Vegan Bbq Pulled Jackfruit Burger | Best Pulled Pork Sandwich

Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Burger | Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich | Jackfruit Sliders (Stovetop, Slow Cooker, and Instant Pot instructions added)

This Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Burger is super simple and easy to make, hearty and tender, smoky and satisfying, perfect summer recipe ready in less than 30 minutes with no actual barbecue required.

This BBQ jackfruit pulled pork recipe is prepared using just 6 ingredients and can be used on burgers, sliders, sandwiches, wraps (gyros, tortillas), or even as a pizza topping. One of the best and perfect vegan meat substitutes.

Do you know what a jackfruit is? Did you even get a chance to eat a jackfruit before?

In short, Jackfruit is a new trending fruit among all vegetarians, vegan,s and even meat-eaters. A healthy vegetable meat replacement to pork. Yes, you read it right. A barbecue pulled pork sandwich made using jackfruit is not only the newest hot trend, but it's amazingly delicious that it's very hard to believe it is vegan or vegetarian.

What is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit belongs to the species of breadfruit and fig family. The jack fruit tree, also known as the jack tree, is popular in tropical regions of the world especially southern parts of North America, Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa.

I have been eating jackfruit since my childhood and it is one of the most loved summer fruit in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka (Mangalore, Udupi region) in India. Both ripe and unripe fruits are consumed and a variety of recipes are prepared using both. Ripe ones are specially added in desserts and unripe ones for savory dishes from stir fry, tacos, burritos, bowls, curries, biryanis, etc.  Did you know jackfruit chips or fries are prepared using mature-unripe jackfruits?

What does jackfruit taste like?

The taste and texture of ripe jackfruit are completely different from the unripe ones.

The flesh of unripe or young green jackfruit has a neutral taste and flavor with a stringy or shredded texture similar to chicken and pork. Thus making it a superfood meat alternative.

The ripe ones have a chewy, sweet, and unique tropical flavor and smell that may be a hybrid of mango, pineapple, and banana.

Where can I find Jackfruit?

In India, during the summer season you will find them almost in any vegetable, fruit shop, supermarket and if you are from a small town or village I am sure you will definitely have at least one Jackfruit tree at home 🙂

If you are in Europe, America, or Australia fresh jackfruit is either available in Asian stores or these days even in the produce aisle of grocery stores or you will also find them in canned form packed in water or brine. So you can look out for them in the canned food aisle. You can also find them in pouches in the refrigerated section.

In India, both ripe and unripe fruits are stored (canned) when they are available in plenty to use throughout the year.

How to cut jackfruit?

If you are planning to buy young green jackfruit and want to try everything from scratch, join us. We have been doing it for years.  But my warning if you are new to this fruit is that it is going to be very sticky when you cut through the fruit.  Let me know if you guys are interested, I would be happy to share the video of the same.

Cutting and peeling jackfruit is one of the toughest things to do. I still remember how we were sitting in groups - one group to cut the jackfruit, another one to loosen the pods, and the last group to remove the fruit and separate it from the fibrous layer. And the eldest experienced member of the family would put it in a large container along with salt to store and use it through the year. This was for the green young ones.

If it is ripe jackfruit the peeling still remains the same. The fresh fruit can be eaten separating the seeds from the bulb. This tastes the best. But if you want to use it in desserts and store it, you will have to cook it in sugar syrup and store it in the freezer. Ripe jackfruit (cooked in sugar syrup) stored in the freezer can be used as and when required.

Steps to cut ripe and unripe jackfruit

• Spread a sheet of paper so that the sticky sap from the fruit does not stain everywhere in the kitchen.
• Grease the knife and your hands with oil to avoid gum-like sap from sticking to your hands. Cut the jackfruit from the middle into half like you cut lemons.
• Cut the half into quarters and using a paper towel, wipe off the white-colored sap.
• Repeat the process again. The core of the jackfruit - both ripe and unripe ones - is inedible, so chop it off. This will loosen edible portions.
• For ripe jackfruit, loosen the bulbs (edible portion) from fibrous layers covering each bulb or pod. Then proceed to deseed the bulbs. The deseeded bulb is the portion that is sweet and is consumed as is, or used to prepare tropical sweet delicacies. The seeds can be used as a replacement to potatoes in savory tropical dishes.
• If using unripe jackfruit, you don't have to separate the bulb from fibrous portion of the fruit or remove young, tender seeds. If you want to remove the seeds, then use a knife to cut along the length of the bulb and this will expose jackfruit seed. Remove the seeds and store the bulbs separately for use in making jackfruit chips, etc. Seeds can be dried and used in the recipes too. Final step is to remove or shave off the rough textured outer skin of the fruit using a sharp heavy-duty knife, approximately 5 to 7 mm thick. Then cut then to ½ to 1 inch slices.

This is how cut young green jackfruit looks like even before I pressure cook.

How to cook Jackfruit?

Once you cut the young green jackfruit, Add it to the pressure cooker with water at least 1 inch above the jackfruit level, add some salt, and pressure cook for 2 whistles. One whistle on the high flame and the second one on medium flame. If you stay in high altitude region, the cook for an additional two whistles. Let the pressure release naturally.  Use it in the recipe as desired.

Coming back to Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Burger | Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich | Jackfruit sliders

I would say this is one of the best vegan or vegetarian jackfruit recipes to try. It doesn't matter if you are using canned, fresh, or frozen young jackfruit - just make sure it is young green jackfruit in water (most preferred)  or you can also use green jackfruit in brine. Please do not  use jackfruit available in syrup. This is the key for perfect flavor and texture similar to your meat.

Until recently, I had been using jackfruits only for Indian recipes. I never knew that jackfruit because of its neutral taste goes well with anything; and because of its texture when jackfruit is cooked and tossed with BBQ sauce it tastes and feels like meat. It's amazingly delicious and I am drooling here just thinking about it.

This recipe for vegan pulled pork is one of the simplest without compromising on texture and flavors. Adjust the sauce to taste. We love spicy food and added chile powder - you can skip it or add as desired.

To give the additional crunchiness, I have added cashews.  You can add almonds too or simply skip both of them.

The BBQ jackfruit pulled pork is so tasty that you don't need much of toppings or sauces for your burgers, sandwiches, or sliders. But to enhance the dish and give additional crunchiness and flavor, I have prepared a simple slaw using cabbage, carrot, and onions.

Ingredients for Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Burger | Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich | Jackfruit Sliders

For BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork

3 cup loosely packed cooked young green Jackfruit (if using canned ones, jackfruit in water is most preferred, if not use the one in brine but not syrup)
2 tablespoon Coconut oil or cooking oil
1 Onion, finely chopped
4 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 to 3 tablespoon Cashews, cut into halves (optional)
¾ cup + 4 tablespoon BBQ sauce (check tip for substitute)
½ teaspoon Red chile powder or Cayenne powder (optional, adjust to taste)
Salt, to taste

For Cabbage Carrot Slaw
1 cup White Cabbage, shredded
1 cup Purple Cabbage, shredded
¼ cup Onion, shredded
1 Carrot, shredded
1 tablespoon Sugar
Juice of half lemon or lime
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
¼ cup Vegan Mayonnaise (optional)

Other Ingredients
5-6 Burger Buns, Sandwich bread, or Slider buns, or Tortilla wraps

Steps to prepare Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Burger | Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwich | Jackfruit sliders

• I have pressure-cooked the fresh young green jackfruit in water (covering at least ½ inch above the jackfruit) and salt for 2 whistles. I have not separated seeds from the bulb. Young seeds are edible and it cooks along with the bulb and tastes meaty.  If you are using canned ones, nicely rinse, drain and dry the jackfruit in a bowl.
• Using a fork or fingers, separate the chunks of cooked jackfruit into shredded pieces if possible. If not don't worry. As you stir it during the cooking process, it will easily shred into pieces
• Heat oil in a large pan or skillet on medium flame. Add onions, garlic cloves, and cashews and sauté till onion becomes translucent and garlic becomes fragrant.
• Next, add the jackfruit and cook for 3 to 4 minutes till it achieves some color.
• Now add ¾ cup of BBQ sauce, very little water to thin down the sauce, red chile powder, salt to taste, and stir. Cover this and cook on medium-low flame for 15 minutes stirring occasionally or till the desired texture is reached. You can cook anywhere between 25 to 30 minutes on low flame. The longer you cook, the more tender it will be.
• Once the jackfruit is simmered, I took around 12 minutes (as I have already pressure cooked it once), then cook on medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. This will give a nice texture and color.
• While the jackfruit is cooking, you can prepare the slaw. In a bowl, add all the ingredients - shredded carrots, cabbage, onion, salt, juice of lemon, sugar, pepper powder, mayonnaise, and toss to combine. Refrigerate till you are ready to serve.  (You can vary all the ingredient amounts here as desired)
• Top the bottom half of the burger bun (slider, bread or wrap) with slaw. Then top it with a generous amount of jackfruit pulled pork prepared above,  top with some more BBQ sauce, and garnish with greens or fresh herbs if desired.

Tips and Substitute

• If you are in India, finding BBQ sauce may be difficult. You can substitute BBQ sauce with khatta meetha chutney or dates tamarind chutney. I have tried it and it tastes outstanding. With the present pandemic, lockdown and curfew, if you want to try something new and exciting at home, don't miss to try this out.

Can I store any leftover jackfruit pulled pork?

This tastes the best when eaten fresh. But it will remain good for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat on pan or microwave before serving. 

Slow Cooker Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork

• Heat oil in a large pan or skillet on medium flame. Add onions, garlic cloves, and cashews and sauté till onion becomes translucent and garlic becomes fragrant.
• Next, add the jackfruit (fresh young green or canned ones drained and rinsed) and cook for 5 to 6 minutes till it achieves some color.
• Transfer this mixture to your slow cooker, cover with bbq sauce, chile powder, salt to taste, and little water to thin down the sauce if needed. Cook on low stirring occasionally, about 4 hours.

Instant pot Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Pulled Pork

• Add the jackfruit to your instant pot with water at least ½ inch above the jackfruit. Put on the lid, seal, and pressure on high for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
• Drain the water if any and transfer the cooked jackfruit to plate. Set aside.
• Press the saute button of your instant pot. Add 1 or 2 tablespoon of oil to the steel insert. Add onions, garlic, and cashews and sauté till onion becomes translucent and garlic becomes fragrant.
• To this add cooked jackfruit, bbq sauce, and cook for 4 to 6 minutes until warmed through and flavors are combined. Cook for longer time for tender bbq jackfruit.

If you like this vegan bbq jackfruit pulled pork burger or slider

Don't miss to check out other delicious recipes for summer!!

Best Meatless Black Bean Burger	Strawberry and Blueberry Panna Cotta
Mexican Street Corn (Elote)	Dulce de Leche Milkshake
Grilled Margherita Sandwich	Orange Shake-Up

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