Tender jackfruit dosa: Nutritious twist on a South Indian classic gains popularity

MANGALURU: The humble dosa, a staple in many South Indian households, is getting a unique twist along the coast with the addition of tender jackfruit (TJF). Known for its distinctive flavour and nutritional value, TJF is becoming a favoured ingredient in traditional recipes, with the dosa emerging as a standout dish. Social media is abuzz with posts showcasing this delicious fusion, sparking curiosity and interest.

The trend gained momentum after Shree Padre, popularly known as the Global Ambassador for Jackfruit and editor of ‘Adike Patrike' agricultural magazine, attended a workshop organised under the Odisha Jackfruit Mission in Bhubaneswar recently. It was there that entrepreneur Puspa Panda demonstrated making TJF dosa and idli, inspiring Shree Padre to promote the concept through social media.

"In early Dec, I shared news about TJF dosa, which we first heard from Pushpa Panda. To our knowledge, no such experiments were done in Kerala or Karnataka. I was thrilled when Mahesh Kaniyoor, a farmer and businessman from Kasaragod, Kerala, became the first to try it here," Shree Padre said.

He added that while TJF dosa is gaining popularity in Odisha, people here often compare it to the taste of traditional jackfruit dosa. "We expect at least 250 families to try TJF dosa once the TJF season begins," he said, even sharing the recipe online.

The innovative dish blends tender jackfruit pulp with rice and other ingredients to create a soft, flavourful dosa. Mahesh Kaniyoor, praised its taste and plans further experiments when TJF is available in larger quantities. Some of the enthusiasts include Uma Prasanna from Puttur, Savitha Bhat Advai, and Suma Shastri from Mani, all of whom have tried the recipe with success.

The trend has also spread to Tamil Nadu, with Haridoss P, a retired senior agriculture officer, trying the recipe. According to Haridoss, TJF dosa's taste resembles that of rava dosa.

Meanwhile, Mamatha Rai, founder of Kadike Trust, shared her experience of sourcing tender jackfruit, or gujje, from a roadside market for local vegetables near Adamar Mutt. She plans to make TJF dosa throughout the season. TJF is high in nutrients and affordable. Since it is also climate tolerant, it could be the future food as growing crops becomes more challenging due to climate change. Her post on Facebook recorded over 1.4 lakh views

Paired with spicy chutney or sambar, TJF dosa has become a favourite not only for its taste but also for its health benefits. The craze continues to grow as households experiment with this nutritious twist on a classic dish.