Here are the best vegan jackfruit recipes to can make with canned jackfruit to help you make the most of this versatile fruit
If you’re looking for vegan jackfruit recipe ideas or vegan dinner recipes, you’ve come to the right place.
Jackfruit has become the go-to ingredient for compassionate cooks thanks to its versatile nature which means it can be transformed to replace meat in a wide range of plant-based dishes from fishless pies to pulled ‘pork’ burgers.
Most people don’t really think beyond pulled jackfruit when it comes to making jackfruit recipes, but there are so many different things you can do with it and so many creative vegan recipes to try. And the handy thing is, tinned jackfruit can be kept in the cupboard for emergencies, so it’s a real store cupboard staple.
If you’re wondering just what is jackfruit then don’t miss our guide on how to cook it.
In this article, you will learn:
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What is jackfruit?
Similar in appearance to durian, jackfruit grows in parts of Southeast Asia, Brazil and Africa, and is the largest fruit that can be found on a tree growing up to a metre in length.
This lumpy, bumpy fruit belongs to the same family as figs and mulberries and is usually around 30 cm in length, however, it can grow up to a staggering metre long!
Uncooked, ripe jackfruit has a sweet, tropical flavour that tastes somewhere between a pineapple and a mango and is more often used in desserts and sweet dishes.
Young, unripe green jackfruit, which is usually found in tins, has a neutral taste that when marinated and cooked transforms into a very realistic meat alternative in dishes that traditionally contain pulled-pork, crab, or tuna. You name it, jackfruit can transform into it!
Not only is it super tasty, incredibly versatile, it’s also an excellent source of B-vitamins and a great source of dietary fibre. An extra bonus for vegetarians and vegans is that unlike animal sources of protein, jackfruit doesn’t contain any saturated fat or cholesterol, and is also light in sodium and low in calories.
Jackfruit is the largest fruit that grows on trees with a tropical flavour somewhere between a pineapple and a mango. Photo © napior via Adobe Stock
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How do you use canned jackfruit?
Those of us in the UK are unlikely to have to prepare a fresh jackfruit as it is becoming increasingly common to find tins or vacuum packs of pre-prepared, unripe jackfruit in stores.
If you’re making a savoury dish, try to find unripe jackfruit that has been canned in brine rather than syrup as the fruit will soak up the sugar from the syrup and make your savoury dishes too sweet.
Firstly, you will need to rinse the fruit well before placing it into a tea towel. Wrap the jackfruit up tightly and squeeze to remove as much excess liquid as possible. This will allow the jackfruit to take on more flavour when marinated and helps give it an even meatier texture.
Once you’ve squeezed the jackfruit, remove the hard core at the centre of each bulb. You may also find some seeds remaining in the bulbs so make sure you remove these too.
Next, place the jackfruit into a large bowl and shred the using forks to break apart the bulbs to give it a shredded texture similar to pulled pork.
When making savoury jackfruit recipes, make sure you use unripe jackfruit that has been canned in brine rather than syrup otherwise your dishes will be too sweet. Photo © Ralf via Adobe Stock
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How do you make jackfruit taste good?
Jackfruit does not have a strong flavour so takes on the flavours of whatever marinade you marinade or cook it with.
To ensure your jackfruit is bursting with flavour, ideally you will leave it soaking in your favourite marinade overnight. However, if you’re short on time then marinate it in sauce for a minimum of 15 minutes.
The longer you leave your jackfruit to marinate, the tastier it will be. Now you’ve got to grips with jackfruit, here are some delicious vegan jackfruit recipes you can make with canned jackfruit.
Best vegan jackfruit recipes you can make with canned jackfruit
1. Vegan Jackfruit Duck Pancakes
This classic Chinese dish gets a vegan makeover using jackfruit to mimic the texture of duck in these vegan jackfruit duck pancakes. Serve with pancakes, cucumber, spring onion and lashings of Hoisin sauce for an authentic homemade takeaway dinner.
2. Vegan Smoky BBQ Jackfruit Ribs
Sweet, sticky and smokey, these vegan ribs are made using a clever combination of seitan and jackfruit.
They’re surprisingly realistic and you’ll be licking your fingers to get another taste.
3. Vegan Jackfruit ‘Crab Cakes’ with Tartare Sauce
Is there anything jackfruit can’t transform into? We say no! Here it is again, this time it’s masquerading as crab in these yummy crab-free cakes in this enticing jackfruit recipe.
4. Vegan Teriyaki Jackfruit
Many jackfruit recipes featured pulled jackfruit, but here we’ve kept it in chunks so it can soak up all the delicious teriyaki sauce.
The combination of the sweet teriyaki glaze paired with the savoury fruit is a real treat. Serve it with sticky rice and fresh veggies for an easy and healthy vegan dinner.
5. Quick Vegan Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Burger
You’ve probably heard all about the delights of pulled jackfruit, so now is your chance to try it for yourself with this easy vegan pulled BBQ jackfruit burger.
The sweetness of the jackfruit and BBQ sauce are a winning combination paired with the tangy vegan coleslaw.
6. Vegan Curried Jackfruit Tacos with Coriander Mint Chutney
These meat-free tacos draw inspiration from Mexican and Indian cuisine with their refreshing blend of hot and herby flavours. Pairing spicy jackfruit with a cooling chutney, this delicious fusion jackfruit recipe is a must-make.
7. Vegan Fish Pie
This ocean-friendly vegan fish pie recipe has all flavour and texture of a traditional fish pie. We’ve swapped fish for jackfruit to provide a similar flaky texture, while nori adds a fishy flavour. This a great easy jackfruit recipe when the weather gets cold.
8. Vegan Jackfruit Tuna Mayo
Although it’s often used to replace pulled pork, jackfruit can also transform into tuna with a little seasoning. If you need an easy and healthy dinner, give this vegan jackfruit tuna mayo recipe a try.
9. Vegan Pulled Jackfruit & Coleslaw Sandwich
Pulled jackfruit isn’t just great for vegan burgers, it makes a wicked tasty vegan sandwich filling too. Pair it with creamy vegan coleslaw for a tasty vegan lunch you’ll look forward to all morning.
10. Jackfruit Vegan “Tuna” and Sweetcorn Pasta Salad
Recreate the delights of a tuna pasta salad by harnessing the power of jackfruit in this tasty vegan lunch recipe. It’s got all the elements of the classic salad, including crunchy sweetcorn, red onion and a dollop of homemade mayo that makes for an irresistible vegan tuna pasta salad.
11. Vegan Korean Fried Jackfruit
This vegan Korean fried jackfruit is tossed in a sticky, spicy, sweet and sour Korean-style sauce made with gochujang, a fermented red chilli paste.
12. Vegan One-Pot Curry with Jackfruit
This jackfruit curry is flavoured with a medley of health-boosting spices to pack it with flavour and nutrients. Plus, it’s great to make when you’re short on time as it’s ready in just 40 minutes!
13. Vegan Paprika Jackfruit with Crushed Winter Vegetables & Vegetable Crisps
If you’re hosting a dinner party and looking to impress then this delectable jackfruit recipe is sure to get the party started. Featuring paprika jackfruit stack atop a bed of crushed winter vegetables, it wouldn’t look out of place at a gourmet restaurant!
14. Vegan Jackfruit BBQ Beans in a Sweet Potato Jacket with Slaw
The sweetness of the sweet potato is the perfect pairing for the tangy BBQ beans and creamy slaw in this super healthy vegan dinner. It’s a great way to use canned jackfruit as you can make the bean mixture and slaw the day before if you need to prep ahead for the next day.
15. Vegan Jackfruit Christmas Dinner
Keep turkeys off your plate this Christmas and opt for deliciously seasoned jackfruit for your Christmas dinner instead. Not only is it cruelty-free, but it also more flavoursome and has a more appealing texture than turkey so will be a hit with vegans and meat-eaters alike!
Feeling inspired by these vegan jackfruit recipes to try some new ways of replacing meat in your meals?
Try these tasty vegan seitan recipes.
