BBQ Jackfruit “Pulled Pork” Sandwich
Jackfruit as a plant-based dupe for pulled pork may seem like a stretch at first and understandably so, but once you try this BBQ jackfruit “pulled pork” sandwich recipe, you’ll be a believer!
Perfect for a barbeque, whether in or out of quarantine, these vegan “pulled pork” sandwiches are the most savory, satisfying bites for summer. They are extremely quick to make and won’t leave you feeling heavy like regular pulled pork sandwiches.
Jackfruit…as meat?!
If you’ve never had jackfruit before, then you might be super skeptical that a fruit can be made savory. But, trust me, jackfruit is a gift from the vegan gods.
It’s very neutral in flavor, and when you cook it, it’s able to absorb whatever flavors (in this case, barbeque sauce) you add to it. Not only that, shredding and breaking up the fruit makes it look indistinguishable from pulled pork or even shredded chicken.
When you google what an actual jackfruit looks like, don’t be alarmed. You won’t have to break one open anytime soon. Make your life easier and just get canned jackfruit at any grocery store or Asian market. My favorite brand I get is actually from Trader Joes!
Easiest coleslaw
This sandwich includes a vegan coleslaw recipe that’s super easy to throw together. For whatever reason, I was not a fan of coleslaw before I was vegan. I wasn’t a fan of any “salad” that was made of mayonnaise, to be honest. But vegan mayo is much less repugnant in my eyes and this coleslaw is super necessary in adding a fatty element to the sandwich, especially since jackfruit has little to no calories.
This coleslaw recipe is extremely simple with just purple cabbage and carrots, but feel free to add more ingredients, like green cabbage, cilantro, etc. Much like in the cauliflower tacos recipe, I use purple cabbage to add color and get those much needed antioxidants.
Notes
You’ll notice there is no homemade barbeque sauce recipe included and that’s because of two reasons: 1) I’m no barbeque sauce expert and 2) a friend of mine very kindly gifted me a bottle of Jones BBQ Sauce, as seen on Queer Eye season 3 (which I highly recommend!!). So, no barbeque sauce recipe, but any kind will do!
BBQ Jackfruit ``Pulled Pork`` Sandwich
Ingredients
BBQ Jackfruit
- 1 can young jackfruit
- 3-4 hamburger buns
- ¼ cup barbeque sauce
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp smoked paprika
- 4-5 drops liquid smoke
Easy Coleslaw
- ¼ small purple cabbage head finely shredded
- ¼ small carrot finely shredded
- 4 heaping tbsp vegan mayo
- ½ tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
Instructions
- For the coleslaw, finely shred the purple cabbage and carrot into a bowl. (Using a mandoline helps!) Mix in the vegan mayo, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and let marinate in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. The longer you marinate, the softer the coleslaw will be. The shorter, the crunchier.
- Shred the jackfruit pieces with your fingers into a bowl until it resembles the texture of pulled pork. Add the BBQ sauce into the bowl and mix in with the shredded jackfruit.
- Heat a teaspoon of oil on a skillet on medium-high. Add the BBQ jackfruit to the hot skillet and saute for a few minutes.
- Add the salt, smoked paprika, and liquid smoke to the BBQ jackfruit. Saute for another 5 mins.
- On toasted hamburger buns, add the BBQ jackfruit and top off with a serving of coleslaw. Enjoy!
