Jackfruit (Kathal — Raw)

Raw kathal is one of those ingredients that completely changes when it meets the right preparation. On its own, the unripe jackfruit is firm, starchy, almost bland — a blank canvas. But cut into cubes, marinated in our bold Banarasi masala blend, and preserved in cold-pressed mustard oil for weeks, it transforms into something deeply satisfying and intensely flavoured.

Kathal achar is among the most substantial pickles in the Banarasi repertoire — the dense, firm texture of the raw fruit absorbs the spiced mustard oil over weeks, developing a meaty, almost braised quality that makes it more of a side dish than a condiment. A spoonful of kathal achar alongside plain dal and rice is a complete meal in itself.

At Salteen, we source raw jackfruit during the peak summer season from UP farms — selecting fruit that is completely green, very firm, and well before any sign of ripening. At this stage, the natural sugars are minimal and the flesh is maximally starchy — exactly the quality required for pickling.

Raw jackfruit is a nutritionally impressive plant food — with properties that have made it a popular meat substitute in modern plant-based cooking.

Raw jackfruit is the hero ingredient of Salteen's kathal achar — one of our most substantial and distinctive pickle preparations. Cut into large cubes and slow-matured in cold-pressed mustard oil with bold Banarasi masala.