Vegan Jackfruit Fajitas Easy Recipe

Jackfruit fajitas are a vegan Mexican-style meal made by shredding young, green canned jackfruit until it resembles pulled pork, then cooking it with sliced onion, capsicum and a smoky chilli seasoning. Wrapped in a warm tortilla with avocado or guacamole, they make a quick, wholesome dinner ready in well under 30 minutes.

Jackfruit is an excellent meat substitute. The crunchy texture of the fruit and the chewy nature makes it an excellent option for non-meat eaters. Jackfruit is also a rich source of Vitamin C, potassium, and other minerals, making it a healthy vegan substitute for various dishes. Before getting into this recipe, let us give you a brief introduction to jackfruits their benefits.

Jackfruits, what they are

Though they are native fruits of India and Morocco, jackfruits have become increasingly popular all over the world today, especially among vegans. They can be consumed in many forms. While many people consume the ripe and sweet yellow slices of the fruit, some also use the raw fruit for cooking various dishes. For fajitas, salads and other filling recipes, the young jackfruit, which comes in a canned form, is a good choice.

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Jackfruits are tropical fruits, and they are known for their sharp and spiky skin on the outside. However, on the inside, their sweet and yellow flesh is quite a contrast, especially in the ripe fruits. When jackfruits start getting ripe, they start emanating an aroma, which you cannot miss definitely. Considered to be the largest tree fruits, jackfruits are quite heavy. You may be surprised to see even a small jackfruit weighing anywhere between 10 and 15 pounds!

Benefits of Jackfruit

Contains a lot of nutrients – It is a good decision to include jackfruits (raw or ripe) in your daily diet, because the fruit comes loaded with many nutrients. One cup of jackfruit slices (about 5 ounces) contains reasonable quantities of Vitamins A & C, antioxidants, magnesium, copper, fibre, proteins, manganese and more.

Can regulate blood sugar levels – Jackfruit has a very low glycemic index, which means, it helps keep blood sugar levels under control. In addition, studies have proved that the fibres and flavonoids present in jackfruit help reduce your risk against blood sugar spikes.

Reduces your risk against certain diseases – Jackfruits come loaded with Vitamin C, a nutrient responsible for boosting your overall immunity. Also, it contains some very powerful carotenoids and flavanones, which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. These ingredients help to reduce your risk of various ailments like blood sugar spikes, irregular blood cholesterol levels, heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and more. In addition, the presence of fibres in the fruit also helps fight against constipation and irregular bowel movements.

Helps improve skin health – Vitamin C is also an important component for the overall health of your skin. Also, studies have proved that regular consumption of jackfruits can help to bring back the glow on your skin, and postpone aging symptoms like fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, etc.

Now, that you know that jackfruits can benefit you immensely, you are sure to be intrigued to try some interesting jackfruit recipes like this one.

Ingredients Needed for Vegan Jackfruit Fajitas

Broth or Water (for cooking the jackfruit)
Canned Jackfruit (the young, and green ones), 1 20-ounce (565 g) can
Red Onion, 1 (finely sliced)
Capsicum, 1 or 2 (finely sliced)

Fajita seasoning using the following ingredients

Chilli Powder – 1 tablespoon
Garlic Powder, Cumin Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Smoked Paprika, oregano and liquid smoke – 1 teaspoon each
Lime juice – Juice of one medium-sized lime

Process of making vegan jackfruit fajitas

Drain the jackfruit completely so that there are no traces of brine left in it. Then, shred all the jackfruit pieces with your hand, so that it resembles the consistency of pulled pork or pulled chicken. Regardless of the size and texture of the jackfruit pieces, you can use them to prepare the fajitas.
In a pan, place the shredded jackfruit pieces and cook them in broth or water (if using) to soften the fruits. If you are not using water or broth, you can cook jackfruit pieces with a tablespoon of avocado oil. Cook on a medium flame for about 10 minutes, until you see the jackfruit pieces slightly darkening.
Now, you can add all the veggies that you have sliced finely to the jackfruit. Cook the contents for about 2 to 3 minutes until the veggies are cooked well. Ensure that the crispiness is maintained.
Switch off the flame, and your stuffing is ready.
Arrange the tortillas or taco shells and place this filling in the centre. You can top it off with flavours of your choice. Some of the excellent toppings you can use for this dish are avocado slices, fresh cilantro, guacamole and any other vegan dip or vegan blue cheese of your choice.
Vegan Jackfruit Fajitas are now ready.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes. Use corn tortillas instead of flour ones. The filling itself is naturally gluten-free, so the tortilla is the only thing you need to swap.

What type of jackfruit works best for fajitas?

Young, green jackfruit canned in brine gives the closest texture to pulled pork. Avoid jackfruit canned in syrup, which is far too sweet for a savoury dish, and skip fresh or dried jackfruit, since neither shreds the same way.

How do I store leftover jackfruit fajita filling?

Store the filling and the tortillas separately in the fridge. Left together, the tortillas turn soggy quite quickly.

Can I use the filling for something other than tortillas?

Yes. Spoon it over a salad bowl instead if you’d rather skip the tortilla altogether.

Can I add extra flavour to the filling?

Yes. A splash of tomato sauce, soy sauce or hot sauce all work well stirred through at the end. Keeping the vegetables just short of fully cooked also keeps their crunch, which is a big part of the dish.

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