The Urban Housewife
27Feb/08

Jackfruit "Carnitas" Tacos!

After consuming Jackfruit Tacos in Los Angeles at Pure Luck, I knew I had to go home & try my hand at making them. I've been meaning to post this recipe for some time, as it's become a staple in my kitchen, especially for parties where people can serve themselves! Jackfruit is commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine & can be found in most Asian markets in cans. You may also find it at Indian grocers or other specialty stores. It's important that you get young jackfruit in water or brine, as it is mild & almost flavorless, where ripe jackfruit is sweet. Not only in jackfruit delicious, it's very low in calories & takes well to any seasoning. On the PPK, people have been smothering it with BBQ sauce & using in on sandwiches.

I use a crockpot for this recipe, I love being able to throw it together in the morning, leave for the day, & only need to heat a tortilla up to have dinner after a long day! This can also be simmered on the stove top, but may not have the same depth of flavor from all day slow cooking. You'll notice there's not exact measurements for the ingredients, as this is very adaptable. You can make 1 can or 4! I find one can serves 2 people, but this is also a great re-heat the next day, so don't be afraid to make more!

Jackfruit "Carnitas" Tacos
Ingredients:
Young Green Jackfruit, canned, in brine or water, not syrup.
Salsa Verde (Trader Joe's brand is ideal.)
Lime juice
Onion, cut in to large pieces.
Garlic, pressed or minced.
Chile Powder
Cumin
Pepper
Smoked Paprika
Cayenne Pepper
Oregano

Instructions:
Drain & rinse the jackfruit throughly. With your hands, press the moisture out of each piece & add it to the crock pot or your stove top pot.

Take each of your spices & season each piece of jackfruit. Once covered, use your hands to coat each piece in the spices on all sides.

Add the chopped onion & garlic to the crock pot & cover the seasoned jackfruit with the Salsa Verde. It doesn't have to be completely covered, just make sure there's enough liquid in the bottom & spoon a bit on top of all the pieces. (I tend to use a little over half a jar per can of jackfruit.)

Squeeze lime juice over the top of everything (I use a 1/2 lime per can of jackfruit), turn on the crock pot & let it go!

I like to cook this in the crock pot for 7 to 8 hours, if possible, but it can be done in as little as 1 hour. If cooking this on the stove top, let it simmer for at least 1 hour, preferably 2, stirring occasionally.

After the jackfruit is cooked, it will have changed colors & be a nice browned color. I remove the onions & any large garlic pieces from the mixture before serving, but it's up to you!

Serve the jackfruit in corn tortillas with some additional salsa on top & a squeeze of lime juice or any other toppings you enjoy!

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Filed under: jackfruit, jackfruit carnitas, jackfruit tacos, recipes, tacos, vegan Leave a comment
Comments (224) Trackbacks (2)
  1. VeganFabulous
    February 27th, 2008 - 14:19

    Thank you for the recipe! Those look fantastic!

    ( REPLY )
  2. Early Bird Special
    February 27th, 2008 - 14:25

    Wow! I’ve never heard of jackfruit, but after reading this post, I’m totally intrigued and want to give it a try! It looks so meaty!

    ( REPLY )
  3. Liz²
    February 27th, 2008 - 14:53

    aah! thank you so much!!!

    I bought a can of green jackfruit and I KNEW there was the carnitas thing I should try to make but I couldn’t find a recipe, so yay! now I will! I’m even in the middle of a using-up-corn-tortillas from the freezer kick. :D

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  4. Rural Vegan
    February 27th, 2008 - 16:11

    I’ve never had jackfruit, but am intrigued that a fruit could have such a meaty texture and appearance. I’ll definitely look for some!

    ( REPLY )
  5. Alyssa
    February 27th, 2008 - 18:35

    Those look delicious! I can’t wait to try this recipe.

    ( REPLY )
  6. pleasantly plump vegan
    February 27th, 2008 - 23:20

    thanks for the recipe! they look wonderful.

    ( REPLY )
  7. textual bulldog
    February 28th, 2008 - 01:44

    This recips is so brillz. I need to find some of that jackfruit and get on it! Pureluck tacos are sooooo worth replicating! :)

    ( REPLY )
  8. VeggieGirl
    February 28th, 2008 - 02:53

    jackfruit tacos… how innovative!! love it!!

    ( REPLY )
  9. Bianca
    February 28th, 2008 - 16:14

    I’ve always been scared of the canned fruit at Asian grocery stores. Mostly because it’s stuff I’ve never heard of…like jackfruit. But it looks delicious. I may have to try it. I have an Asian market right next to my house….and I bet they’d have it. Thanks for something totally different!

    ( REPLY )
  10. julie hasson
    February 28th, 2008 - 18:49

    I LOVE your jackfruit carnitas Melisser. They’re the best!!

    ( REPLY )
  11. BitterSweet
    February 28th, 2008 - 19:29

    I’ve never actually had jackfruit before… or even seen it! It could probably smack me in the face and I wouldn’t realize it. Very intriguing though!

    ( REPLY )
  12. SuperWife
    February 28th, 2008 - 20:50

    i had just recently heard of jackfruit and didn’t have a recipe to try it out on. my non-veg hubby loves *gag* pork carnitas, and i’m so excited to wow him with a vegan version!!!

    ( REPLY )
  13. Ashasarala
    February 28th, 2008 - 21:16

    Thanks for the recipe! It looks fantastic, as always. =)

    ( REPLY )
  14. Doodleyboo
    February 29th, 2008 - 23:58

    Hmmm. Jackfruit is what Wrigley’s uses to flavour Juicy Fruit gum. I’m trying to get that flavour out of my head while imagining tacos with jackfruit in them. What does the jackfruit taste like?

    As for the scones, they converted me, though I admit that I still am not keen about scones in general. I just think I expect something more exciting, which is why I am so wild about the gingerbread ones. Raspberry and white (vegan) chocolate would be very nice too…

    ( REPLY )
  15. anna/village vegan
    March 1st, 2008 - 02:04

    Those look SO good! I need to actually make those, instead of just talking about making them…

    ( REPLY )
  16. Cakespy
    March 2nd, 2008 - 17:54

    I have never had jackfruit either, but it looks so good! Thank you for introducing me to my new best friend. I love spicy food. mmm…

    Thanks for the tip too on the tofutti…

    ( REPLY )
  17. val
    March 2nd, 2008 - 20:18

    We use young jackfruit in Filipino cooking with some coconut milk and random spicy spices. It makes it really savory.

    ( REPLY )
  18. sarchan
    March 2nd, 2008 - 21:13

    I like the idea of crockpot recipes, but too often they are really, well, boring. This looks great. Now I just need to get my hands on some jackfruit. Thanks for the recipe!

    ( REPLY )
  19. DJ
    March 3rd, 2008 - 09:55

    I can honestly say I have never seen hide nor hair of a jackfruit over here, but after reading your post, I’m totally intrigued…

    ( REPLY )
  20. jess (of Get Sconed!)
    March 3rd, 2008 - 21:30

    You are WILD!

    ( REPLY )
  21. Vegan_Noodle
    March 4th, 2008 - 04:04

    I need to hunt down some canned jackfruit asap!!

    ( REPLY )
  22. bazu
    March 4th, 2008 - 20:50

    Ooooh, I’m loving you like a $2 ho right now! Thanks so much for this recipe… I have a can of jackfruit just waiting in the pantry for me to do this. Great L.A. memories!

    ( REPLY )
  23. Paulina
    March 4th, 2008 - 23:26

    Wow, I would have never thought to use a fruit as a meat analog. It sounds pretty cool, I’ll make sure to look for it at my local Asian grocery store.

    ( REPLY )
  24. heather
    March 5th, 2008 - 15:05

    everyone keeps posting jackfruit! it’s not FAIRRR! i’m too lazy to go to chinatown to get some. regardless, looks freaking amazing. job well done!

    ( REPLY )
  25. Jess - The Domestic Vegan
    March 5th, 2008 - 19:34

    Wow! How creative! I will definitely be trying this soon… Now I just have to hunt down some jackfruit!

    ( REPLY )
  26. floss floodman
    March 6th, 2008 - 21:59

    We just ate at Pure Luck! I’m totally going to make these. Well done.

    ( REPLY )
  27. vko
    March 8th, 2008 - 23:51

    that looks like pure deliciousness- I am all over that one!

    ( REPLY )
  28. LorenK
    March 11th, 2008 - 16:46

    Do you have more specific measurements or recommendations? I’d hate to experiment on the family :-)

    This looks really good. I can imagine endless possibilities…indo-pak recipes come to mind.

    ( REPLY )
  29. Anonymous
    March 27th, 2008 - 04:57

    Just made our first jackfruit tacos.
    I chopped one and a half yellow onion, four garlic cloves, three jalapeno’s, a handful of fresh cilantro which I sauteed in a bit of oil. Added two cans of drained strained jackfruit, chopping the larger pieces, a tablespoon of weber ‘mesquite zesty spice’, a tablespoon of chili powder, two teaspoons of salt, one teaspoon of fresh ground pepper, a dash of smoked salt and three cups of water. Simmered, covered for two hours. Adding water as needed to keep it just covered, until the end and then let it absorb, stirring frequently so as not to burn. Fried corn tortilla’s.
    Spanish rice, fresh salsa, and refried beans.
    Wow.

    Thank you.
    I am envisioning chile verde tamales….

    Josie (new jackfruit lover!)

    ( REPLY )
  30. monkeybaker
    April 11th, 2008 - 17:12

    wow those are creative and look very good!

    ( REPLY )
  31. textual bulldog
    May 5th, 2008 - 17:05

    I have had this recipe bookmarked for what feels like forever (but is probably only a few months) and we finally got around to making them last week. They were SO GOOD. You’re a genius, Melisser! :D

    ( REPLY )
  32. Tofu Mom (AKA Tofu-n-Sprouts)
    May 6th, 2008 - 04:57

    Just had to tell you these look wonderful! I’ve done the jackfruit with BBQ sauce and that was wonderful!! I am now thinking I need to try this version ASAP!!

    ( REPLY )
  33. Bobbi
    July 15th, 2008 - 05:14

    Hey Melisser! I just googled “jackfruit” and this entry is #4 – woo! This recipe is just what I was looking for, ever since I had those jackfruit fajitas at the potluck at Isa’s. Congrats on your VegBloggy award!

    ( REPLY )
  34. paisleyorca
    August 27th, 2008 - 15:50

    I made these the other night for a Mexican potluck. One of my guests actually thought it was meat. I wonder how young jackfruit would work for other recipes that call for shredded meat.

    Anyway, thanks for a recipe that rocks!

    ( REPLY )
  35. jennconspiracy
    September 4th, 2008 - 20:49

    Wow, that looks really good!

    ( REPLY )
  36. happyherbivore.com
    January 2nd, 2009 - 00:30

    yessssss

    ( REPLY )
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    April 4th, 2009 - 01:09

    This is awesome! You should post this recipe on vegweb.com! There’s nothing there like this recipe.

    ( REPLY )
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