Slow Cooked Pulled Jackfruit (Printable Version)
Tender jackfruit cooked slowly in smoky barbecue sauce, ideal for sandwiches, tacos, and bowls.
# What You'll Need:
→ Produce
01 - 2 cans (14 oz each) young green jackfruit in brine, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 large onion, finely chopped
03 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Sauce & Seasonings
04 - 1 cup vegan barbecue sauce
05 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
06 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
07 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup
08 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
10 - 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
13 - 1/2 cup vegetable broth
→ Optional for Serving
14 - 4 burger buns or tortillas
15 - Coleslaw
16 - Pickles
# Step-by-Step:
01 - Remove the tough core from jackfruit pieces and shred them with fingers or forks to imitate pulled pork texture.
02 - Heat a splash of oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook the chopped onion until translucent, about 5 minutes, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
03 - Transfer sautéed onion and garlic to the slow cooker. Add shredded jackfruit, vegan barbecue sauce, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, black pepper, salt, and vegetable broth. Stir thoroughly to blend flavors.
04 - Cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours, until jackfruit becomes very tender and absorbs all seasonings.
05 - Use two forks to shred jackfruit further if needed. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
06 - Serve warm on burger buns or tortillas, topped with coleslaw and pickles as preferred.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It transforms a curious ingredient into something deeply satisfying without any meat.
- The slow cooker does all the heavy lifting while you go about your day.
- Leftover jackfruit tastes even better the next day, soaking up every bit of that smoky sauce.
02 -
- Make sure you buy young green jackfruit in brine, not the ripe sweet kind in syrup, or you'll end up with a very confused dessert.
- Don't skip sautéing the onion and garlic, that step builds a flavor foundation the slow cooker alone can't create.
03 -
- For crispy edges, spread the cooked jackfruit on a baking sheet and broil for 5 minutes, watching closely so it doesn't burn.
- If your barbecue sauce is very sweet, cut back on the maple syrup and add an extra splash of vinegar to balance it out.