Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Kathhal ki Subzi
Kathhal ki Subzi (Braised Jackfruit with Yoghurt Sauce)

Kathhal ki Subzi

Braised Jackfruit with Yoghurt Sauce
Vegetarian●●●Origin AwadhPrep 30 minutesCook 45 minutes

Tender pieces of jackfruit are browned and gently braised in a tangy, spiced yoghurt gravy. The dish features a meaty texture balanced by earthy cumin, fragrant garam masala, and tart amchoor.

Ground spices for the paste

8 gMixed with water and fried into the oil (step 3)
01
3.6 g2 teaspoons
spice
02
1.5 g½ teaspoon
spice
03
2.6 g1 teaspoon
spice
Stir together with 2 tablespoons of water to form a loose paste.

Tempering spices

3.5 gBloomed in the hot oil (step 3)
01
~0.3 gpinch
spice
02
3.2 g1½ teaspoons
spice
Keep whole: add the asafoetida first, followed by the cumin seed.

Finishing spices

5 gStirred into the curry with the yoghurt (step 5)
01
2.6 g1 teaspoon
spice blend
02
2.6 g1 teaspoon
souring agent
Stir together; they go into the sauce near the end of cooking.

Everything else

03
254 g250 ml
dairy
04
to taste
salt

Method

  1. Wearing gloves, peel 500 g jackfruit and peel its seeds, then cut the flesh into 5 cm (2-inch) chunks.
  2. Warm 250 g vegetable oil or ghee in a heavy pan over medium heat. Add the jackfruit flesh, keeping the seeds aside, and fry for roughly 10 minutes until deeply golden, then transfer to a plate.
  3. Add the asafoetida from the tempering spices to the remaining hot oil and stir for 30 seconds, then tip in the cumin seed and cook for about 1 minute until crackling. Stir in the ground spices for the paste and salt to taste, cooking steadily for 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Return the browned jackfruit pieces and the peeled seeds to the pan, pour in 250 ml of water, and drop the heat to low. Cover tightly and simmer for approximately 30 minutes until the jackfruit turns fork-tender.
  5. Stir in 254 g plain yogurt, whisked, along with the finishing spices, and continue cooking over low heat for an additional 15 minutes.

Don't have something?

Jackfruit
  • Ripe mango

    Use the same weight, chopped. It is softer and more acidic, so add it late in cooking or use raw in desserts.

  • Canned pineapple

    Use the same weight, drained and chopped. It is more tart and firm; simmer briefly if the recipe is cooked.

  • Banana

    Use the same weight, sliced. It is much softer and sweeter, so fold in at the end rather than cooking long.

Ground coriander
  • Coriander seeds

    Dry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.

  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.

  • Garam masala

    Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.

Ground turmeric
  • Ground ginger

    Use 50% of the weight. Mimics turmeric's warm, earthy, rhizome background, but provides none of the golden-yellow colour.

  • Saffron

    Steep a tiny pinch (0.1 g per 2 g turmeric) in 2 tbsp warm water; use to match the rich golden hue. Contributes an aristocratic, honeyed floral flavour rather than earthy bitterness.

Chilli powder
  • Red chilli powder

    Use 100% of the weight. Provides direct, sharp heat and red colour in equal measure.

  • Kashmiri chilli powder

    Use 150% to 200% of the weight if matching colour, but add a pinch of black pepper or hot chilli if you need equivalent fiery heat.

  • Cayenne pepper

    Use 75% to 100% of the weight. Offers a sharp, clean heat with slightly less earthy depth and less crimson colour.

Ghee or vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use equal weight; handles high tempering heat well and keeps flavours neutral.

  • Butter

    Use equal weight; cook over gentle heat to prevent browning the milk solids too quickly.

Asafoetida
  • Garlic powder

    Use double the weight. Stir into hot oil just before adding wet ingredients; mimics the allium savoury background without the sulphurous edge.

  • Garlic paste

    Use 2 g for every 0.5 g of asafoetida. Sauté in oil until the raw smell clears; adds moisture and sweet allium depth.

Cumin seed
  • Ground cumin

    Use 70% of the weight; add with ground spices or sauce bases rather than hot oil tempering, where it scorches quickly and turns bitter.

  • Black cumin seeds

    Use equal weight for oil tempering. Delivers an earthy profile with an additional musky, smoky, and slightly bitter edge.

  • Fennel seed

    Use 60% of the weight for tempering; offers comparable warm aroma, but leans sweet and liquorice-like rather than savoury and earthy.

Plain yogurt
  • Yogurt

    Use equal weight, whisked thoroughly until smooth before adding to hot dishes to prevent curdling.

  • Coconut milk

    Use equal weight with 1 teaspoon lemon juice mixed in. Provides rich creaminess in curries, but adds a noticeable coconut flavour.

  • Single cream

    Use 80% of the weight plus a squeeze of lemon juice for acidity. Enriches sauces nicely, though it is richer and less tangy.

Garam masala
  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.

  • Lentil stew spice mix

    Use 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Amchoor
  • Lemon juice

    Use 15 g (1 tbsp) for every 5 g of amchoor. Stir in at the very end off the heat; adds liquid and fresh citrus aroma rather than dry fruity tang.

  • Tamarind extract

    Use 75% of the weight, dissolved in a splash of warm water. Simmer briefly; darkens the gravy and provides a deeper, caramelised sourness.

Similar dishes

Kurmo Pachadi
Jackfruit Pickle
Kurmo Pachadi tastes more pungent, heavily spiced, and sharply sour without the creamy, mellow richness of this dish's yoghurt gravy.
  • Same: Kurmo Pachadi also features jackfruit prepared with vegetable oil, amchoor, cumin, turmeric, and chilli powder.
  • Different: Instead of braising the jackfruit in yoghurt with coriander, asafoetida, and garam masala, Kurmo Pachadi is a cured raw pickle made with mustard and nigella seeds.
Dum Kathhal
Spicy Baked Jackfruit
Dum Kathhal tastes pungent from mustard oil and aromatic from fenugreek and ginger, lacking the tart, creamy profile created by this dish's yoghurt and amchoor.
  • Same: Dum Kathhal also features jackfruit browned and cooked with cumin seed, chilli powder, asafoetida, and garam masala.
  • Different: Dum Kathhal includes potatoes, mustard oil, fenugreek seeds, and ginger, but omits the yoghurt base, amchoor, turmeric, and ground coriander found in this dish.
Kathhal ka Meetha Achar
Sweet Jackfruit Pickle
Kathhal ka Meetha Achar is much sweeter, sharper, and more acidic from the vinegar and jaggery, whereas this dish is savoury, mildly tart, and earthy.
  • Same: Kathhal ka Meetha Achar also uses jackfruit as the base, seasoned with ground coriander, chilli powder, and salt.
  • Different: Instead of being braised in oil or ghee and yogurt with cumin, asafoetida, and garam masala, Kathhal ka Meetha Achar is preserved in a syrup of jaggery and malt vinegar with aniseed and ginger.
Sabut Bhindi
Whole Spicy Okra
Sabut Bhindi has a savory, tomato-led acidity rather than the richer, dairy-tangy flavor of this dish's braised yogurt gravy.
  • Same: Sabut Bhindi shares this dish's core spice blend of cumin seed, coriander, turmeric, chilli powder, garam masala, and asafoetida, using amchoor as a souring agent.
  • Different: Instead of jackfruit braised in yogurt with a large amount of oil or ghee, Sabut Bhindi cooks whole okra with tomatoes, onions, fresh garlic, and ground ginger in far less oil.