Jackfruit Vada – Traditional Kerala Evening Snack

Crispy vadas made with raw jackfruit and spices, suitable for tea time and evening snacks.
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Chenda Kappa – Simple Kerala Tapioca Snack

Boiled tapioca served with simple seasoning or chutney, commonly prepared in Kerala homes.
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Kerala Yam Evening Snack with Chutney

A simple boiled yam snack traditionally served with chutney for evening meals.
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Crispy Spiced Banana Fingers

Thinly sliced bananas coated with spices and shallow-fried until crisp.
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Chena Puzhuku (Elephant Foot Yam) with Instant Onion Pickle

Boiled elephant foot yam served as a nourishing traditional snack.
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Chicken Rice Changu – Steamed Chicken & Rice Flour Snack

A soft and comforting steamed snack prepared with rice flour, chicken, and mild spices.
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Sweet Potato with Coconut – Simple Tea-Time Snack

Sweet potato cooked gently with coconut for a comforting evening snack.
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Vada Pav – Healthy Homestyle Version

A simple potato vada served in wheat or multigrain bread, suitable for kids’ tiffin and tea time.
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Poochayappam (Kumbilappam) – Traditional Leaf-Steamed Sweet

A soft steamed sweet made with jackfruit, rice flour, coconut, and jaggery, wrapped in natural leaves.
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Coconut Cocoa Cake – Eggless & Vegan Homestyle Cake

A soft homemade cake prepared with coconut milk, jaggery, and cocoa.
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Kinnathappam (Un-Fermented Rice Cake) – Instant Tea-Time Snack

A steamed rice cake made with coconut and mild sweetness.
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Traditional Kerala Kozhakotta – Steamed Sweet Dumplings

Steamed rice dumplings filled with coconut and jaggery, prepared for special occasions.
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Pazhampori (Kerala Banana Fritters) – Traditional Tea-Time Snack

Ripe bananas dipped in batter and fried until golden.
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Vattayappam (Kerala Steamed Rice Bread)

A soft, lightly sweet steamed rice bread made with fermented batter and coconut.
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Ariyunda (Andiyunda) – Traditional Kerala Rice Laddoo

Soft laddoos prepared with rice flour and roasted cashews.
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Kanji Water Sweet – Traditional Leftover Rice Water Recipe

A gentle traditional sweet prepared from thick rice water and mild sweetness.
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Instant Eggless Jackfruit Pudding – Kerala Style Dessert

A naturally sweet pudding prepared with ripe jackfruit and coconut milk.
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Dugdha Banana Dessert – Traditional Kerala Sweet

A creamy banana-based dessert prepared using simple home ingredients.
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Unniappam – Traditional Kerala Sweet

A soft deep-fried sweet made with banana, jaggery, and rice flour.
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Wheat Flour Cake – Simple Homestyle Cake

A basic homemade cake prepared for family occasions and everyday treats.
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Pesaha Pal – Maundy Thursday Special Sweet Milk

A sacred coconut-jaggery milk traditionally prepared on Maundy Thursday in Kerala Christian homes.
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Uzhunnappam / Indri Appam – Traditional Maundy Thursday Bread

An unleavened bread prepared without fermentation for Pesaha observance.
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Multigrain Bread Pudding – Simple Homestyle Dessert

A soft steamed pudding prepared with multigrain bread and jaggery.
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Apple, Banana & Honey Cake Without Maida

A homemade cake prepared using whole wheat flour and natural sweetness.
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Leftover Rice (Choru) Custard

A soft and creamy sweet prepared with cooked rice, coconut, and milk.
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Easy Banana Halva – Traditional Kerala Sweet

A slow-cooked banana halva prepared with ripe bananas, jaggery, coconut milk, and ghee.
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Jackfruit, or Chakka, has always held a special place in Kerala kitchens. When raw jackfruit was available in abundance, our grandmothers turned it into filling, flavourful dishes that could feed many with very little waste. Jackfruit Vada is one such humble snack — crispy outside, soft inside, and deeply satisfying.

Made from steamed raw jackfruit blended with spices and coconut, shaped into small balls and fried until golden, this vada reflects the wisdom of traditional cooking: using seasonal produce, simple techniques, and bold yet balanced flavours.

This is not a modern snack. It is home food, prepared patiently and shared warmly.

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🌿 Why Jackfruit Vada Was Made at Home

In traditional households, jackfruit vada was prepared when:

• Raw jackfruit was plentiful
• A hearty evening snack was needed
• Leftover jackfruit had to be used wisely
• Something filling but affordable was preferred

It required no fancy ingredients — just what was already in the kitchen.

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🥣 Ingredients

(Taken exactly from the original recipe)

• 3 cups raw jackfruit bits
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
• 2 teaspoons chilli powder (green chillies can be used alternatively)
• 1 teaspoon meat or chicken masala
• 10 curry leaves
• ½ teaspoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon big jeera (cumin seeds) – optional
• 1 cup coconut – optional
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• Oil, for frying

For rice flour coating

• 4 tablespoons rice flour
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon pepper powder
• Salt, as required
• Water, as needed

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👩‍🍳 Method

Preparing the Jackfruit Mixture

1. Steam the raw jackfruit bits with turmeric powder and salt. Keep aside.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon coconut oil in a pan.
3. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until translucent.
4. Add chilli powder, meat/chicken masala, big jeera (if using), garlic paste, and curry leaves.
   Sauté well until the mixture comes together and does not stick to the pan.
5. Add coconut (if using) and mix thoroughly.
6. Add the steamed jackfruit to the pan and mix well with the masala.
   Stir carefully to avoid burning.
7. Once the mixture is dry and well combined, remove from heat.
8. Allow it to cool completely and adjust salt if required.

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Shaping and Frying the Vada

9. In a bowl, mix rice flour, turmeric powder, pepper powder, and salt.
10. Add water gradually to make a semi-watery paste.
11. Shape the cooled jackfruit mixture into small balls.
12. Heat oil in a pan for deep frying.
13. Dip each ball into the rice flour paste, coating it evenly.
14. Deep fry until the vadas turn golden and crisp.

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🍽️ How to Serve

Jackfruit Vada tastes best when served:

• Hot and fresh
• With simple tomato sauce or chutney
• As an evening snack with tea
• During rainy days or family gatherings

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🧡 Grandma’s Kitchen Notes

✔ Let the mixture cool fully before shaping
✔ Oil should be medium hot — not smoking
✔ Do not overcrowd the pan while frying
✔ Vadas should be crisp outside and soft inside

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⚠ A Gentle Note

• Spices can be adjusted according to tolerance
• Best enjoyed fresh, as traditional fried snacks were meant to be

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🌾 A Snack Rooted in Tradition

Jackfruit Vada is more than just a fried snack. It is a reminder of a time when food was seasonal, thoughtful, and deeply connected to daily life. Each bite carries the warmth of home kitchens and the quiet wisdom of our elders.

This is traditional cooking — honest, filling, and made with care.

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