Polos Curry (Sri Lankan Young Jackfruit Curry)
Local name: පොලොස් කරි
In short: Young green jackfruit simmered in coconut milk with roasted curry powder, curry leaves and cinnamon until tender, savory and slightly dry. It takes about 1 h in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 230 kcal
Polos is young green jackfruit, and in Sri Lanka it is cooked like a meat curry: slowly, with roasted curry powder, cinnamon, curry leaves and coconut milk. The pieces turn soft and stringy and soak up the spices, which is why polos curry is a favorite at lunches with rice and dhal. Fresh young jackfruit is hard to find outside the tropics, but canned young jackfruit in brine works well.
Instructions
- Squeeze the rinsed jackfruit dry. Trim off any hard core pieces, pull the rest apart into chunky shreds and pat them dry.
- Heat the oil in a wide pot over medium heat and fry the mustard seeds until they pop. Add the onion, garlic, green chilies, curry leaves, pandan leaf and cinnamon and cook for 4 minutes.
- Stir in the curry powder, chili powder and turmeric for 30 seconds. Add the jackfruit and salt and stir for 3 minutes until coated.
- Pour in the water and 200 ml (3/4 cup) of the coconut milk. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes until the jackfruit is very tender.
- Add the remaining coconut milk and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, until the sauce is thick and clings to the pieces.
- Stir in the lime juice, taste for salt and serve hot with rice.
Tips
- Buy young green jackfruit in brine or water, not in syrup. Syrup-packed jackfruit is ripe and sweet and does not suit this curry.
- For a drier, darker version, keep cooking uncovered after the final addition of coconut milk until only a little sauce remains, stirring often.
Questions and answers
Does polos curry taste like meat?
Not exactly, but young jackfruit has a stringy, slightly meaty texture and takes on spices well. In Sri Lanka it is a regular vegetable curry, not a meat replacement.
Can I use ripe jackfruit?
No. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and soft and will turn mushy. Use only young green jackfruit for this curry.
Can I make polos curry ahead of time?
Yes. It tastes better the next day. It keeps 4 days in the fridge and freezes for up to 2 months.
How long does it take to make Polos Curry (Sri Lankan Young Jackfruit Curry)?
About 1 h in total: 20 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Polos Curry (Sri Lankan Young Jackfruit Curry)?
About 230 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 22 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 230 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 22 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 640 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
