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Jackfruit is one of the greatest ingredients for replacing meat in recipes! In this list, you’re going to get all the inspiration you need for making the best tinned jackfruit recipes. They’re simple, delicious and inspired by flavours from all over the world, like this Jackfruit Curry. But, first of all, let’s delve into why jackfruit is such a great ingredient.
Jump to:
- 🤔 What is jackfruit?
- 👩🍳 How to cook jackfruit
- 🛒 Where to buy jackfruit
- 🍛 Best Tinned Jackfruit Recipes
- 💭 Canned Jackfruit FAQs
- 💬 Comments
🤔 What is jackfruit?
Jackfruit is a fruit that’s grown on trees in tropical climates like south-east Asia, the Caribbean and Brazil.
It’s a relative of the fig and breadfruit, and when it’s fully grown it has a thick, light green bumpy skin with pods inside of it, that’s kind of similar to mango. However, we’re talking about jackfruit when it is unripe in this article. When it’s underripe, the outside is green and knobbly but the inside is tougher and meatier.
While jackfruit is often used as a meat replacement, as it resembles pulled pork when slowly cooked, it actually isn’t a great source of protein. Which I actually found quite surprising! To give you an idea, it has 2 grams of protein per 100g, as well as 95 calories. Find out more about jackfruit.
👩🍳 How to cook jackfruit
Jackfruit can be used for savoury and sweet dishes. In this article we’ll be focusing on tinned jackfruit recipes, using young jackfruit. The type that is used for savoury dishes, where jackfruit is usually used to replace meat. That means buying jackfruit that comes in brine or water in a tin. Ripe jackfruit is often sold in cans in syrup, so don’t get them confused!
Young jackfruit can be slow cooked, BBQd, baked, added to curries, stews and stir fries and even air fried. Basically, it can be cooked using almost any method but it’s the flavours that make the biggest difference!
🛒 Where to buy jackfruit
Jackfruit can be bought in lots of major supermarkets in the UK and the US. It’s also found in Asian supermarkets and health food stores. It will usually be in the canned goods aisle, near tins of beans and legumes.
It’s also often sold in pouches but that’s often preprepared in a sauce or gravy, so it wouldn’t be great for the recipes in this list. You can also buy jackfruit online, and if you buy a few tins at a time, you usually get a bulk discount which is great for savings!
🍛 Best Tinned Jackfruit Recipes
1. Easy Indonesian Jackfruit Rendang
Check out this recipe
4.75 from 8 votes
Ready in: 1 hour hour 40 minutes minutes
Recipe by:
Jackfruit rendang is a slow-cooked, deliciously spicy, fragrant and filling Indonesian curry, that we're sure will be a hit!
2. Jackfruit Curry in under 60 Minutes
Check out this recipe
4.91 from 11 votes
Ready in: 55 minutes minutes
Recipe by:
This Jackfruit Curry has a rich and delicious tomato Rogan Josh style sauce, is super filling and so easy to make. It's on the mild side, yet is full of flavour!
3. Jackfruit Chilli
Check out this recipe
5 from 2 votes
Ready in: 1 hour hour
Recipe by:
Jackfruit chilli is a brilliantly smokey and mild one-pot dish that really hits the spot!
4. Jackfruit Wrap
Check out this recipe
5 from 3 votes
Ready in: 35 minutes minutes
Recipe by:
Jackfruit wraps are perfect for lunch meal prep and are so easy to make. It’s packed full with healthy goodness and comes with a spicy kick.
5. Jackfruit Gyros
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: Moon and Spoon and Yum
Gyros are a Greek dish that typically aren’t vegan-friendly. This recipe takes all the flavours you would come to expect from a gyro and pairs them with the versatile ingredient that is jackfruit. Jackfruit makes the perfect substitute for a traditional gyro and also packs a good dose of vitamin C.
6. Grilled Vegan Jackfruit Tacos
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: Make it Dairy Free
These easy grilled vegan jackfruit tacos are a delicious summer recipe that's infused with flavour and paired with homemade vegan BBQ sauce.
7. Vegan Chicken Salad
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: My Quiet Kitchen
This Vegan Chicken Salad is so creamy, nostalgic, delicious, and versatile. With both chickpeas and jackfruit, it has the best texture. It's great for meal prep, snacks, parties and quick lunches!
8. Hoisin Jackfruit Tacos
Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: Rebel Recipes
This list features a few jackfruit tacos, but none like these. Jackfruit in a hoisin sauce and peanut slaw, this one wins the most creative jackfruit taco award!
9. Vegan Crab Cakes
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: No Sweat Vegan
These Vegan Crab Cakes are delicate, flaky, and full of the flavours of the sea. Nori and Old Bay Seasoning add all the right notes, while jackfruit creates the perfect ‘crab’ cake texture.
10. Vegan Seitan Ribs
Ready In: 1 hour 5 minutes (plus 1 hour resting time)
Recipe by: My Quiet Kitchen
Get ready for some epic vegan seitan ribs! This award-winning recipe is saucy, succulent, and completely irresistible. From backyard cookouts to weekly meal prep, you'll return to this easy vegan BBQ again and again.
11. Cruelty Free Chicken Drumsticks
Ready in: 2 hours
Recipe by: Zachary Birdu
In this tinned jackfruit recipe, jackfruit is used to create a vegan chicken drumstick. But not only that – cauliflower has also been used to recreate the bone! A genius idea, and one that I think is a must try.
12. Jackfruit Blanquette
Ready in: 2 hours
Recipe by: Full of Plants
The classic French stew featuring jackfruit, carrot and potato, in a rich and creamy white wine sauce. So comforting and hearty.
13. Jackfruit Steamed Buns
Ready in: 1 hour
Recipe by: Lucy and Lentils
These beautifully presented jackfruit steamed buns are fragrant, sweet and delicious. Featuring plum and hoisin sauce, complemented by spring onions, wrapped up and steamed in a homemade bun. A real show stopper!
14. Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip
Ready in: 28 minutes
Recipe by: Veganosity
This spicy vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip is creamy and delicious. A classic dip that tastes like the traditional one thanks to jackfruit.
15. BBQ Jackfruit Tacos
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: Rainbow Nourishments
These easy BBQ jackfruit tacos have an incredible pulled pork texture and are bursting with flavour. Plus, it only uses commonly found supermarket ingredients.
16. Vegan Taco Soup
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: Veggies Save the Day
Easy to make in 30 minutes with pantry staples, this vegan taco soup features black beans, corn, and jackfruit in a spicy tomato broth. Topped with avocado slices and crushed tortilla chips for a hearty Mexican-inspired meal.
17. Vegan Birria Tacos
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: Daily Dish
Up your #TacoTuesday game with these vegan birria tacos. Crispy on the outside and filled with Mexican chilli spiced jackfruit, these are sure to be a crowd pleaser.
18. Spiced Jackfruit Shawarma
Ready in: 2 hours 50 minutes
Recipe by: My Goodness Kitchen
Grab a napkin because this juicy, spiced jackfruit shawarma is easy to make, completely addictive and 100% carnivore-approved.
19. Vegan Buffalo Chicken Nachos
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: Strength and Sunshine
What's easier and more delicious than a big batch of sheet pan nachos? These Easy Sheet Pan Vegan Buffalo Chicken Nachos! They’re gluten-free, allergy-free and 100% meatless. Whip up these quick, bold and spicy chips for a snack, party appetizer, or fun dinner.
20. Veggie Pulled Pork Nachos
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: Evergreen Kitchen
These Veggie Pulled Pork Nachos are a crowd pleaser! Jackfruit is tossed in BBQ sauce, then piled over nacho chips with all the toppings.
21. Vegan Jackfruit Buffalo Dip
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: Two City Vegans
This vegan jackfruit buffalo dip is cheesy, creamy and has just a little bit of crunch! It’s easy to whip up and makes a great game day or party dip as it’s a real crowd-pleaser.
22. Pulled Jackfruit
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: Tin and Thyme
This pulled jackfruit is a vegan take on pulled pork. It’s rich, smoky and likely to fool all but a pork connoisseur. The recipe includes a healthy and delicious homemade barbecue sauce.
23. Instant Jackfruit Pickle
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: Ruchik Randhap
This is a bit of a different tinned jackfruit recipe, that instead of being a main dish, it's a condiment. This quick pickle is made using the seasonal bounty of Indian summers - young (tender) jackfruit and raw mango. Quick, easy and wonderfully delicious!
24. Vegan Reuben Sandwich
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: Cadry's Kitchen
We bet you'll love the tangy goodness of a jackfruit reuben sandwich. It's served with sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on marbled rye.
25. Jackfruit Southwest Salad
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: Peel with Zeal
A hearty salad with tangy BBQ jackfruit and an avocado dressing, that's a joy to look at as well as eat! Healthy never looked so good.
26. Jackfruit Carnitas
Ready in: 15 minutes
Recipe by: Fannetastic Food
These jackfruit carnitas tacos are super flavourful and shockingly easy to make! They're fresh and delicious, especially when topped with crunchy sliced radishes and cabbage slaw.
27. BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: Fresh off the Grid
This vegan alternative to a pulled pork sandwich is a great idea for lunch. While actual pulled pork takes hours of slow-roasting, this BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich can be ready in 20 minutes!
28. Satay Jackfruit Burger
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: Somebody Feed Seb
This Asian-style Satay Jackfruit Burger recipe that's topped with a mound of cucumber and spring onion, and served with sesame coated wedges. It's a cross between a Chinese duck pancake, satay chicken skewer and a good ol’ ‘meaty’ burger! If you’re in a hurry, skip the sauce and use shop-bought hoisin sauce.
29. Vegan Kedgeree
Ready in: 1 hour 5 minutes
Recipe by: Quite Good Food
Vegan kedgeree of spiced basmati rice and lentils with tender chunks of marinated jackfruit as a substitute for smoked fish. This is another lesser known way of using tinned jackfruit, but one that we're totally here for.
30. Jerk Jackfruit
Ready in: 1 hour 25 minutes
Recipe by: The Vegan Larder
This Jerk Jackfruit is a super popular recipe for an authentic Caribbean flavour! It’s super easy to make the marinade and is just perfect served with rice and peas.
31. Vegan Jackfruit Bao Buns
Ready in: 1 hour 15 minutes
Recipe by: Lazy Cat Kitchen
A classic Chinese bao bun made with tinned jackfruit instead of duck. Featuring a delicate hoisin sauce and it's beautifully presented with cucumber, red cabbage and crushed peanuts.
32. Jackfruit Cutlets
Ready in: 1 hour 40 minutes
Recipe by: The Flavor Bender
A vegan alternative to traditional Sri Lankan fish cutlets – jackfruit is so versatile it can replace many types of meats! Featuring a curried jackfruit filling, these croquettes are one-of-a-kind and make a super delicious snack!
💭 Canned Jackfruit FAQs
Do I need to cook canned jackfruit?
You can eat jackfruit straight out of the can without cooking it first, but it won’t necessarily be enjoyable this way! Partly, jakfruit is so enjoyable because of the way it’s cooked and the seasoning that’s added to it. As it’s a bland fruit, it acts as a blank canvas that absorbs many different flavours really well. Most tinned jackfruit recipes require the jackfruit to be cooked.
Is canned jackfruit already cooked?
Canned jackfruit isn’t cooked before being canned and sold in shops. The jackfruit in the can is usually either in water or brine in the can, in order for it to be preserved. However, as it is sitting in brine or water, that means it’s going to naturally be a bit softer than when it is first harvested. It has essentially been soaked in liquid by the time you come to open and drain the jackfruit, to make one of the amazing tinned jackfruit recipes featured in this list!
Canned jackfruit vs fresh jackfruit?
You’ll probably find it quite difficult to get hold of fresh jackfruit if you’re in the UK. If you find some, you can use it for cooking, but there are a couple of things to be aware of.
If you’re using fresh jackfruit (rather than tinned) you’ll probably find it harder to prepare as it’s harder to pull apart. You will need to remove both the skin and the outer part of the fruit as it’s only the middle that’s suitable for eating. Plus, it will need a much longer cooking time than tinned jackfruit. We actually cooked with fresh jackfruit quite often when we lived in Bali, and found that it needs a long, slow simmer time to get the same results as using tinned jackfruit.
Can jackfruit be frozen?
Yes, absolutely. Jackfruit freezes really well, and we’ve kept jackfruit dishes in the freezer for around 3 months, but it does depend on the recipe. Each tinned jackfruit recipe that we’ve included in this list has its own set of instructions for storage, found at each link.
If you loved this tinned jackfruit recipes list, then give it a share on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest! Did we miss your favourite jackfruit recipe? Let us know in the comments!
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Choclette
So many delicious and creative recipes to try here. They're going to keep me going for ages.
Reply
Jess & Dan
Thanks so much Choclette, there were honestly so many to choose from it was hard to stop adding more jackfruit recipes!
Reply
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