Goan Pineapple & Jackfruit Curry(Anasa-Phanasachi Bhaji)

If you are from Goa, you would surely have not missed the traditional Goan curry made from three fruits namely jackfruit, mango and pineapple called the anasa-phansachi bhaji. Pineapple is called ananas in konkani and jackfruit is called phanas. This is a tangy coconut red curry and supposed to be had with rice or roti. Its unique because it uses ripe pineapple and jackfruit and semi ripe mangoes.

Here is how you will make it

Ingredients

1. Chana Dal 3 tbsp
2. Mango Semi-ripe 2
3. Pineapple small cubed  1 heaped cup
4. Jackfruit ripe 10 (flesh &  seeds)

Tempering

1. Oil 2 tbsp+ 1 tsp
2. Curry Leaves 10-12
3. mustard seeds 1/2 tsp
4. hing 1/2 tsp
   
   Masala

1. Coriander seeds 1 tbsp
2. Pepper 1/2 tsp
3. Dry Red chillies 4
4. Fresh Coconut scrapped 1/2 cup packed 
5. Tamarind 1 tsp
6. jaggery 1 tbsp

1. For the masala, heat a tsp of oil and roast the chillies lightly. The colour should remain red and not turn black. Roast coriander seeds followed by pepper. Grind to a powder after it cools down. Add 1/2 cup grated fresh coconut and a tsp of tamarind and grind to a very fine paste by adding water little by little. Keep aside.
2. Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a kadhai. Temper it with mustard seeds, hing, curry leaves and add soaked chana dal to this. Add some water and cook till the dal becomes slightly soft yet retains a bite.
3. Add ripe pineapple cubes and season with salt and cook for some time. 
4. Add mango cubes, cooked peeled jackfruit seeds that are halved and finally add the jackfruit flesh. Adjust the sweetness with jaggery and season with salt to taste.
5. Serve hot with rotis or rice.

It is preferable to use semi-ripe mangoes as they impart the sweet and sour taste. The kapa variety of jackfruit, the one with tight flesh and light yellow in colour is used in this curry. The curry needs a perfect balance of sweet, sour and spice.

I found this curry quite unique as it is made from all ingredients like pineapple, jackfruit and mango which would otherwise be used in a sweet dish. What do you think? If you haven’t tried it give it a try and let me know what you think of it.