Glued!

Upon receipt of a Sri Lankan cookbook following our language course in Colombo in January, I set a personal goal of learning to become a great Sri Lankan cook. So, each week, I try and cook a new recipe, providing my reluctant shopper (Bill), who doesn't like to try new things, will bring home the exotic ingredients I have listed on his grocery list.



This week, I made Jak Fruit Curry. Now Jak fruit, also called Bread Fruit, is a huge fruit, about the size and shape of a football. It has a thick rough covering of green peel and inside, the white meat is starchy looking. Its seeds are about the size and shape of an almond and are also edible. Jak fruit was brought to Sri Lanka by the Europeans as it is an excellent source of protein. Prior to the introduction of this fruit, langawen people had difficulty meeting their protein requirements.

After many attempts to dissuade me from cooking Jak, by "forgetting" to pick it up, Bill finally complied and brought one of these giant fruit home. So, with recipe in hand, I began the task of chopping away the thick peel. As I peeled the Jak, I noticed a white substance, like thick cold cream on my hands. It was a milky substance that seemed to be emitted from the fruit. How interesting I thought.

Then, I realized this white substance was like glue. My knife stuck to my fingers. My fingers stuck to each other. My hands stuck to the water tap when I tried to rinse it off. I poured hot water over my hands and the glue softened and just got stickier. It was like have melted marshmallows all over your hands. I took a brush to my hands. The glue would not budge. The brush stuck to my hand.



"Bill, Bill, come here, I need you". I called for help.

"Look at this stuff stuck to my hands. I can't get it off."

We tried, soap, water, hot water, a knife to scrape it. We couldn't think of anything else to try and everything I touched was sticky; water taps, cupboard handles, the knife and the kettle.

"I have to phone Chamali", I said to Bill. Chamali is the wonderful nurse with whom I work and who is quickly becoming a dear friend. Bill had to fish out my cell phone, dial her pre-programmed number and hold the phone to my ear. Without this assistance, the phone would still be stuck to my hand and to my ear.

"Chamali, I am in trouble", I said to her.

"What is the matter, dear", she inquired with immediate concern.

" I was peeling Jak Fruit and now, I have this strange white glue all over my hands and I can't get it off", I exclaimed.

She burst into laughter. You are peeling Jak? More laughter.

Ok, so here is the Sri Lankan cooking tip of the month. If you are peeling Jak fruit, you need to have coconut oil handy... which I didn't. However, olive oil did the trick and my hands were finally free of the stickiest, gluiest substance I have ever encountered.

Once the glue was removed, I went on with the culinary lesson and the resultant Jak Fruit Curry was very delicious. Jak Fruit is not sweet, but rather has a meaty quality, much like tofu, but firmer.

Coconut oil is now on the grocery list.

This is jak fruit or bread fruit.