Vegan, Gluten-Free “Pulled Pork” Tacos

Okay. So, we can have a whole debate about whether or not vegetarian folks are interested in eating food that looks like meat. We can even debate whether or not we should try to convince meat-eaters that vegetarian food is just as yum as meat by tricking them.

But let’s not. I don’t have that much time.

This recipe came to be because I had a birthday party a few weeks back. For it, among other things, I made my world-famous (not really, but I do have to brag that it’s gotten me a couple of marriage proposals) slow-cooker pulled pork. Not to discriminate against my vegan pals, I began doing internet research on vegan pulled pork, and well, here it is.

This recipe is a wonder. Seriously, it looks like pulled pork. It tastes sweet and spicy and yummy. And it’s jackfruit. What the what?? Yeah, that’s right, jackfruit. I’d never heard of it either….

Jackfruit comes from South Asia and Africa, and it is a big, big fruit. The thing that I think it most resembles is pineapple–prickly on the outside, with a tough core, surrounded by a softer, more fibrous outer layer. But you don’t have to worry about trying to find one fresh. Just buy it in cans. You should find it at your local Asian supermarket (I got mine at T & T: $1.49), and buy more than you think you’ll need, because by the time you’re done cleaning it, you’ll throw about half away.

Vegan, Gluten-Free “Pulled Pork” Tacos

(original source: Clean. Green. Simple.)

Ingredients:

• 2 cans young green Jackfruit in brine (NOT syrup)
• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 12 corn tortillas
• Slaw (I made two different kinds: Apple/Fennel and a more traditional cabbage slaw with cilantro and an Asian dressing–recipe below)
• Bar-b-Que sauce–recipe below
• Dry spice rub–I like Guilty Kitchen’s, but anything that involves paprika, garlic, and some chili will do

Method:

Drain the Jackfruit in a colander and rinse to get the brine off. To prepare the Jackfruit, you need to cut off the tough inner core pieces, leaving just the fleshy part behind. There are also pod-like bits for seeds that I discard as well.

Once you have your Jackfruit prepared, toss it with the dry rub until all the pieces are coated. Allow to sit while you saute the onions.

Mince your onion fairly fine, and drizzle some oil into a warm frying pan. You don’t want it to be too hot–low to medium. Add the onions and let them cook slowly for 10 minutes or so. When they are soft and fragrant, add the garlic, and then the jackfruit. Allow to cook for another 10 minutes or so, stirring often, and adding water if the pan gets too dry. Remove from heat and set aside to cool for a few minutes.

While it’s cooling, make the BBQ sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add a tablespoon of oil and then 1/3 c. onion, finely chopped, 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped, 1/2 c ketchup, 1/3 c vinegar (cider vinegar if you have it, it’s slightly sweeter–although there is debate about whether or not it’s GF), 1/4 c brown sugar, 1 tbsp mustard or mustard powder, 1 tbsp Tamari, 2 tbsp blackstrap molasses, salt and pepper to taste. Allow this all to marry and bubble and come together and thicken.

Now that the jackfruit has cooled a little, you can begin to “pull” it. Using two forks, begin to separate the strands, pulling them apart. Once the Jackfruit is all “pulled,” put it back on the burner on low, and add a little BBQ sauce. Keep adding BBQ sauce, a little at a time, until you get it to the consistency you like. The remaining BBQ sauce put in a bottle to serve alongside.

Warm the tortillas on a griddle individually, or wrap all 12 in a wet cloth napkin and put them inside a casserole dish (with the lid on) in a 200 degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

For your slaw, you want to use a grater or a mandolin, and use green and purple cabbage, as well as carrots. Grate everything into a bowl, and then add a nice handful of chopped cilantro. For the dressing, in a mason jar, add 1 tbsp of tahini, 1 tbsp of sesame oil, and 2 tbsp of rice wine vinegar, along with maple syrup and salt and pepper to taste. Shake it up and toss the slaw with the dressing.

To assemble: place a warm tortilla on a plate, then top with the “pulled pork.” Next, top with your choice of slaw, and extra BBQ sauce and salsa, if desired. Roll and enjoy!