If you’ve been searching for a Vegan Carnitas recipe, look no further! Here I use young green jackfruit as a substitute for pork you would find in a traditional tacos de carnitas meal. Best of all, these Jackfruit Carnitas are super easy and will be ready to hit your dinner table in just 30 minutes!
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Whoever thought Vegan de Carnitas could exist? The wonderful thing about eating a plant-based diet is that you can enjoy your favorite meals in a much healthier way. Trust me you will have a serious nostalgia moment when eating these jackfruit carnitas tacos! They’re tasty, healthy, and quick to make; much faster than a traditional taco de carnitas recipe.
WHAT IS JACKFRUIT CARNITAS?
Carnitas literally means “little meats” in Spanish. It’s a Mexican dish originating from the state of Michoacán. Traditionally, carnitas is made with pork. The pork is cooked in lard with traditional taco seasonings (like cumin, chili, oregano, etc) for 2 to 4 hours until it’s so tender that you are able to shred it.
Typically you can eat Carnitas in burritos, enchiladas, tamales, or in tacos! So literally taco de carnitas could translate to “little meats in tacos.” lol
Now, of course, this vegan version does not use pork. Instead, I used young green jackfruit essentially making jackfruit carnitas! The great thing about using young green jackfruit is your carnitas will be ready in just a fraction of the time as jackfruit does not need to cook for hours! You can top this recipe with your favorite taco toppings like my Pico de Gallo recipe!
WHAT IS JACKFRUIT?
So you’ve probably heard of jackfruit if you traveled among vegan circles and for good reason. It’s often used as a healthier and natural pulled pork substitute because of its texture. It has a taste comparable to shredded meat. This is why jackfruit carnitas makes the best vegan carnitas tacos. I’ve also used jackfruit carnitas in my vegan stuffed poblano peppers recipe!
Jackfruit is native to South India. It is part of a species in the fig, breadfruit, and mulberry family. The name “jackfruit” itself comes from the Portuguese word “jaca” coined by 16th-century explorers. Fresh jackfruit has a spiky outer skin and is typically large in size and green in color.
YOUNG GREEN JACKFRUIT VS RIPE JACKFRUIT?
For this recipe, you will want to make sure you use young green jackfruit
Young green jackfruit is unripe jackfruit. It’s found canned (in brine) in the Asian and/or Ethic section of the grocery store. Unripe jackfruit takes on savory flavors very well.
Ripe Jackfruit is eaten like fresh fruit. It’s sweet and its flesh is very yellow in color. It can be eaten raw, in smoothies, or in dessert recipes. It’s easily found in the frozen section of the grocery store next to the frozen fruit.
HEALTH BENEFITS:
Jackfruit contains high amounts of vitamin C and magnesium. This is good news as women especially have a high rate of magnesium deficiency. One cup of jackfruit contains 15 percent of the daily recommended value of magnesium.
Jackfruit is also very high in fiber making it work really well for your digestive system. In addition to magnesium, jackfruit has calcium. Both calcium and magnesium work together in building strong bones. Adding jackfruit to your diet may help reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
***NOTE: This blog is not intended to replace the advice of a qualified healthcare practitioner. All information contained in this blog is the opinion of Monique and is not to be interpreted as medical advice.
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Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos
If you’ve been searching for a Vegan Carnitas recipe, look no further! Here I use young green jackfruit as a substitute for pork you would find in a traditional tacos de carnitas meal. Best of all, these Jackfruit Carnitas are super easy and will be ready to hit your dinner table in just 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 2 cans young green jackfruit drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup taco or fajita seasoning heaping
- juice of 2 lemons or limes
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups vegetable stock salt to taste
- 1-3 chipotles in adobo sauce depending on your taste, roughly chopped
- corn or flour tortillas
- any toppings you like I used red radishes, fresh jalapeno peppers, cilantro, red onion, & habanero sauce
Instructions
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Place the jackfruit in a large mixing bowl. Break the jackfruit apart with your fingers until it resembles shredded chicken. Add the taco or fajita seasoning, lemon/lime juice, and olive oil. Mix well.
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Place a large non-stick pan on medium heat. Add the jack fruit, stir, and cook for about 5 minutes. The jackfruit should brown a little bit.
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Add the vinegar, vegetable stock, salt, and chipotles in adobo sauce. Stir, reduce heat to low, cover with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes. Next, remove the lid and cook for another 5-7 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated and the sauce has become thick, coating the shredded jackfruit. Make sure to stir occasionally.
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Place your vegan “carnitas” on your tortilla, add toppings, and serve.
Recipe Video
I saw something similar on the raw boy (his IG) I am actually very interested in trying this
Jackfruit tacos are great! Give my recipe a try!
This looks so delicious! I will have to try this recipe out during the holiday season.
Thank you and please do!
Ok these look absolutely delicious! I’ve never had jackfruit but this made my mouth water!
Thank you!
Wow.. That recipe sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing a wonderful recipe. Can’t wait to try this vegan tacos.
Thank you!
As a vegan I am so thankful for your recipe! It looks so delicious .
So happy I could help!
My friend has a jackfruit tree and I never knew what you could do with it. These look so good!!!
Wow that’s awesome! I would love to have a tree in my yard once I start a garden. I need to find out what climate they grow best in.
I LOVE jackfruit, and this is such a great recipe. Will definitely be making this, ASAP. I’m sure my fam will love it.
Thank you!
I’ve never had Jackfruit Tacos!!! Will have to try to make this someday.
Definitely give it a try!
That sounds like a great recipe for jackfruit..! Here in Philippines, we used to cooked jackfruit with coconut milk or just incorporate it with desserts.
Ooh, I should try using jackfruit and coconut in a recipe! I love eating ripe jackfruit as a dessert.
Jackfruit is so powerful when you know what you’re cooking! I love this recipe! Fresh and bursting with flavors.
I agree! Thank you 😊
My husband is OBSESSED with these. We aren’t vegan, but eat vegan frequently. The first time we found these on a restaurant menu, he ordered them and…. they weren’t seasoned AT ALL. Legit. Just chunks of jackfruit! :O So we made these this way and it’s PERFECTION.
I’ve had bland ones too. You DEFINITELY have to season them properly otherwise they suck, lol. So glad you liked them this way 😊!
I once tried to use jackfruit as a meat substitute. I think I didn’t do it right because it didn’t taste like meat for me but yours look even like a carnita!
One tip is to make sure it’s seasoned well, otherwise it’s super bland! Thank you 😊
This recipe really looks delicious. I will definitely going to try this for sure. Thanks for the recipe
My pleasure and thank you!
Looks so delicious and holidayish! Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you!
I’m all for a good vegan dish. But when it’s flavorful too? Oh, it’s definitely worth trying.
Thank you!
I saw a similar recipe on TV once. I love the idea of jackfruit over actual meat. It’s quite flavorful.
It’s very flavorful!
That sounds like an interesting dish and I don’t think I’ve tried this one before. But that looks quite tasty so I’d be willing to try this one out.
I hope you do! Thank you 😊