Waraka ෴ වරකා
Waraka is the ripened jak fruit, the world's largest fruit. The fruit itself is closely knit with Sri Lankan cuisine. Before it's ripe, the fruit is cooked and relished as either Polos – the meat substitute or the delicious Kos. Yet, for many, the long-wait till the fruit has earned the title 'Waraka' is worth it.Ripe jackfruit is naturally sweet, with subtle pineapple- or banana-like flavor.It can be used to make a variety of dishes, including custards, cakes, or mixed with shaved ice as es teler in Indonesia or halo-halo in the Philippines. For the traditional breakfast dish in southern India, idlis, the fruit is used with rice as an ingredient and jackfruit leaves are used as a wrapping for steaming. Jackfruit dosas can be prepared by grinding jackfruit flesh along with the batter. Ripe jackfruit arils are sometimes seeded, fried, or freeze-dried and sold as jackfruit chips.
How jackfruit tastes will depend on whether it is ripe or unripe. Ripe jackfruit tastes similar to other tropical fruits such as mango or pineapple. When it is unripe, it has a more neutral flavor and soaks up the flavors of the other foods that you cook it with.
Health Benefits of Jackfruit
- Improves Blood Sugar Control.
- Boosts the Immune System.
- Combats Pathogens.
- Has Antioxidant Effects.
- May Reduce Inflammation.
- Supports Wound Healing.
- May Improve Digestion.
- May Support Heart Health