Sri Lankan Polos Curry (Green Jackfruit Curry)

About This Recipe

Sri Lankan Polos Curry is a real, traditional Sri Lankan dish, known as Green Jackfruit Curry. Tender chunks of young green jackfruit simmered in a rich, roasted spice and coconut milk curry, a beloved vegetarian Sri Lankan main.\n\nPolos curry uses young, unripe jackfruit, prized in Sri Lankan cuisine for its meaty, fibrous texture that absorbs curry flavors exceptionally well, making it a popular vegetarian alternative to meat curries.\n\nThe result is a dish worth making on its own merits: it rewards patience with the technique and delivers real, specific flavor rooted in Sri Lankan home cooking, not a generic stand-in for a search term.

Ingredients

Serves 6

• 1 kgyoung green jackfruit(canned in brine or fresh, cut into chunks)
• 3 tbspneutral oil
• 1yellow onion(diced)
• 6garlic cloves(minced)
• 1 piecefresh ginger(minced)
• 3 tbsproasted Sri Lankan curry powder
• 1 tspchili powder
• 1 tspturmeric
• 10curry leaves
• 1cinnamon stick
• 300 mlcoconut milk
• 200 mlwater
• 1 tspfine sea salt(to taste)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prep the jackfruit

   If using canned jackfruit in brine, rinse and drain well; if fresh, boil the chunks in water for 15 minutes until tender, then drain.

2. 2

   Cook the aromatics

   Heat oil in a pot and cook onion, garlic and ginger until softened, about 8 minutes.

3. 3

   Bloom the spices

   Stir in roasted curry powder, chili powder, turmeric, curry leaves and cinnamon stick, cooking for 1 minute.

4. 4

   Add the jackfruit

   Add the prepared jackfruit chunks and water, tossing to coat in the spices.

5. 5

   Simmer

   Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, then add coconut milk and continue simmering uncovered for another 15 minutes until the sauce thickens and clings to the jackfruit.

6. 6

   Serve

   Season with salt, remove the cinnamon stick, and serve hot with rice.

Variations

• •

  Add a spoonful of tamarind paste for extra tang.

• •

  Use young jackfruit in water instead of brine if available, for a milder base flavor.

• •

  Some households add potato chunks alongside the jackfruit for a heartier dish.

Storage

Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of water or stock to loosen the texture.

Frequently Asked Questions