How to Cook Jackfruit (Easy & Vegan)

Do you want to learn how to cook jackfruit and also use it for jackfruit tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, tamales and more? In addition, we’ll be using canned jackfruit so it is easy, vegan, gluten-free, soy free, healthy and versatile!

You might think jackfruit is an intimidating ingredient to cook with but it’s actually very easy. Now that it is also getting more popular, you can find it at your local grocery store.

Before we jump into the recipe, let’s learn more about it so you can get some tips and learn how you can cook it. When you start using it, you will find yourself adding it to so many dishes just like my vegan BBQ pizza, jackfruit stew, vegan buffalo chicken dip, BBQ sandwiches and vegan chicken noodle soup!

What is Jackfruit and How to Cook It

It is a very large and prickly fruit that grows on a tropical tree so most common in Asian cuisines. It is also increasingly being used as a vegan and vegetarian substitute for meat.

When pulled, it has a texture very similar to chicken or pulled pork so it’s great for curries, salads, and noodles. I personally love using it for Mexican inspired dishes because it’s very customizable!

What Does It Taste Like

Ripe jackfruit has a tropical fruit sweetness like mangos but I don’t eat it ripe. When still green, jackfruit has a more neutral flavor and also it absorbs the flavor of other foods it’s cooked with.

When you buy canned young green jackfruit, you just need to rinse it and drain it so you can use it for your recipe! It’s a great soy-free alternative because it absorbs flavors like tofu but doesn’t contain any soy.

Where to Buy Canned Jackfruit

It used to be hard to find canned ones in stores but now it is more popular, I started seeing it at my local grocery store. I just found some at Whole Foods but I know Trader Joe’s also have them as well.

You can also buy it online and my favorite brand is this one. I think it is so much better than the Trader Joe’s one but you can shop around.

How to Prepare and Cook Jackfruit

After draining and rinsing the canned jackfruit, you can chop it into small pieces but my favorite is to pull it apart for that “pulled” texture.

That way, you can also use it for tacos, burritos or any other Mexican inspired dishes. I don’t discard the seeds but you can if you like.

You don’t have to be very precise when you are preparing it because it will cook either way. But here is mine looked like after I prepared it.

How to Cook Jackfruit

There are many ways to cook it but I will show you my favorite way to cook it for most of the recipes.

Ingredients

I used a can of young green jackfruit, onion, garlic, chipotle in adobo sauce, lime juice, serrano or jalapeno pepper (optional) and a dash of maple syrup (optional) but you can totally customize the flavors.

How to Cook Jackfruit

• First, we’ll cook the onions until they are soft. And then we’ll add the chopped/pulled jackfruit and the rest of the ingredients and cook it for 10 to 15 minutes.
• If you notice that it is sticking to the bottom of the pot, you can add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water to keep it moist.
• Last, we’ll uncover the pot and turn the heat up to medium, cook for another 2 minutes until you have the desired texture and then remove from the heat.

How to Use Cooked Jackfruit

Now that you learned how to cook it, there are so many ways to use this delicious and easy meat alternative but here are some ideas:

• Vegan Enchiladas or vegan taquitos
• Burritos, tacos, and burrito bowls
• Vegan Chili Fries
• Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
• Buddha Bowls

Variations for seasoning

There are many seasonings you can try and customize for this recipe so here are some suggestions:

• Smoked paprika
• Cumin
• Chili Powder
• Chipotle Powder
• Taco seasoning

How to Store Cooked Jackfruit

So, you can store it up to 4-5 days in the refrigerator or up to 1 month in the freezer. You can also reheat in a skillet for a few minutes, adding a splash of water if it is dry.

This recipe comes together so quickly and it is very versatile. It is also :

• Vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and plant-based
• Meal-prep friendly
• Great meat alternative
• Smoky and spicy
• Easy and healthy to make
• Delicious!

More spicy recipes using chipotle in adobo sauce

• EASY HOT SAUCE RECIPE
• REFRIED BLACK BEANS RECIPE (VEGAN & OIL-FREE!)
• EASY VEGAN CHILI RECIPE (HEALTHY)

So did you make this? I’d love for you to leave a comment and rate the recipe. You can also share your photo of the recipe on Pinterest and tag me on Instagram using @avocadocentric or #avocadocentric! xo, Selin

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