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Halasina happala
Jackfruit papads
ಹಲಸಿನ ಹಪ್ಪಳ: sun-dried raw jackfruit papads from Udupi and the Malnad hills (plus 2-3 days sun-drying)
In Udupi and the rainy Malnad hills, families turn the glut of summer jackfruit into happala: raw bulbs cooked soft, ground with chilli and cumin, pressed into thin rounds and dried on the terrace for the monsoon months. Fried in coconut oil they puff into a crisp, earthy papad with a gentle chilli heat, eaten with rice and saaru or on their own with tea. The common mistake is pressing them too thick; they stay leathery and won't puff. Aim for about 2 mm, thin enough to see light through the edges. Chef's tip: oil your hands, the plastic sheets and the press, because raw jackfruit latex is very sticky and will glue everything together.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- hard
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
For the happala
- 2 ¼ lb raw (unripe) jackfruit bulbsseeds removed
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp coconut oilfor hands, sheets and press
For frying
- 2 cups coconut oilfor frying
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Oil your hands with a little ⅝ tbsp coconut oil, then pull the 2 ¼ lb raw (unripe) jackfruit bulbs bulbs off the core, remove the seeds and the thin skin around them.
30 minStep 2: Put the bulbs in a pressure cooker or pan with 1 ¼ cups water and cook until very soft and easily mashed: 3 whistles in a pressure cooker, or 20 minutes covered in a pan. Drain well; a wet paste makes soggy papads.
20 minStep 3: While still warm, grind the jackfruit with 2 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp cumin seeds, ¼ tsp gluten-free asafoetida (hing) and 2 tsp salt to a smooth, thick paste without adding water. It should feel like a stiff dough.
5 minStep 4: Grease two sheets of plastic and your hands with the rest of the 1 ⅜ tbsp coconut oil. Roll lime-sized balls, set one between the sheets and press with a flat-bottomed plate or a papad press into a 12 cm round about 2 mm thick.
25 minStep 5: Peel off the top sheet and lay the rounds on a clean cloth or mat in strong sun. Turn them after the first day and dry for 2-3 days until completely hard and brittle, with no soft centre. Store airtight; they keep for a year.
Step 6: To serve, fill a wide, deep pan with 2 cups coconut oil no more than a third full and heat to about 350°F, or until a small torn piece of papad sizzles and floats at once. Never leave the oil unattended.
5 minStep 7: Slide in one happala at a time and press gently with a slotted spoon for 5-10 seconds until it puffs and turns a shade darker, then lift out and drain upright. Or roast over a gas flame with tongs, turning constantly, until blistered.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 120 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 19 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does halasina happala take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 60 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of red chilli powder?
- Cayenne, half the amount (hotter).
- What can I use instead of cumin seeds?
- Ground cumin, three quarters of the amount (add it with the other ground spices, not to hot oil first).
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