The perfect bite: Cempedak fritters

I've alway loved cempedak fritters and allow me to share with you a little tea time indulgence we’ve had yesterday, of which I can’t stop thinking about at this very moment. A stroll around any markets or pasar malam here will have you drawn towards the vast array of these aromatic fruits. With its pungent aroma, my knees got all wobbly and I couldn't resist buying them. Having them deep fried is simply delicious as the crispiness of the fritters are plain enticing to the taste-buds! As tempting as it may sound, it is one of the tropical fruits that is available once a year when it is in season.

Incase you are wondering, the scientific name is artocarpus integer but I find it hard to pronounce and it just sounds a bit weird to me. Cempedak looks similar to the jackfruit in appearance except that it is much smaller in size but it is definitely huge in comparison to other fruits. It is also sweet, sticky and when the fruit is ripe, it emits a strong, unique aroma that fills the environment, similar to the durians. If you like durians, it's no big deal for you to conquer the cempedak too.


The outer husk will turn light green when the fruit is ripe with dark brown spots appearing on the entire flattened studs. It also appears to be slightly sticky when you touch it due to the secretion of white latex through the husk.

As the fruit secretes sticky latex, it is best to apply a liberal coating of clean oil on your knife before and after cutting open the cempedak. The husk is thick, yet soft, so it is easy to cut it length-wise into half.

There are about 50 to 60 pulps which can be eaten raw and they are fragrant, sweet, yellowish-orange flesh which encases each brown seed inside.

Here's my version of quick and easy to prepare snack. The combination of flour, a tablespoon of rice flour, a dash of salt, sugar and ENO impart a delicate sweet, rich and delightful flavour. When the batter is set, deep fried until golden brown. Remove the fritters from the wok and set aside for at least 15 mins.

The delish fritters are always a hit in the household and voila, the whole plate was emptied within secs by the hungry kids. It's easy enough to prepare and perfect to snack on in front of the TV with a cup of flavourful tea. They are a popular choice amongst those who love crispy batter with that wonderful crunchy texture as you savour every bite.

The hard seeds are edible too when boiled or roasted but we don't eat them

So what are you people waiting for, savour these fruits which is in season now and have fun.

First Commenter - Ladyviral