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kathal ka pulav served on a plate
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Jackfruit Biryani or Kathal ka Pulao

This is a delightfully jackfruit biryani or pulao that has a meat like texture but is completely vegetarian.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian, North Indian/ UP
Keyword jackfruit biryani, jackfruit pulao, kathal biryani
recipe jackfruit biryani
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 377kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. jackfruit or 450 gm. sauteed in oil and salt or air fried or use canned
  • 1 tsp. oil for air frying

For Biryani rice

For Jackfruit curry

  • 1 tbsp. oil or ghee
  • 2 onions sliced
  • 2 tsp. ginger garlic paste or minced
  • 2 tomatoes pureed
  • 2 green chillies sliced
  • ½ tsp. turmeric powder
  • ½ tsp. cayenne or paprika
  • 2 tsp. veg biryani spice mix or garam masala
  • ½ cup cashew yogurt or thick Indian curd or Greek yogurt
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp. cilantro chopped
  • 2 tsp. oil or ghee when assembling the biryani

Instructions

Boiling Basmati Rice

  • Wash 2 cups basmati rice and soak in water for 30 minutes. Bring water to a boil for preparing basmati rice.
  • Add salt to it. When it comes to a rolling boil, add soaked rice along with all the whole spices and oil and let it cook for about 8 minutes or till it is half cooked.
  • It should not be completely cooked. Drain and keep aside.

Sauteeing jackfruit in pan

  • Saute jackfruit pieces in a skillet in 2 tbsp. oil after sprinkling salt on it, till it is nicely browned.
    Normally takes about 10 minutes on low flame. You want the jackfruit  to be half cooked.
    In case using canned jackfruit, saute in 2 tbsp. oil till golden browned.
  • Now pressure cook it for 1 whistle or cook covered in a pan after adding 1 cup water to cook the jackfruit till it is soft. This step is only for raw jackfruit not canned.

Cooking jackfruit in air fryer

  • Add 1 tsp. mustard oil or olive oil along with 1 tsp. salt to the cut jackfruit pieces.
  • Preheat air fryer at 160C or 320F for about 5 minutes.
    Lay the jackfruit pieces in one layer.
  • Air fry at 160C or 320F for about 8-10 minutes till the pieces are lightly browned and half cooked. Keep aside.
  • If using canned jackfruit, drain the pieces and only apply a bit of oil for browning. No need to add extra salt.
    Air fry at 160C or 320F for about 6-8 minutes.
  • Now pressure cook it for 1 whistle or cook covered in a pan after adding 1 cup water to cook the jackfruit till it is soft.

Prepare Biryani Curry

  • In a pan, heat 1 tbsp. mustard oil or ghee. Add a bay leaf, one cinnamon stick, some peppercorn and 3 cloves.
    Now, add in the chopped onions, chopped chillies, ginger-garlic paste and saute till all are nicely browned.
  • Add in the tomatoes, whipped yogurt and the spice powders. Fry till mushy. Add the cooked jackfruit pieces.
  • Cook for about 5 minutes on low flame till the curry becomes thick. Taste and adjust salt and spices.

To Assemble Biryani

  • Add the half-cooked rice on top of this curried jackfruit.
    Add 2 tsp.oil/ghee on top along with chopped cilantro.
  • Cover and cook on low flame for about 10 minutes so that the flavours assimilate.
    Mix well and serve hot kathal biryani or jackfruit biryani with raita for a lavish meal.
  • Storage: This keeps well in the fridge for 2-3 days in air tight container. It tastes better after keeping for a few hours as jackfruit pieces become more flavorful.

Notes

  1. You can add a few mint leaves and also fried onions to the half-cooked rice at the time of assembling to make this dish even closer to the non-veg biryani.
  2. Dairy eaters can use Greek yogurt and ghee in place of oil and cashew yogurt.
  3. You can use canned jackfruit in this recipe. Makes it easier and mess free. Drain the pieces well and dry them before air frying.
  4. You can use any brand vegetable biryani spice mix in the recipe. In case you can't find it, use garam masala.
  5. Adjust the spice as per taste. Skip the green chillies if you like your biryani milder.
  6. You can add some cashew powder or paste to the jackfruit pieces when they are simmering for a richer taste.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 458mg | Potassium: 527mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 425IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg