Skip to pulled jackfruit recipe
Last week we posted a recipe for one of our favorite all time dishes, slow-cooker pulled pork. This week we’re sharing with you our vegetarian and vegan alternative to this recipe: oven-roasted jackfruit.
Jackfruit (specifically, unripe jackfruit) is a great vegan substitute for pulled chicken or pork because it takes on some of the same texture when you cook it and pull it apart. As a bonus, this is a good option if you’re looking to go meatless but have a soy allergy or intolerance. Jackfruit won’t have the same taste as pork, but it can taste pretty savory if you prepare it right. This recipe is also pretty healthy with all the fruits and veggies involved. Now we have tried this a couple of different ways, including following the same recipe and steps as the pork recipe; but because of the flavor and texture of jackfruit, we tend to prefer roasting it in the oven. We also tend to go a bit more savory and spicy than we would with the pork, which really compliments the jackfruit.
As per usual, this recipe accounts for all of Isabelle’s food sensitivities and is gluten free. If you use vegan bread and the same ingredients that we do, then your vegan and vegetarian friends will love it. (We even have some vegan and gluten free bread recipes in an earlier post if you want to make it yourself.) We’ve even found that some of our meat-eating friends and family love this recipe, too.
So, if you want to make something that everyone can eat—from celiacs to vegans to other food sensitivities and dietary restrictions—then this is the perfect recipe so that everyone can enjoy some great Southern barbecue.
- 2 cans of unripe jackfruit (we found several varieties available on Amazon)
- 1-2 tbsp. canola oil or vegan butter
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup water
- Salt & black pepper (to taste)
- Cayenne pepper (to taste)
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce (see our recipe here)
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 400°F
- Sauté the onions and garlic with the oil or vegan butter on medium heat in a large pot until the onions are clear
- Add the jackfruit and mix
- Add the water, salt, and pepper and cover the pot with a lid to simmer until the jackfruit is tender (under 10 minutes)
- When the jackfruit is ready, use a couple of forks (or a potato masher) to give it that pulled pork texture
- Transfer the jackfruit to a roasting pan and distribute it evenly
- Roast in the oven for 10-15 minutes
- Remove from the oven, coat with the barbecue sauce and cayenne. Adjust the cayenne to your preference (it helps counteract any sweetness, but we also tend to like things a little spicy)
- Roast for another 10 minutes or so
- Remove from the oven and serve