Jack Fruit Milk Curry (Kirikos)

Jack fruit is actually the unripe form of this fruit – when it has ripened we call it waraka. Both types are really popular in Sri Lanka. My Mum used to make lots of different and delicious dishes using jak fruit. This is one of her pure vegetarian recipes I tried with a packet of dried jack fruit without salt, oil or preservatives that I found in one of the Asian shops in London.

INGREDIENTS

100g dry jack fruit (soaked in hot water for about an hour)
1 red onion sliced
2 red chillies sliced
3 sprigs of curry leaves
1/2 tsp black peppercorns
1 piece of cinnamon
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp mustard powder or paste
1 tsp curry powder
1 1/2 cup coconut milk
Salt to taste

METHOD

Drain the water from jack fruit, transfer to a saucepan and add all the dry ingredients plus the coconut milk. Cover and boil for about 10 minutes, making sure it does not boil over. Stir and check the seasoning – if necessary add a bit more coconut  milk. Simmer until the sauce absorbs into the jack fruit and the gravy becomes thick.

Serve with rice.