RAW VEGAN Jerk Jackfruit Taco Recipe
A vibrant, plant-based taco filling featuring shredded jackfruit marinated in a bold, aromatic Jamaican-inspired jerk spice blend.
40 min total
RAW VEGAN Jerk Jackfruit Taco Recipe
A vibrant, plant-based taco filling featuring shredded jackfruit marinated in a bold, aromatic Jamaican-inspired jerk spice blend.
40 min total
Key move
Blend all ingredients, except jackfruit & scallion, until smooth. Also leave out 1/2 of the purple onions to fold in at the end (only blend 1/4 cup of the onions). This will be your jerk jackfruit marinade. Once blended, Set marinade aside.
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The Setup
- Mixing Bowl
- Chef Knife
- Blender
- Dehydrator
The Mise en Place
5 of 14Your prep station before cooking begins
Ingredients (0/14)
The finished dish tastes watery.
Drain wet produce well, add dressing gradually, and hold juicy ingredients until the final toss.
The seasoning tastes uneven.
Toss longer than feels necessary, then adjust with acid, salt, and herbs in small rounds.
The Method
BLEND
Time-sensitiveBlend all ingredients, except jackfruit & scallion (1 stalk), until smooth. Also leave out 1/2 of the purple onions to fold in at the end (only blend 1/4 cup of the onions). This will be your jerk jackfruit marinade. Once blended, Set marinade aside.
Over-processing: Do not over-blend or the marinade will become too watery and lose its ability to coat the jackfruit.
Look for: smooth.
IN
Time-sensitiveIn a large bowl, and with your hands, break apart your jackfruit until it resembles the texture of pulled pork.
Tough cores: Failing to remove the hard center pods will result in a woody, unpleasant texture in the final taco.
Look for: it resembles the texture of pulled pork.
ONCE
Once jackfruit is prepared, pour your marinade in the bowl with the jackfruit and thoroughly mix. Fold in the rest of your chopped purple onions and scallion (1 stalk).
Uneven distribution: Failure to fold from the bottom leaves pools of marinade at the base, resulting in uneven seasoning.
Ingredients are evenly combined with no dry pockets.
OPTIONAL
OPTIONAL (RECOMMENDED) STEP: Once fully covered, set aside and let sit to marinate for at least one hour. Letting this jackfruit marinate overnight is even better as THYME ⏰ is an ingredient! 😉
Uneven absorption: Ensure every piece is fully coated in the marinade to prevent dry, unseasoned spots.
Mixture has rested for the listed time.
THE
The more time you allow the jackfruit to marinate, the more the spices and herbs will have the opportunity to alchemize with your jackfruit and enhance it's flavour.
Flavor imbalance: Insufficient time prevents the jackfruit from absorbing the marinade, leaving the center bland.
Mixture has rested for the listed time.
OPTIONAL
OPTIONAL (RECOMMENDED) STEP: Place your marinated jackfruit on a dehydrator sheet at dehydrate at 118 degrees for 2-4 hours, depending on the texture you desire.
Over-drying: Check texture frequently after the first few hours to avoid a leathery or brittle consistency.
Mixture has rested for the listed time.
STEP
👩🏾🍳 Chef's opinion : This dish tastes best dehydrated. The texture and feel is transformed in the dehydrator, yet will still be delicious if paired well in in delicious taco with yummy toppings, or on a full dish of other food items, if you choose not to dehydrate.
Soggy assembly: If not fully dehydrated, excess moisture from the jackfruit may cause taco shells to lose their crispness.
Step is complete as written in the recovered source method.
IF
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A DEHYDRATOR -- You may also use slightly crushed walnuts instead of jackfruit, for this recipe. You may stir the jerk marinade/sauce with your crushed walnuts and the texture of the walnuts blended with the delicious flavours from the sauce alchemizes really well.
Over-processing: Blending too long turns the walnuts into a paste rather than a taco-filling consistency.
Mixture is combined to the texture described in the source method.
ASSEMBLING
ASSEMBLING YOUR TACOS:
Overloading: Adding too much filling will cause the taco shell to tear or collapse during transport to your mouth.
Step is complete as written in the recovered source method.
ON
On your prefered raw "taco shell", build your tacos by adding your marinated jackfruit, raw coleslaw, mango salsa, avocado, sprouts, pickled onions, nori seaweed... pretty much ANYTHING you desire to take your taco to the next level! Have fun in the kitchen and get creative!
Soggy shell: Excess marinade on the jackfruit will soften the raw shell quickly; drain excess liquid before assembling.
Mixture has rested for the listed time.
SOME
SOME OPTIONS FOR RAW TACO SHELLS:
Leaf tearing: Avoid using brittle or dry leaves as they will crack when folded around the heavy jackfruit mixture.
Step is complete as written in the recovered source method.
NAPA
Napa Cabbage (as pictured)
Bitter stems: The thick white stems can be fibrous and bitter; ensure they are trimmed thin for a better bite.
Step is complete as written in the recovered source method.
PURPLE
Purple Cabbage
Tough texture: Large purple cabbage leaves can be tough; slice or shred them thinly to ensure they are easy to chew.
Step is complete as written in the recovered source method.
THINLY
Thinly Slice & Peeled Jicama
Uneven thickness: Inconsistent slices lead to uneven texture in the final taco bite.
Pieces are cut to the stated size or serving shape.
SWISS
Swiss Chard
Wilted greens: Using wilted chard will result in a soggy texture for the taco filling.
Step is complete as written in the recovered source method.
NOTE
NOTE: This jerk jackfruit recipe can also be cooked slow via stovetop, preferably in a cast iron skillet on low-medium heat.
Burning marinade: The marinade contains sugars that can burn rapidly if the heat is too high; keep the skillet on low-medium.
Dish is assembled and ready to serve.
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