Jackfruit Pulled "pork"

Ok, so eating plant based in general is pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Throwing in a family event, bbq, gathering or pressure to

bring a dish somewhere that everyone will like, now that can be challenging.

My jackfruit pulled pork is a dish you can make that herbivores and meat eaters alike will love! Trust me, I've already tested out this theory, and no one knew it was vegan, or even a fruit for that matter!

Now you're probably wondering what is jackfruit, and wont it be too sweet? So lets clear that all up now.

Jackfruit is a species of tree in the fig, mulberry, and breadfruit family native to South India. It is low in fat but rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. It is also a great source of minerals, such as iron, magnesium, potassium and manganese!

When jackfruit is eating in in UNRIPE state, it can resemble meats just as chicken and pork. This versatile meat substitute is a great play on dishes such as "chicken soup, tacos, and pulled "pork".

Now for the recipe.

The most challenging part about this recipe will be finding your canned unripened jackfruit. Most Asian markets sell this product, and I have also seen it pop up in many Trader Joe's Markets. If you can not find it in either of these places, you can purchase the cans on amazon.

Lets get cooking, here's what you need:

2 cans of young unripe jackfruit in brine, or water

1/2 c. vegetable stock

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. onion powder

1/2 tsp. smoked paprika

1/4 tsp. liquid smoke

* bottle of your favorite bbq sauce

Pre-heat your oven to 425*

Drain cans of jackfruit and shred with your hands or fork to create a pulled meat like consistency. Removing seeds and the skin from where the seeds are. This piece generally does not break down during the cooking process so I like to remove a majority of them, but it is not necessary.

Once all of your jackfruit is shredded add to a pan your jackfruit, vegetable stock, liquid smoke and spices. Cook on medium heat until liquid is gone.

Place jackfruit on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. After ten minutes add in your bbq sauce and place back in the oven. Check back every ten minutes, stirring the jackfruit and adding more bbq sauce if needed. Do this for about 1 hour. You want this mixture to thicken, and parts of the jackfruit to crisp. This is what will give you the slow cooked pulled pork feel.