Shredded Jackfruit

This year, the Fun Food Feed will be sharing our most loved whole-plant recipes, we’ve developed over the years. Each month, we will publish a favorite recipe.

April’s featured recipe is for Shredded Jackfruit.

Green jackfruit, is unripe jackfruit. The starches have not yet broken down into sugars, and it has a neutral, savory flavor. Its neutral flavor allows it to be seasoned in a muriad of ways. Cooked or canned green jackfruit can be shredded, similarly to meat, making it a healthful filling for sandwiches, tacos, tamales and savory pastries.

Chilies, tomato, mushrooms, onions and garlic are satisfying savory flavors that traverse many cultures’ cuisines. Fermented proteins, like caramelized miso, tamari and coconut aminos are an additional source of umami. Julienning ingredients into “shreds” allows them to unify with the shredded jackfruit. Married together, this seasoned caramelized green jackfruit can enliven a variety of dishes.

SHREDDED JACKFRUIT

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4-8 servings

Equipment:

Cutting board
Knife
Largest skillet with lid
Spatula

Ingredients:

1 can green jackfruit, shredded 1-2 onions, julienned
Chilies, like paprika, new mexico, ancho, habanero, cayenne, dried and/or roasted puree
Black pepper, ground
White miso paste
1 – 10 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup tomato sauce or 1/4 cup tomato paste
2 cups mushrooms, like king oyster, lions mane, or button, shredded or julienned
Tamari or soy sauce to taste
Coconut aminos to taste
Optional garnish: seeds, chopped nuts and/or roasted cooked beans for crunch
Optional garnish: fresh herb pesto and/or sliced green onions for freshness
Optional base/wrap: steamed greens/grains, tortilla, bun, flatbread, pastry/bread/masa dough

Steps

Shred jackfruit.

2. Julienne onions and mushrooms.

3. In large heavy-bottomed pan with lid, braise onions until soft.

4. Add dried chili(es), chili puree(s) and miso paste, and caramelize, over medium heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and optimize caramelization, removing lid as needed. Be sure to periodically scrape flavorful dried seasonings from pan sides and stir into onions.

5. Push seasoned onions to one side of pan, add tomato sauce/paste and garlic to empty side of pan, and position sauce over medium heat. Reduce sauce.

6. Add jackfruit and mushrooms, and saute ingredients over medium heat, stirring periodically, until ingredients are “married,” cooked through and caramelized. Be sure to periodically scrape flavorful dried sauce from pan sides and stir into jackfruit mixture.