Palakottai Vadai, Jackfruit Seeds Vada ( Fritters )

          Every year, during the jackfruit season, more than the fruit, I always make it point to buy the seeds, mainly because my daughter loves the seeds but she doesn't like the fruit and I usually add it to sambar and curries. This year, I got a whole bag of seeds and after using it in sambar, I was looking for some other recipes to make with it and then I came upon this Jackfruit Vadai ( Fritters ). It's basically the masala vadai/ chana dal vada with the addition of some mashed jackfruit seeds. These vadas can be served as a part of a South Indian lunch along with rice, sambar and curries or eaten as snack. We had it both ways and my family loved it..

Need To Have

• Chana Dal/Kadalai Paruppu/Bengal Gram - 3/4 cup
• Palakottai/Jackfruit Seeds - 15
• Dried Red Chillies - 3
• Fennel Seeds - 2 teaspoon
• Garlic - 2 big cloves
• Ginger - 1" piece
• Onion - 1 big, chopped
• Curry Leaves - 15, roughly chopped
• Chopped Coriander LEaves - 3 tablespoons
• Salt - 1 teaspoon + a pinch

Original Recipe here.

Method

          When the jackfruit seeds are removed from the fruit and dried a little, they'll look like as shown in the picture. We have to remove the outer hard white skin, the easy way to do is, slice the seeds into two and peel it. Now you can use them with the brown skin as such, or if you want to remove that, then boil them in water for 5 to 7 minutes, then it'll be easier to scrap out the brown skin. For this vada, I have used it with the brown skin.

          Pressure cook the palakottai with some water, for 3 whistles, remove, drian and let it cool. Wash and soak the chana dal for about 2 hours.

          Now grind the jackfruit seeds into a coarse mixture, remove and keep. Take the drained dal, add the red chillies, ginger, garlic, fennel seeds and the dried red chillies and grind it to a coarse mixture. Remove and add it to the ground jackfruit seeds.

          Add the chopped onions, curry leaves, coriander leaves and salt and mix everything together.

          Heat some oil for deep frying. Take small lemon size balls, flatten it in your palm, as shown in the picture, slide it into the oil, 4 or 5 at a time, depending on how much oil you have heated. Cook it, till it turns golden brown, remove, drain the excess oil and serve.

Other recipes with Jackfruit Seeds..
Jackfruit Seeds Curry, Palakottai Varuval
Murungakkai Palakottai Sambar, Drumsticks And Jackfruit Seeds Sambar

Note
The oil should not be too hot, the vadas/fritters should cook in the center, and not brown immediately when you add them to the oil.
If you like, you can add 3 or 4 cloves while grinding, if you like the smell, usually I don't add.
Grind the seeds and the dal separately.
If you want it more spicy, you can add some chopped green chillies along with the onions.