Pulled Jackfruit Tacos
These VEGAN Jackfruit Tacos though... 🌮✨
Okay, I'm officially obsessed. Canned jackfruit is magic. It shreds just like pulled pork and soaks up all the smoky, spicy, tangy sauce. So freaking good and seriously easy to make. Taco Tuesday just got a major upgrade.
10/10 would recommend loading them up with all the toppings. Who's coming over?
Servings: 8-10 tacos Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Difficulty: 🧁 (Easy)
Estimated Calories: ~180-220 per taco (including shells and basic toppings)
Ingredients
For the Jackfruit:
2 (20 oz / 565g) cans young green jackfruit in water or brine (NOT in syrup), drained and rinsed
1 tbsp olive or avocado oil
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
For the Sauce/Marinade:
¼ cup (60ml) vegetable broth or water
3 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp lime juice (about 1 lime)
1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce (or coconut aminos)
1 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika (key for smoky flavor)
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp oregano
Optional: ½ tsp chipotle powder or a pinch of cayenne for heat
For Serving:
8-10 small corn or flour tortillas, warmed
Shredded red cabbage or lettuce
Diced avocado or guacamole
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Lime wedges
Vegan sour cream or cashew crema
Salsa or pico de gallo
How to Prepare
1. Prepare the Jackfruit: Drain and rinse the jackfruit thoroughly. Pat it dry. Use your fingers or a fork to shred the chunks of jackfruit, discarding the tough, hard core pieces from each chunk. It should resemble pulled pork.
2. Sauté Aromatics: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and cook for 4-5 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
3. Cook the Jackfruit: Add the shredded jackfruit to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes, letting it get a slight golden edge in spots.
4. Simmer in Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce: vegetable broth, tomato paste, lime juice, tamari, maple syrup, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and oregano. Pour the sauce over the jackfruit mixture in the skillet and stir well to coat everything. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. Uncover and stir occasionally. If it looks too dry, add a splash more broth or water. The jackfruit is ready when it's heated through, flavorful, and has a tender, pulled texture.
5. Assemble Tacos: Warm your tortillas. Pile a generous amount of the jackfruit mixture into each tortilla and top with your favorite garnishes like shredded cabbage, avocado, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.
