konna, mirror,ritual book,coins and pooja lamps.Though we don't celebrate Vishu,but sadya time is always a pleasure.Jackfruit is the seasonal fruit easily available in this festival and so jackfruit chips,chakka(jackfruit) varratiyathu,chakka(jackfruit) pradhaman are very commonly served at this time.When I came back from Kerala,I too bought a packet of my mother's homemade chakka varuthathu /chakka upperi/jackfruit  chipsand so thought to share her signature recipe.These are easy to fry but the real task goes in cleaning and plucking the raw jackfruit/chakkachulas out.This is a very popular snack of Kerala and readily available in all homes in this season.Enjoy making these at home and munch it on!!!

Related post : Plantain Chips | Upperi | Kaya Varuthathu

Ingredients
raw jackfruit /chakkachulla from 1 medium sized jackfruit
oil about half a litre
salt dissolved in little water

Method
-Cut open the jackfruit/chakka ,slice off the core.Clean the latex using the coconut fiber of the rind/chakiri or a newspaper.Then dig in and remove the jackfruit/chakkachulla.Clean off the white strips and remove seed.
Slice off the top and bottom thick portion of each jackfruit(don't discard you can just cook it up to make chakka vevichathu).Now,make thin strips with the remaining fruit.Do the same way till you finish all chakkachullas /jackfruit.
-Heat oil in a pan/kadai on medium heat.When it is hot,add the thin strips of jackfruit and deep fry them.(Don't overcrowd the pan)
-Occasionally keep stirring the chips.Wait till the chips make a sizzling sound,add few drops of salted water in the center.(You may hear water popping sound but don't panic,just reduce the heat slightly and then when the sound stops revert to medium heat)
-When till it is evenly browned,drain off on a paper towel.Wait to cool completely before storing in air tight containers or serve !!!

NOTES
* Use a mature raw jackfruit for good taste.And there are some particular varieties which taste best.
* Depending on the amount of raw jackfruit strips,modify your amount of oil required.
* My mom doesn't add turmeric powder to color as the chips has a natural yellowish brown color when fried.

If you wish to make your own sadya,refer this link here for all the other recipes under sadya heading.
So,What's up with my mallu friends? Are your Vishu kani & sadya plans ready? A Very Happy Vishu,gals !!!