Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Sliders

To be honest, I was never really a fan of pulled pork or anything barbeque. Just was not a taste I liked - after trying these pulled jackfruit sliders, I am sure it was because of the meat! They were so good, they are filled with fiber, and you can easily spice them up or simmer them down. I shouldn't have expected my body to like white bread though, I had a pretty big blood sugar spike after eating them, assuming that is from the bun - I never eat white refined flour, next time I am going to make a trip to a different store and definitly get a good whole grain bun! I didn't personally add any hot sauce to ours, I think next time I will! I made a video showing the process, but I am putting all the details below! 
*You can use store bought barbeque sauce if you have one you like, if that is the case - skip over the first set of ingredients and instructions!

Easy Vegan BBQ Sauce:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups ketchup
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Optional: 1/4 - 1 teaspoon hot sauce (depending on preference)
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce (can use tamari sauce)
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne or chipotle pepper (plus more to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper 

What you do:

• Add all ingredients to a large saucepan and whisk thoroughly to combine. Warm over medium heat.
• Once bubbling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes, whisking occasionally.
• Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed; more lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for acidity, sugar for sweetness, chili powder for smokiness, or cayenne or hot sauce for spice.
• Let cool completely before transferring to a storage container. Sauce will keep for 3-4 weeks in the fridge. Serve at room temperature for best flavor. 

BBQ Jackfruit Sliders:

Ingredients:

• 2 20-ounce cans of young green jackfruit in water or brine
• 2 Tablespoons grape seed oil or avocado oil
• 1/4 white or yellow onion diced 
• 1 cup barbeque sauce - plus more (I used probably 1 1/2 cups total)
• 4 vegan hamburger buns - toasted or grilled 

BBQ Spice Blend:

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

What you do:

• Mix the BBQ spice blend in a separate bowl. Mix well and set aside.
• If the jackfruit is in water, drain, thoroughly dry, and move on to the next step. If the jackfruit is packed in brine, give it a very thorough rinse to draw out some of the brine flavor. Then dry thoroughly in a clean towel.
• To prune the jackfruit, think of it like a pineapple. The goal is to remove the "core" or hard, dense portions. Also, remove any other parts that don't look appetizing. You can be as picky as you want. I chose to take out all bulbs and anything that might seem "animal ish" to me. 
• Place pruned jackfruit in a small bowl and use a fork or your fingers to string/pull it apart, giving it the appearance of "pulled meat".
• Add jackfruit to BBQ spice blend, toss thoroughly to combine.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat.
• Once the skillet is hot, add grape seed oil and onions. Saute for 4-5 minutes. Add Jackfruit and saute for 5 minutes to get a good sear on the edges.
• Start by adding 1/4 cup of BBQ sauce at a time. Add enough water to make it a "sauce" consistency. (About 1/4 cup of each - I then added more BBQ sauce)
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally and adding more sauce as needed, until the flavor has permeated the jackfruit. 
• Toast your buns while the jackfruit is simmering. 
• Serve with additional sauce and add vegetables if you desire (recommended red or green onions) I put a few arugula leaves.
• Store left over jackfruit covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. 

This recipe was inspired by Minimalist Baker and you find their blog here.

Watch my YouTube video showing the whole process here! 

XOXOXO