Vegan Pulled Pork
Here’s a delicious vegan pulled pork recipe that uses jackfruit instead of meat. Jackfruit is a fruit that has a meaty texture when cooked and is a great substitute for pulled pork.
Ingredients:
- 2 cans of young jackfruit in brine or water (not syrup)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon of ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
- 1/2 cup of vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup of barbecue sauce
Instructions:
- Preheat your smoker to 225°F.
- Drain the jackfruit and rinse it under cold water. Cut off the tough core and shred the jackfruit by pulling it apart with your hands.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic and sauté until they are softened and fragrant.
- Add the shredded jackfruit, smoked paprika, ground cumin, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir everything together and cook for a few minutes until the jackfruit is coated in the spices.
- Add the vegetable broth and barbecue sauce to the skillet and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened and the jackfruit is tender.
- Transfer the jackfruit to a baking dish or smoker-safe pan and place it in the smoker.
- Smoke the jackfruit for 3-4 hours or until it has absorbed the smoky flavor and has a tender texture. Baste the jackfruit with the remaining barbecue sauce every hour or so to keep it moist and flavorful.
- Remove the jackfruit from the smoker and let it cool for a few minutes. Use two forks to pull the jackfruit apart into shreds, just like you would with pulled pork.
- Serve the vegan pulled pork on a bun with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Note: If you don’t have a smoker, you can also bake the jackfruit in the oven at 350°F for 30-40 minutes or until it is tender and has absorbed the flavors.
The BBQ Sauce
Here’s a delicious vegan BBQ sauce recipe that you can use for your pulled jackfruit:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari (gluten-free option)
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions:
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the ketchup, apple cider vinegar, molasses, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce until well combined.
- Add the smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper (if using), black pepper, and salt to the bowl and whisk until everything is evenly combined.
- Add the water to the bowl and whisk again until the sauce is smooth and all of the ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, you can add more molasses, and if you like it spicier, you can add more cayenne pepper.
- Use the BBQ sauce immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Note: This recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups of BBQ sauce, which is enough for about 4-6 servings of pulled jackfruit. You can adjust the recipe as needed if you’re making a larger batch.