jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (2024)

I’m not vegan, but I lean towards eating that way most of the time, and part of my experiments with making plant-based swaps in my favorite meals has brought jackfruit to my plate. I’ve seen it used as pulled “pork” and have had it smothered in BBQ sauce on a salad at Veggie Galaxy, but I had never tried it at home, so I ventured to the Super 88 Market and got myself a few cans to play around with.

jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (1)

Jackfruit is a fairly neutral-tasting, ginormous tropical fruit that’s part of the fig family. You probably won’t find it fresh in the Boston area, but the canned version in brine works great for savory applications. I prefer using this as a meat replacement over processed soy frankenfoods, and in this recipe it’s a substitute for shredded chicken, rich in fiber, Vitamin C, and several B vitamins. Our protein will come from the cannellini beans in this dish.

Jackfruit comes canned in syrup as well, so make sure you double check that you have the young green ones in brine. Also, this really is more savory than anything; don’t try to put the brined version in desserts. I tried it thinking it would be neutral enough if I rinsed it well, but came up with what looked like an apple-chicken pie. Such is life with culinary curiosity. Learn from my mistakes.

If you’re unable to find fresh tomatillos, canned will work fine, or green tomatoes with a bit of lime juice.

This is a warming recipe for cold nights that’ll make your mom proud withall the green in your bowl. Don’t forget to bake up some corn tortillas for dipping!

4.8 from 5 reviews

jackfruit chili verde

jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (2)

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Author: kristen ciccolini

Recipe type: soup

Serves: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • ½ cup water
  • 1 20oz can young green jackfruit
  • 2 tsp coconut oil / ghee
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 ½ tsp cumin
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 lb tomatillos, husked, rinsed and cut into wedges
  • 1 bunch green onions, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 1 can diced green chilis
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

Instructions

  1. Heat water in a skillet until boiling. Reduce the heat to a simmer, add jackfruit, and cover for about 10 minutes, until the fruit softens and can be shredded with a fork or your fingers. Drain, shred, and set aside.
  2. Meanwhile in a blender, puree broth, ⅓ of the tomatillos, green onions, cilantro, and garlic until smooth. Set aside.
  3. In a medium saucepan, heat oil on medium heat and add onions and cumin. Cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. Add remaining ⅔ of the tomatillos and cook until softened and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes.
  4. Add broth mixture, green chiles, oregano, and salt to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Add jackfruit and cannellini beans and cook for 30 minutes.
  5. Serve with fresh cilantro for garnish.

Recipescilantro, dairy free, dinner, gluten free, health, healthy, jackfruit, lunch, luteal phase recipe, menstrual phase recipe, nut free, nutrition, recipe, soup, tomatillos, vegan, vegetarian

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Reader Interactions

16 Comments

  1. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (6)Ruth Sandin says

    I have never seen tomatillas in the grocery store! Where do you get them?

    Reply

  2. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (7)Ruth Sandin says

    Another thing- about jack fruit: I have bought it in the past and have only used it as shredded BBQ, but some of it is kind of tough. I always thought that canned food was already fully cooked. So, reading to simmer it is new information for me. I will try it. Thanks!

    Reply

  3. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (8)Roxane says

    Yes! you can find jackfruit in the Boston area in the freezer section! go to this website for store locator. https://thejackfruitcompany.com/

    This company is a big supporter of Boston Veg Festival.

    Reply

    • jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (9)kristen says

      Good to know, thank you!

      Reply

  4. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (10)Sabrina says

    We made this a while back and it was amazing! Served it traditional Mexican restaurant style with refried beans, rice and tortillas and we’re very impressed.

    Reply

    • jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (11)kristen says

      Awesome! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, thank you for sharing that with me 🙂

      Reply

  5. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (12)Michael Williams says

    Deliciousness. I’m having this for the week, for lunch. I added a can of black beans to stretch. Winner winner with this one.

    Reply

    • jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (13)kristen says

      Woohoo! The extra black beans sound great!

      Reply

  6. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (14)Marta says

    Second time making this delicious recipe. Absolutely excellent!

    Thank you!

    Reply

    • jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (15)kristen says

      I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. Thank you for sharing with me!

      Reply

  7. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (16)Vanessa says

    Absolutely love this recipe!!! So good!

    Reply

  8. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (17)Hannah Shaw says

    What size for the green Chiles? My store has three sizes.
    Thanks

    Reply

    • jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (18)kristen says

      I usually use the small 4oz can

      Reply

  9. jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (19)Rachel says

    Is there any way to mimic, if not flavor, something if the satisfying robust flavor of pork. I’m not into frankefoods either. And I’m fully committed to vegan. But pork really dies bring something to green chili that seriously missing when the pork is missing. Oh well. It’s not pork. I just wondered if you have any experience with “mimicking” meat. I do like jackfruit, but it does not really mimic meat. Or poultry or fish. It does not “absorb” flavors. And though may look like shredded beef, texture is not the same. I’m interested in duplicating flavors more than visual similarities. Any help here? Within this recipe or others you may have tried. I’m also commenting on this because I wonder if other people struggle with this as well, transitioning to vegan.
    Thank you for any input.

    Reply

    • jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (20)Haley Pearson says

      I wonder if you could use vegan techniques for boosting umami, which is the meaty flavour that you’re missing? Googling ‘vegan umami options’ might yield some ideas.

      Reply

    • jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (21)Alicia says

      Also, Jack Fruit is not a “frankenfood”. It’s an actual fruit flesh. Try it out. I love it!

      Reply

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jackfruit chili verde | good witch kitchen recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to cook jackfruit? ›

If you're ready to add them to your must-try list, simply boil them for 20-30 minutes, season and serve. When cooked, the flavor and texture is reminiscent of potatoes! They're also nutrient-rich and high in protein, so they're a great addition to your menu.

Does canned jackfruit need to be cooked? ›

This is particularly more important if you plan to eat your jackfruit raw, as the texture of the core isn't as noticeable once the fruits have been cooked. Again, the canned jackfruit is perfectly safe to eat straight out of the can, but it tends to taste best warm and with seasoning.

How to prepare canned jackfruit like meat? ›

Take canned unripe jackfruit in water or brine. Drain the liquid. If you've opted for the version in brine, give the chunks a good rinse under the tap as it can have an unpleasant taste. Then, pull the chunks apart with your fingers, to give the jackfruit a shredded texture like pulled pork, chicken or beef.

What not to mix with jackfruit? ›

Jackfruit can also be harmful if you eat it with milk or carbonated drinks. It may cause digestion and skin issues. You should avoid drinking water after the consumption of jackfruit as it can lead to diarrhoea. Jackfruit is a high water content fruit that smoothes out bowel movements.

Should I boil jackfruit before cooking? ›

However, before cooking with it in a recipe, you may like to boil the fresh unripe jackfruit for around 45 minutes to ensure it becomes tender in the final dish. If the recipe has a long cook time, like this jackfruit rendang, you can skip this step.

How do you cook green jackfruit from a can? ›

Drain jackfruit and rinse thoroughly. Add jackfruit, spices and veggie broth to a heavy-bottom skillet and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until jackfruit has softened and liquid has mostly cooked off.

Is canned green jackfruit healthy? ›

Jackfruit is packed with essential vitamins and minerals you need for good health. It's a particularly good source of B vitamins, potassium, and vitamin C.

Is canned jackfruit healthy? ›

The Bottom Line. Jackfruit is very good for you for many reasons. It is high in nutrients and antioxidants and may have a number of health benefits, including improved blood sugar control. You can easily incorporate jackfruit into your diet by eating it plain or in various dishes.

Do you have to rinse canned jackfruit? ›

If you use the more convenient canned jackfruit, take care to rinse as much of the brine away as possible. I like to soak it in cold water for a few hours to extract as much as I can. You also probably won't need to add salt to your recipe, so taste before adding any soy sauce or salty condiments.

How long do you cook canned jackfruit for? ›

Leave to simmer gently, covered, for 30 mins stirring every 5-10 mins to help break down the jackfruit, then take the lid off and cook a further 10 minutes. Once cooked, use a fork to make sure all of the jackfruit is well shredded.

Does canned jackfruit taste good? ›

Canned jackfruit that has been packed in brine may actually taste salty, and that's usually why it's recommended to rinse this kind in water to dial down the sodium content before cooking with it. The canned jackfruit is also often described as having a meaty taste and texture.

Does cooked jackfruit taste like meat? ›

But the taste is quite distinctive. Some say it's sweet, and some say a jackfruit has a flavor similar to pulled pork, especially when cooked. The seeds of jackfruit are edible, and some compare their taste, which is milky and gummy, to that of a Brazil nut.

Does jackfruit taste like meat when cooked? ›

What Does Jackfruit Taste Like? Ripe yellow jackfruit has a subtly sweet flavor, often described as a combination of banana, apple, and mango. Young green jackfruit, on the other hand, has a neutral flavor and texture similar to shredded meat, making it a popular meat substitute in savory dishes.

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