BBQ jackfruit is a chewy spicy meat made from jackfruit, tossed in a smokey bbq sauce, and served in a sandwich. Similar to pulled pork, this plant-based alternative to meat is all the rage and easy to make for your next party.
BBQ jackfruit is a delicious alternative to meat, such as pulled pork, and it quite easy to make. The meat is made from a fruit, specifically a jackfruit, a huge Jurassic park-like fruit that you'll find in Asian supermarkets.
The fruit is useful because it can emulate meat, but it is also healthy. Jackfruit is rich in a slew of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, fiber, healthy fat and protein yet no cholesterol or saturated fats.
All About Jackfruit
So, let me tell you a bit more about our friend, Jack.
Jackfruit is grown in India and can be a huge fruit (often around 80 pounds) that hangs off an evergreen tree. There are similar looking fruits though, so don't confuse them: Soursop and Durian.
A jackfruit has two flavor personalities.
When young and a strong sturdy green, jackfruit is perfect in savory recipes like the bbq jackfruit sandwich recipe I provide in this post. When jackfruit is yellowish and mottled, however, it is ripe and perfect for sweet recipes such as smoothies such as this Tropical Jackfruit Smoothie on my blog.
The stringy meat is used for savory recipes; the yellow pods minus seeds are used for sweet recipes.
How to Cut a Jackfruit
Breaking down a jackfruit that is ripe (good for sweet recipes) or green (good for savory recipes) is the same.
It's not that easy to break a jackfruit down, and fairly messy.
step 1: Wash off the outside like you would a watermelon.
step 2: Cut it in half like you would a melon.
step 3: Scoop out the yellow pods that dot the insides.
step 4: Within each pod, you scoop out a seed. Toss the seeds away.
Results: The pods are for sweet recipes like a smoothie (if you chose a ripe jackfruit), and the stringy meat that the pods lay in is what you use for a savory recipes such as this BBQ Jackfruit.
I'm told the seeds too can be cooked and eaten but I don't know how yet or for what recipe. Perhaps a dear reader can enlighten me in comments?
Ingredients for BBQ Jackfruit
Jackfruit - the jackfruit I cut above was ripe so I used the pods for a smoothie, and went to the market to buy canned jackfruit to make these BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches in this recipe. To buy canned jackfruit, look for it packaged in brine or water, but not a syrup.
BBQ Sauce - Choose your favorite.
Vegetable Broth
Onion, Garlic, chopped
How to Make
Step 1: Open cans of jackfruit, rinse, and cut pieces vertically. You should see the pieces appear to shred as you slice.
Step 2: Heat a skillet coated with oil and saute until brown the chopped onion and garlic.
Step 3: Add in the jackfruit and vegetable broth, and saute until the jackfruit softens and you can shred it with a fork.
Step 4: Transfer to a bowl and toss in barbecue sauce. Marinate in the refrigerator and then bake on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes. You are looking to crisp up the ends of the shredded jackfruit - this best emulates true pulled pork.
Step 5: Serve immediately on buns with greens and tomatoes and maybe more sauce. Enjoy!
How to Store
Store the flavored meat in the refrigerator for 4 days, or freeze it for about 2 months.
Other Comfort Food Recipes
Other Comfort Food RecipesVegan Meatballs
Vegan Stuffed Mushrooms
Portobello Mushroom Steaks
Vegan Paella
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📖 Recipe
Jackfruit BBQ Pulled Pork
Ingredients
- 2 (20oz/567g) cans young green jackfruit* (or use fresh jackfruit - see my post for how-to)
- 1 cup BBQ Sauce
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- Fresh onion and garlic chopped
Instructions
Prep
- If you use cans, open them and rinse off the brine or water. You'll see the pieces are shaped in triangles. Take a small sharp knife and cut them in slices vertically. You should see the pieces appear to shred as you slice.
- If you use The Jackfruit Company products, prep them according to the package instructions.
Cook the Jackfruit "pulled pork"
- Heat olive oil in a skillet and saute until brown the chopped onion and garlic.
- Add in the jackfruit and broth, and saute for about 8 minutes. You want the chopped jackfruit to soften so you can shred it further. I started using 2 forks to try to tear is apart into shreds in the saute pan after about 5 minutes.
- Transfer the sauteed and shredded jackfruit into a bowl and pour on ½ cup of barbecue sauce. Toss it thoroughly and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
- After the hour, toss with the remaining half cup of barbecue sauce and spread on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes - you want the ends of the shredded pieces to dry and crisp up - this best emulates true pulled pork.
- Serve immediately on buns with greens and tomatoes and maybe more sauce. Enjoy!
How to Store
- Store in refrigerator for 4 days, or freeze it for about 2 months.
Ela
I loved seeing this savory jackfruit sandwich on your Instagram account and was curious about the recipe. Thanks for sharing all this valuable information about jackfruit, Dee! I really appreciate it. 🙂
Dee
Ela! So glad you can find the information useful. I do hope you find jackfruit! Dee xx