What is Jackfruit?
Jackfruit is a large, oblong-shaped fruit with a green bumpy skin. The average size fruit weighs anywhere from 10-25 pounds! Jackfruit can taste sweet, like a mango or banana, when eaten ripe, but it’s most often sold in cans in its green unripened state, which has more of a neutral flavor. You’ll want to look for cans of green jackfruit for this taco recipe.
Does It Taste Like Meat?
Jackfruit looks like shredded meat, but it doesn’t necessarily taste like it. It has more of a neutral flavor, and does a really good job of absorbing flavors, which is why it makes such a great option for a “Pulled Pork” substitute, and these tacos. I’d say that jackfruit most reminds me of the texture of canned artichoke hearts. Jackfruit shreds more easily (you can literally just pull it apart with your fingers to get a cool shredded meat texture) and when you rinse off the brine, it’s ready to use in your recipes.
How to Buy It
Jackfruit is available as the fresh (huge!) fruit, or in more convenient cans or frozen bags. When buying canned or frozen, make sure you buy green jackfruit for this recipe. Otherwise you could be buying a ripe version that is too sweet. I have only tested this recipe with canned jackfruit, but I image it would work well with frozen as long as you use the same amount and let it thaw.
How to Make the Best Tacos
Jackfruit tacos are quick and easy to make, taking only about 20 minutes. First, you’ll chop up half of an onion, and saute it in olive oil for 5 minutes. While that’s cooking, I like to open up the canned jackfruit and rinse it really well in a strainer. Use your fingers to shred it directly in the strainer.
When the onion is softer, add in the seasoning and stir briefly. In a small bowl, stir together the tomato paste, maple syrup, lime juice, and salt, and then thin it out with water until it resembles ketchup. Add it to the pan with your jackfruit, and stir it all together!
Once everything is hot, it’s ready to serve. Make sure you taste the mixture and adjust the seasonings to your taste. If you didn’t rinse your jackfruit well, it might taste a little salty or sour– and you can always balance that out by adding a bit more sweetness.
Serve this jackfruit taco meat with your favorite taco shells and toppings! For a properly combined meal that digests easily, stick to vegetable toppings like shredded lettuce, salsa, and homemade guacamole or sliced avocado. Lay out various toppings and make a taco bar for your family!
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below and let me know how you like it. And if you make any modifications, I’d love to hear about those, too. We can all benefit from your experience! – Reader Feedback: Have you tried jackfruit yet? Let me know if you have any other recipe requests!
