Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos & Guac
I know we are all waiting for fall but summer is still here and I am still enjoying the last bits of summer produce. Which means you guys are enjoying the last bits of summer with me and what better way to do that than with tacos ! Trust me, I have plenty of pumpkin spice ideas and fall produce plans.
In this weeks jackfruit carnitas reel, I shared a little personal story of when I was in culinary school. My chef liked to think of cool field trips for us and occasionally we would go to different kinds of markets and grocery stores. It was really fun all of us car pooling around for class credit and shopping for items to use in class. Along this trip I saw a whole jackfruit that was 70 pounds! Which is how much my dogs weighs so that was pretty crazy to see. Luckily jackfruit is also sold in cans so don’t worry about trying to find it locally. Depending on where you live that might actually be possible. What I think is pretty cool about jackfruit is its texture and how it pulls a part or almost shreds similarly to pork and carnitas ! It soaks up any marinade pretty well so its a pretty creative plant based protein alternative to play around with.
Jackfruit Carnitas Tacos & Guac
* Makes 6 tacos * Ingredients
8 Tortillas - Click here for recipe and instructions !
1 can - Jackfruit ( I used the Sprout’s Brand )
1/2 cup - diced yellow onion
grapeseed oil for sauteing
Marinade
3 chipotle peppers in adobo
2 tbsp - adobo sauce
1/4 cup - chopped cilantro
2 tbsp - oil
1 tbsp - garlic
1 tbsp - maple syrup
2 tbsp - soy sauce
1/2 tsp - cumin
Guacamole
1 avocado
1/4 cup - vegan mayo
1/4 cup - chopped cilantro
1/4 cup - lime juice
1/2 tbsp - minced garlic
1 tbsp - minced red onion
salt / pepper to taste
Garnishes
1/4 cup - minced red onions
1/4 cup - cilantro
a couple of fresh lime wedges for squeezin !
Instructions
Step 1 - Make the tortillas
In a pinch I suppose I could over look store bought tortillas. However, nothing beats home made fresh tortillas.
Step 2 - Marinate the jackfruit & cut the veg
To get started, to make the marinade I like to use a small food processor but a blender can work for this too. Just be sure to push the cilantro down enough that it can incorporate with everything nicely. Blend all the ingredients till smooth.
For the canned jackfruit, simply drain it and allow to dry a bit before adding it into a bowl. Pour over the marinade and give all the pieces of jackfruit a good massage with your hands to ensure it really gets in all the layers. Set aside and allow to marinate while everything else is in the works.
To use as a garnish later, mince or dice finely some red onion and chop some cilantro to later go on top of the tacos.
Step 3 - Make the guacamole
To make the guac I simply combined all the guac ingredients together in a bowl and mashed with a fork till I reach the desired chunkiness or smoothness. Then set in the fridge or to the side to use later.
Step 4 - Sauté the jackfruit
In a large sauté pan, once at a medium heat sauté the yellow onion till golden brown and then add in the drained jackfruit. Give everything a nice mix to allow everything to get coated. Using a spatula or tongs, press on the jack fruit chunks to help them break open to expand the surface area and get a nice sear. Cook for maybe 20 minutes or until somewhat crispy.
Step 5 - Assemble the tacos
To build each taco I start with maybe a heaping tablespoon worth of guac and spread that out over the bottom before piling on top some of the delicious jackfruit “carnitas”. To garnish, sprinkle over some of the diced red onion and chopped cilantro. All that’s left is a squeeze of fresh lime juice on top if that’s your thing and enjoy !
