Here’s my easy Vegan Jackfruit Curry in Indian style! This simple and healthy plant-based recipe takes just about 30 minutes to make. Serve over basmati rice or with roti / naan for a delicious family-favourite Indian meal.
About this Indian Jackfruit curry recipe(without coconut milk)
My easy jackfruit curry recipe is a delightful plant-based meal option with all the essence of South Asian cooking. This simple and straightforward recipe features Young Jackfruit, an excellent meat alternative known for its texture and flavour abilities.
The curry sauce is created with a delicious onion-tomato masala, free from coconut milk. However, for those who prefer a non-vegan touch, add a drizzle of cream just before serving.
Why you’ll love this recipe?
- Easy: The recipe is designed to be hassle-free, making it perfect for both novice and experienced cooks. With simple steps, you can quickly whip up a delicious Indian curry without much effort.
- Simple and Straightforward: The instructions are easy to follow, and the ingredients are readily available in most grocery stores. No complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients are involved.
- Dietary Needs: This curry is suitable for various dietary needs as it is a vegan and vegetarian-friendly dish. Jackfruit, being a plant-based meat substitute, provides a satisfying and hearty texture, making it an excellent option for those looking for meatless meals.
- Adaptable: The recipe is versatile, allowing you to customise it to your taste preferences. You can adjust the level of spiciness by varying the amount of chilli powder, add more vegetables, or modify the spices to suit your liking.
- One Pot curry: You will only need one pot for this easy curry.. Isn’t that convenient?
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Yellow Onion: Adds a sweet and mild flavour to the curry. Substitute with red, brown or white onion.
- Chillies: Green chillies adds the perfect heat in the curry. Don’t like it spicy, leave it out.
- Ginger garlic: Common flavour base in Indian cooking. Use store-bought ginger garlic paste or fresh ginger and garlic.
- Tomato: I prefer a combination of fresh tomatoes and tomato paste. You can also use canned tomatoes for convenience
- Spices: For this curry, I like to use basic Indian spices – Turmeric, Chilli powder, Cumin, Black pepper and Garam masala. In addition, I also love to add cardamom and cinnamon for subtle sweetness. Always adjust the amount of spices to taste.
- Jackfruit: Young jackfruit has meaty texture and is a great plant-based meat substitute. Use canned unripe jackfruit in brine. Substitute with tofu, Quorn nuggets or seitan.
- Coriander: Adds fresh and citrusy flavours. Substitute with parsley or mint.
- Lemon: Adds tangy and fresh flavour. Substitute with lime juice.
- Red Pepper
- Spinach or Kale
- Oil – Use any neutral-flavoured oil such as sunflower oil or olive oil for this recipe.
How to make simple One Pot Jackfruit Curry Recipe: Step by step?
Saute Aromatics: Heat some oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter. Then, add diced onion, green chillies, minced garlic, and ginger. Sauté them until the onion turns translucent.
Tomatoes and Spices: Add tomato paste, diced tomatoes, and spices to the pan. Stir everything together for a few more minutes. If the masala starts sticking to the pan, add a splash of water as you cook.
Red Pepper: Toss in diced red pepper and continue cooking until the tomatoes break down and blend well with the onion, creating a flavourful masala.
Add Jackfruit and Simmer: Add the young jackfruit to the pan and stir to coat it in the sauce. Pour in 1 cup of water and bring the mixture to a simmer. Let the curry simmer for about 10-12 minutes or until the jackfruit becomes tender.
Stir Spinach, Cover, and Cook: Stir in chopped spinach, ensuring it’s well incorporated into the curry. Cover the pan and allow the curry to rest for 5 minutes.
Garnish and Serve: Squeeze some lemon juice over the curry and garnish with fresh coriander. Serve this delicious jackfruit curry with a roti or rice.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this easy Jackfruit curry over rice or quinoa.
For an Indian feast, serve the curry with naan bread or roti , split peas dal, cauliflower pakora, vegetable raita and a mango lassi
Storing
Fridge: Store the jackfruit curry in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezer: For later use, store the leftover jackfruit curry in freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply thaw in the refrigerator and then reheat on the stove or in the microwave.
FAQ’s
Can you use jackfruit as a meat substitute?
Yes, jackfruit is a popular meat substitute due to its texture and ability to absorb flavours. It works well in dishes like curries, stews, tacos, and sandwiches.
Where can I buy jackfruit in the UK?
You can buy jackfruit at most major supermarkets in the UK, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons. It is usually sold in cans in the international foods section or in the fruit and vegetable section. You can also find fresh jackfruit at some Asian grocery stores or online retailers
How does Jackfruit taste like?
Jackfruit has a unique taste that can vary depending on its ripeness. Ripe jackfruit offers a sweet, tropical flavor, often described as a combination of pineapple, banana, and mango. It is commonly eaten raw and used in desserts or smoothies.
Conversely, young unripe jackfruit, frequently utilised as a meat substitute, has a more neutral flavour and a meaty texture, making it an excellent alternative for pulled pork or chicken
More easy Indian Vegetarian side dishes
Easy Vegan Jackfruit curry recipe below
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 inch piece of ginger grated
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 green chillies diced (adjust to your spice preference)
- 2 tomatoes diced (approximately 280g)
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 1 red pepper cut into chunks (approximately 120g)
- 2 tins of young jackfruit drained weight 500g (total 960g with liquid)
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups spinach approximately 60g
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ – 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder adjust to your spice preference
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- Salt to taste
- ½ lemon juiced
- 2 tbsp fresh coriander chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
- Add diced onion, green chillies, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Saute until the onion is translucent.
- Stir in tomato paste and diced tomatoes. Cook for a few minutes until the tomatoes break down.
- Add turmeric, Kashmiri chilli powder, black pepper, garam masala, ground cardamom, and ground cinnamon. Mix well.
- Add drained young jackfruit to the pan and coat it in the sauce.
- Pour in 1 cup of water, Salt and Pepper and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook for 12-15 minutes until jackfruit is tender.
- Stir in chopped spinach, cover, and let it rest for 5 minutes.
- Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the curry and give it a final stir. Garnish with fresh coriander.
- Serve hot with rice, naan, or your favourite flatbread.
Eeb says
Hi there, it looks like your photos are showing trimmed jackfruit.. Do you cut off the tough bits and remove the scary weird seeds? I do, and it adds a bit of time to any recipe, worth mentioning.
I ask because you don’t mention this step.
Thanks!
Sandhya's Kitchen says
Hi Eeb, thank you for your message. I use Young Jackfruit from the can for curries now. So they come already trimmed without the tough bits. And less work too.
Growing up in India, my mum used to remove the tough bits and it was quite an elaborate affair.