Vegan Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Tangy BBQ Sauce

Servings: 4 | 45 minutes | 300 kcal

While jackfruit has been a staple in South and Southeast Asian cuisines for centuries, it' a relative newcomer to the Western food scene. This recipe was developed by a vegan chef in Seattle, who was inspired by the pulled pork sandwiches he used to love before becoming vegan.

This recipe comes from a friend who wanted to make a vegan BBQ sandwich that would satisfy even the most die-hard carnivores. After a lot of experimentation, he found the perfect substitution: jackfruit! When cooked right, it has a texture remarkably similar to pulled pork. It took a few tries to perfect, but the end result was so good that it has become a favorite among vegans and non-vegans alike.

Ingredients

2 cups young green jackfruit in water
1 cup BBQ sauce
1 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoons onion powder
0.5 teaspoons cayenne pepper
4 pieces buns

Instructions

Drain and rinse the jackfruit, then pat it dry and chop it into thin strips.
In a pan over medium heat, sauté the jackfruit with a bit of oil until it starts to brown.
In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. Add this spice mix to the jackfruit and stir well to combine.
Pour the BBQ sauce over the jackfruit and stir well, making sure all of the jackfruit is covered in sauce.
Cover the pan and let the jackfruit simmer on low heat for about 20 minutes, until it' tender and the flavours have melded together.
With a fork, pull the jackfruit apart until it resembles pulled pork.
Spoon the jackfruit onto the buns, and serve with any additional toppings you like.