Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwiches

These vegan pulled pork sandwiches are the perfect plant-based option for anyone craving pulled pork. Featuring jackfruit crisped to perfection and then smothered with BBQ sauce, these sandwiches taste smoky and savoury, with a texture that does not disappoint.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Vegan Pulled Pork

Canned jackfruit - either in water or brine.

Olive oil - for sautéing the veggies and jackfruit.

Onion and garlic - cooked with the jackfruit for a richer savoury flavour.

Seasoning - salt, cumin, chili powder and paprika. You can adjust the amount to your personal preferences, or add other seasonings.

Liquid smoke - this is optional, but it does add a nice aroma to the pulled jackfruit.

Vegetable stock - use low sodium stock if possible. Alternatively, you can also use water, but the flavour won't be as rich.

BBQ sauce - either homemade or store bought. If opting for the latter, check the packaging as not all brands are vegan.

What Is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit that has risen to popularity in the past few years thanks to its neutral flavour and incredible texture. It’s very versatile and can be used in a whole range of recipes. Fresh, ripe jackfruit has a sweet flavour, but tinned jackfruit, like used in this recipe, has a very mild flavour and is perfect for savory dishes.

What Jackfruit Variety Should I Use?

You can buy jackfruit in a lot of different forms. For savoury recipes, it’s very important you use canned jackfruit in either water or brine. Ripe jackfruit is sweet, so it won’t work for this recipe. Also, make sure you don’t buy canned jackfruit in a pre-made sauce.

Jackfruit in water or brine has a very mild, neutral flavour, which means that you can turn it into whatever dish you want, depending on the sauce you use. Canned jackfruit comes in pretty large chunks, but it falls apart very easily as it cooks.

How to Make Vegan Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Step One

Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pan, add the onions and cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Add the jackfruit, spices, and liquid smoke. Stir to coat evenly. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a simmer.

Step Two

Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, until the liquid is mostly absorbed and the fruit has broken down. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/350 F and line a large baking tray with parchment paper.

Step Three

Spread the jackfruit on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 60 minutes, until the liquid has baked out and the jackfruit has a deeper brown colour.

Step Four

Pour the vegan BBQ sauce over the jackfruit. Mix and return to the oven for 15 minutes. Serve warm on vegan buns with sauerkraut or coleslaw.

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How to Serve Vegan Pulled Pork

This recipe uses pulled jackfruit in a sandwich with sauerkraut, but there are many other ways to serve pulled jackfruit. You can put it in a wrap, use it to make vegan tacos, and add it to salads or Buddha bowls with veggies and protein of your choice.

What Can I Do with Leftovers?

If you have any leftover pulled jackfruit, you can keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days, reheating either on the stove or in the microwave when ready to serve.

Pulled jackfruit is also easy to freeze. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat it on the stove from frozen until fully thawed and warm.