Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich

Just like BBQ pulled pork, BUT NOT! No animals harmed here, and you’ve got all the power packed, spicy and barbeque-y flavors. Add crunchy, fresh slaw and roasted cashews. Pile it high on your buns…pretzel bun, that is!

Makes 2 sandwiches

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

BBQ JACKFRUIT
  • 1, 20-ounce can young green jackfruit in water or brine (NOT syrup)
  • BBQ seasoning (2 Tbls. dark brown sugar, 1 tsp. paprika, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. pepper, 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1/2 tsp. cumin)
  • 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (make sure it’s vegan and doesn’t contain Worcestershire)
CABBAGE SLAW
  • 2 cups shredded cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 2 stalks kale, stripped and chopped
  • 1 Tbls. maple syrup
  • Juice of 1 lemon or lime
  • S/P taste
  • 2 whole grain vegan buns, pretzel or GF if desired

ADDITIONAL

  • 1/3 cup raw, unsalted cashews sprinkled with smoky paprika
  • 1/2 ripe avocado

Instructions

  1. Rinse and drain jackfruit pieces.
  2. Fill medium-sized pan with 2 cups water and put jackfruit in steamer basket over boiling water. Cover pan and steam for 12 minutes. Turn off heat and let cool.
  3. Meanwhile, mix together BBQ seasoning and toss with jackfruit to coat thoroughly.
  4. Using 2 forks, pull the jackfruit pieces apart until all are shredded.
  5. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add seasoned jackfruit and cook for about 6 minutes until it begins to brown. Add small amounts of water or vinegar to keep from sticking.
  6. Turn off heat and pour almost all your BBQ sauce over the pulled jackfruit to cover completely, but reserve extra sauce for serving.
  7. Now make cole slaw by adding all ingredients (except vegetables) to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Thin with water until you get a thickened sauce, then add shredded vegetables and kale, and mix thoroughly. Set in fridge to cool until ready to serve sandwiches.
  8. Heat a small pan until hot, add the raw cashews sprinkled with smoky paprika and ‘roast’ until they become fragrant and begin to brown slightly, which should only take 2-3 minutes in a screaming hot pan.

Let’s Build the Sandwiches!

  1. Pile the cole slaw on the bottom buns, then top with a generous heaping of BBQ pulled jackfruit, and top with roasted cashews and a couple slices of avocado. Serve with extra BBQ sauce, if you’d like.