Vegan Jackfruit Pulled Pork Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Does pulled jackfruit taste like pulled pork? ›

Are you wondering “What does jackfruit taste like?” The texture is like a banana, a pineapple or a mango. Some think it's sweet, while others do indeed liken it to the taste of pulled pork.

It's too sweet to use as a meat substitute, but you can enjoy it in desserts or eat it as is. How do you cook with it? You can easily separate the flesh of unripe jackfruit with your fingers or shred it with two forks. Then add your seasoning and sauces before sautéing or simmering until it softens.

Take canned unripe jackfruit in water or brine. Drain the liquid. If you've opted for the version in brine, give the chunks a good rinse under the tap as it can have an unpleasant taste.

What Does Jackfruit Taste Like? Ripe yellow jackfruit has a subtly sweet flavor, often described as a combination of banana, apple, and mango. Young green jackfruit, on the other hand, has a neutral flavor and texture similar to shredded meat, making it a popular meat substitute in savory dishes.

Jackfruit Is Packed With Nutrients

Jackfruit has an impressive nutrition profile. It contains a moderate amount of calories, providing 155 in a one-cup (165-gram) serving. Approximately 92% of the calories come from carbs, while the rest come from protein and a small amount of fat (3).

Jackfruit can also be harmful if you eat it with milk or carbonated drinks. It may cause digestion and skin issues. You should avoid drinking water after the consumption of jackfruit as it can lead to diarrhoea. Jackfruit is a high water content fruit that smoothes out bowel movements.

Many vegan and vegetarian eaters seek out jackfruit for their dishes because of its absorbent texture, versatility, and mild taste. Jackfruit is a large tropical fruit that has a slightly sweet and fruity flavor and a meaty texture. It's often used as a replacement for meat in vegetarian or vegan dishes.

Jackfruit is low calorie (about 6 times less than chicken), and has no fat or cholesterol. Where it shines in comparison to a meat-based protein is the fiber content. It is rich in fiber at 7 grams a cup. Meat proteins do not provide any fiber.

Research shows that eating jackfruit can potentially reduce the risk of heart disease. “The combination of potassium, fiber and antioxidants can benefit heart health,” Culbertson says. Potassium combats the negative effects of sodium on your blood pressure, while fiber contributes to lowering your cholesterol levels.

Ripe jackfruit is commonly eaten raw like other fruits, or it can be used in sweet applications like desserts. Unripe or young green jackfruit can be consumed raw as well, but because of its neutral flavor, it is much more suited for absorbing flavor in savory cooking applications.

Does jackfruit really taste like pulled pork? ›

Does jackfruit taste like pulled pork? Young jackfruit has a meaty texture and soaks up flavor like a sponge. Once it's cooked, it takes on all of the savory, smoky flavors the BBQ sauce has to offer! It tastes a lot like pulled pork!

Simply tease the raw jackfruit apart with your hands or two forks, mix with your favorite spice blend (barbecue or fajita seasonings work well), and sauté before serving in buns with slaw or in fajitas, burritos, or tamales (these are filled with jackfruit and drizzled with a bright and fresh cilantro sauce).

“When used as a meat substitute, it can naturally reduce caloric intake.” A 150 g serving of jackfruit has 157 calories (before any sauces are added), compared with 375 calories in 150 g of pulled pork. Skipping meat in favor of a plant-based diet has been shown to lead to weight loss.

Jackfruit is a very large tropical fruit often used as a meat substitute. It packs some nutritional wallop, and the fact that you can cook, chunk or shred it like chicken or pork makes it a go-to main ingredient in many vegetarian and vegan dishes. Its flavor is neutral, and it takes to all kinds of seasonings.

Compared to ripe jackfruit, unripe jackfruit has a stringy, meaty texture similar to that of beef or pork. This texture—along with the fruit's neutral, almost bland taste, which can accommodate the flavor of whatever it's cooked in—is a large reason why jackfruit is such a popular meat alternative.

“Jackfruit's stringy texture makes it a good vegan substitute for pulled pork or chicken,” Culbertson says. “It has under 3 grams of protein per cup, making it much lower in protein than meat. Keep that in mind as you consider the protein sources in your diet.”

Because of this, ripe jackfruits taste sweet. Various volatile compounds contribute to the unique aroma attributed to ripe jackfruits (which a lot of people describe as acrid or unappetising). The texture of these bulbs is dense, and quite close to that of gummy candy.