FARM TO FOOD: Jackfruit

Can't wait for the jackfruit to ripen?
Or you want to get a taste of it before the insects take over?
Well, here is one recipe you can try.
I did this once and now, I can't get enough of it.

We call this recipe Ginataang Langka which means Jackfruit in Coconut Cream. Gata means coconut cream and Langka means jackfruit.

Most of the time, once jackfruits start growing, insects attack and the fruits get infected. Some parts of the fruit or the entire fruit becomes rotten and would no longer ripen. So before it happens, farmers often wrap the fruits individually with sacks to prevent the insects from infecting the fruits. Or, we gather some of the young jackfruits and turn them into a viand.

Here is a young jackfruit ready to be butchered.
This jackfruit is from the farm near our house.

Usually, my husband's mom would just boil it and add fish sauce but this time, I decided to add a twist: GATA.

Here is my simple recipe:

1.Prepare all the ingredients:
a. Young Jackfruit: cleaned and sliced into chunks. If the seeds are already hard, remove them. They can be boiled and eaten as is.
b. Pork: Small portion and sliced into chunks.
c. Coconut Cream: This can be bought from the grocery store stored in can or pouch. Or you can buy a mature coconut and extract the cream from the coconut flesh.
d. Spices: Ginger, Green Finger Chili, Onions, Salt and Fish Sauce

2. Sear the pork until golden brown.

3. Add Fish sauce as if to fry it.

4. After a minute, add ginger and stir.

5. Then add onions and mix until it becomes transparent.

6. Add young jackfruit then mix and add a cup of water.

7. Once boiling, add a cup of coconut cream/gata and cover. Let it boil. I used the coconut cream in pouch to save time.

8. Taste. You may add more fish sauce or salt according to taste.

9. When the jackfruit becomes soft, add green finger chili then mix. Turn off heat in a minute or two.

Note: You have to check the jackfruit from time to time to make sure its not overcooked. I also add a lot of ginger because I like its spicy taste when added with gata. Sometimes, I also add more gata. It really depends on your preference.

📌Hi. I am Cate. This recipe is simple and really easy to cook. What's hard is to clean the jackfruit. Some markets offer cleaned young jackfruit. You just have to wash and cook it. As to the ingredients, you can add or change depending on your preference and please please share yours too.

One last advice: Cook every food with love.♥️

Try this recipe and hope you'll like it!😄