There are plenty of pulled jackfruit sandwich recipes around the web, but this miracle food is so amazing that we just had to have one of our own. This super-easy pulled jackfruit sandwich recipe relies on flavorful BBQ sauce to envelop the starchy fruit. In its unripe state it has that kind of stringy texture provides an animal-free way to enjoy a "meaty" treat. Pairing it with coleslaw gives the sandwich a cool crunch.
Pulled jackfruit
- Two 20-ounce cans young green jackfruit in water (see Note)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¾ to 1 cup barbecue sauce (your favorite brand or homemade)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons barbecue seasoning such as mesquite (see Note)
The rest
- 2 cups or so pre shredded coleslaw
- ¼ cup vegan mayo or other creamy dressing
- 4 whole-grain buns
1 Drain and rinse the jackfruit. Cut away and discard any core portion, then chop the jackfruit roughly.
2 Heat the oil in a large skillet, then add the jackfruit and ¾ cup barbecue sauce. Heat up over medium-high heat until the sauce bubbles, then turn down the heat, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Stir from time to time.
3 Uncover and mash with a potato masher or large fork to create string-like "pulled" texture. Add a little more BBQ sauce if the jackfruit has gotten dry, then stir in the BBQ seasoning to taste. Cook for 5 minutes or so longer.
4 In the meantime, combine the slaw with enough vegan mayo to coat.
5 Divide the pulled jackfruit among 4 buns (you may have excess), top with a little coleslaw and the top of the bun, then serve.
Notes:
- Make sure to get jackfruit in water, not brine or syrup. If you can't find canned young green jackfruit at a natural foods store near you, it's available online at Amazon.com.
- Barbecue seasonings are available in the spice section of most supermarkets
Photos: Evan Atlas
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Leslie says
I have a fresh jackfruit. Can I use it for this recipe or must it be canned? I have never cooked with it before and am uncertain.
Nava says
Wow, Leslie, it's so rare to have a fresh jackfruit. I'm afraid this is beyond me, I've never worked with one. I hope you find some info if you continue to search!
Rebecca Chester says
I bought my first jackfruit. It was very interesting but once I figured out what to do, not very difficult. Just cut it in half length-wise and then slice each half into more manageable sizes. I was able to grab and pull out the individual pods, and remove the seeds and that was it. I stored it and need to use it now! LOL.