Jackfruit steps in for barbecued pulled pork using this lip-smacking recipe that’s made vegan-friendly and nutrient dense!
If you’re looking to sneak more veggies into your diet, jackfruit is the perfect substitute for meat. Not only will it please your carnivorous guests, but it’ll also cook up in 30 minutes flat. Make a large batch for meal prepping, so you can easily reheat it on busy days!
Jackfruit is a large fruit that grows on jack trees native to southwest India. Young green versions have a mild flavor that’s not too sweet and not too fruity, but perfect for creating faux pulled pork. This is the kind you’ll need for this recipe, since the texture includes a flaky tender flesh that’s perfect for shredding. You can find pre-prepped canned versions in many health food stores, but make sure to avoid anything packaged in syrup or artificial ingredients.
Want to go Paleo? Not sure where to start?
Start with this FREE Paleo For Beginners Guide Today!
For the flavoring, all you need to do is season and coat in a Paleo barbecue sauce made from smoked paprika, cumin, and maple syrup. Its taste rivals anything store bought, plus it has far less sugar and calories than most conventional brands. If not following a strictly Pegan diet, you can also substitute beef broth in place of vegetable broth using equal amounts.
To get started, rinse the jackfruit under cool water and place onto a cutting board. Cut the hard tips off the jackfruit and use your fingers to break it up into smaller pieces. Blot the excess liquid off the jackfruit using a clean kitchen towel and place it into a medium mixing bowl.
Next, heat the avocado oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat for two minutes. Add the jackfruit and cook for seven minutes to lightly brown. This will help to give the texture and appearance of pulled pork.
While the jackfruit cooks, stir together the rest of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl to create the barbecue sauce. Reduce the heat on the stovetop to medium and pour the sauce into the skillet. Stir well to coat the jackfruit, then let it simmer for 10 minutes. Use a wooden spatula to break up the pieces as it cooks.
Serve alone or piled on top of Paleo buns with a scoop of creamy coleslaw. You can also store leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to one week.
Other tasty ways to serve jackfruit include:
- Taco seasoned and served on Paleo tortillas
- Serve on plantain nachos
- Use instead of shredded meat in soup
- Substitute for shredded chicken in buffalo salad
- Use instead of ground beef in sloppy joe’s
Easy Jackfruit Pulled “Pork”
Easy Jackfruit Pulled “Pork”
Jennafer AshleyTools
- Medium mixing bowl
- Medium skillet
- Small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 4 cups canned young green jackfruit
- 1 T avocado oil
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1/3 cup vegetable broth
- 2 T maple syrup
- 1 t cumin
- 1 t chili powder
- 1/2 t smoked paprika
- 1/4 t garlic powder
- 1/2 t salt
Instructions
- Rinse the jackfruit under cool water and place onto a cutting board. Cut the hard tips off the jackfruit and use your fingers to break it up into smaller pieces (should look like pulled pork). Blot the excess liquid off the jackfruit with a clean kitchen towel and place into a medium mixing bowl.
- Heat the avocado oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the jackfruit and cook for 7 minutes to lightly brown.
- While the jackfruit cooks, stir together the rest of the ingredients in a small mixing bowl to create the barbecue sauce. Reduce the heat to medium and pour the sauce into skillet with the jackfruit. Stir well to coat and simmer for 10 minutes, using a wooden spatula to break up the jackfruit as it cooks. Serve warm and enjoy!
Looking for Paleo ingredients? Here are a few we’d recommend:
Avocado oil (Bella Vado)
Ancho chili powder (Simply Organic)
Garlic powder (Frontier)
Sea salt (REDMOND)
(You’ll Also Love: 41 Paleo Vegetarian Dinners for Meatless Mondays)
10 Hot Immune-Boosting Drinks to Fight Colds & Flu
Show Comments