So, here’s the deal: jackfruit is the undercover agent of the vegan world. It looks like a spiky dinosaur egg, but when cooked right, it shreds just like pulled pork. Magic? Witchcraft? Nope — just plants being awesome. This recipe is your ticket to fooling meat-eaters at your next cookout and maybe even converting a few.
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Imagine smoky, saucy, finger-lickin’ goodness without the post–BBQ food coma. These sandwiches are messy in all the right ways — the kind you lean over the plate for, elbows on the table, hoping nobody’s judging your face covered in sauce. The jackfruit soaks up BBQ like a sponge, the buns are fluffy clouds holding it all together, and if you’re feeling fancy, coleslaw brings that crunchy, tangy bonus. In short: this is comfort food, but on the green side of life.
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You’ll Need
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- 2 cans green jackfruit (brine, not syrup — big mistake otherwise!)
- 1 onion, thin slices
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup good BBQ sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 6 buns (soft + fluffy)
- Coleslaw (if you’re feeling extra)
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How to Make It
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- Drain & shred that jackfruit with your hands — it’s oddly satisfying.
- Sauté onion in olive oil, then garlic for 1 min.
- Add shredded jackfruit, paprika, chili, pepper → stir fry a bit.
- Slather in BBQ sauce and let it simmer 15 mins until saucy.
- Toast buns (mandatory for crunch).
- Pile high with jackfruit, top with slaw.
- Eat messily. That’s the rule
