It’s officially BBQ season and I’m looking out for all my vegans and vegetarians with this vegan BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich. This burger is quick, fun, and so easy to make.
It’s finally Memorial Day weekend here in the states, which means most people will be outside grilling and barbecuing. I figured this would be a perfect time to share this BBQ jackfruit sandwich to make sure my non-meat eaters are taken care of this weekend!
Have you ever been to a cookout and everyone is super exited but you’re really sad because there’s a ton of food that you can’t eat? That’s basically how a feel every cookout as a non-meat eater. But no more! It’s time vegans/vegetarians and flexitarians get their time to shine at the cookout!
Sure, you can plop a veggie burger on the grill and call it a day. But you could also do something different and try barbecuing jackfruit.
I mean look at this beauty…
I’ve used jackfruit in a few different recipes, including in these Jackfruit Al Pastor Tacos with Cilantro Lime Crema and Curried Jackfruit recipes. It’s really versatile and mimics pulled pork. Plus it takes on any flavor you add to it, and tastes especially great with smokey bbq flavors!
The recipe…
To make this bbq jackfruit sandwich, start with unripened (aka young) green jackfruit (Trader Joe’s has a great canned jackfruit in brine). You want to avoid ripe or yellow jackfruit for this recipe because ripe jackfruit is super sweet and very soft. You’ll be left with a mushy mess. Not yummy at all.
If you want to make this super easy, you can just toss the jackfruit in your favorite bbq sauce and heat it up for a few minutes. This sandwich will still be delicious! But if you want to make your own homemade bbq sauce, all you need is are a few simple ingredients. Whisk together ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Heat it over the stove for a few minutes until the sauce thickens, then cool and use add it to the jackfruit! Cook until everything is tender, then use a fork to pull apart the jackfruit.
Who says you need pulled pork when you can have pulled jackfruit?!
To serve, toast your favorite burger bun (I went with a brioche bun), then layer on vegan mayo, the bbq jackfruit, cabbage slaw, and mashed avocados. Serve with a side of chips and you’re ready to take on the weekend!
Looking for more delicious recipes? Try:
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If you make this recipe, be sure to let me know by rating it and leaving a comment below. I would love to hear from you. And don’t forget to tag @sweetandsorrel on Instagram!
BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich
Ingredients
- 20 oz can un-ripened green jackfruit, drained (in water or brine)*
- 3 tbsp canola oil
BBQ Sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp cayenne powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp coarse salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together all the ingredients for the bbq sauce. Heat 1 tbsp canola oil in a medium saute pan. Add the ingredients to the pan and cook on low until sauce begins to thicken, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Heat the remaining oil in a large saute pan. Drain the jackfruit and use your hands to tear it apart, making sure to discard any tough parts. Add the jackfruit to the pan and saute for 3-5 minutes, or until the jackfruit starts to brown.
- Next, add about 1 cup of the bbq sauce (homemade or your favorite store bought brand!) and stir until jackfruit is fully coated in the sauce. Cook for another 10-12 minutes, or until the jackfruit softens to your desired texture. You may need to add a little water to the pan to keep the jackfruit moist. To get the pulled pork texture, use a fork to pull the jackfruit apart.
- Toast a brioche bun, then layer on vegan mayo, jackfruit, purple cabbage, and mashed avocado. Serve with chips and enjoy!
- NOTE: If you use jackfruit in brine, rinse the jackfruit before cooking it.
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