Pulled Jackfruit Sliders

There seems to be a jackfruit craze in the veggie world, and I totally get why.  They have a cool texture and are a blank slate for flavors.  I decided to use Barbecue Sauce I made a while back to pulled jackfruit sliders.  Alternatively, you can eat the pulled jackfruit plain, in a wrap, or on rice if you prefer that.  I'm not going to pretend they replace meat since I have no idea if they do, but I can tell you they are delicious and very easy to make.  I have made them on the stove top and in the Instant Pot, and while both work really well, they are similar enough that I prefer the Instant Pot version for speed and ease.

Ingredients

20 oz green jackfruit in water or brine, rinsed and drained

1 cup Barbecue Sauce (chose your favorite since this is the only flavoring!)

1/4-2 cups water (depending on your cooking method)

Slider buns

Optional toppings of your choice: cabbage, cilantro, coleslaw, onions, etc.

Instant Pot Directions

1. Put the drained jackfruit, barbecue sauce, and 1/4 cup of water in the Instant Pot. Stir so that all of the jackfruit is coated with the sauce.

2.  Close the Instant Pot lid and set as follows: Set the Instant Pot to "sealing."  Set the cooking method to "high pressure" for 10 minutes.  After the cooking time is over, let the pressure natural release and wait for the metal pin to drop.

3.  After the pin drops, open the lid.  Use two forks to gently pull apart the jackfruit pieces- this creates the shredded, "pulled jackfruit."  Gently stir so that all the shredded jackfruit is coated with sauce.

4.  Place a heap of the shredded jackfruit on the bottom of the slider bun (~1/4 cup).  I like them plain, but you can add shredded cabbage, cilantro, coleslaw, onions, etc. on top of the jackfruit if you want.  Place the top of the slider bun on and enjoy!

Stove Top Directions

1. Put the drained jackfruit, barbecue sauce, and 1 cup of water in a large pot. Stir so that all of the jackfruit is coated.

2.  Place the pot over medium-high heat.  As soon as the sauce boils, lower the heat to a simmer.  Cover the pot and let the mix simmer.  After 5 minutes, lift the lid and gently stir the jackfruit with a fork.  Replace the lid and let it simmer again.  Continue to do this every 5 minutes until the jackfruit starts to fall apart or "shred." At any point during the simmering, if the sauce starts to dry out and the jackfruit starts sticking to the bottom of the pan, you can add a little more water (I would do 1/4 cup at a time).  Once the jackfruit is tender enough that it shreds easily, turn off the heat.  This generally takes 30-45 minutes.

3.  Use two forks to gently pull apart the jackfruit pieces- this creates the shredded, "pulled jackfruit."  Gently stir so that all the shredded jackfruit is coated with sauce.

4.  Place a heap of the shredded jackfruit on the bottom of the slider bun (~1/4 cup).  I like them plain, but you can top the jackfruit with shredded cabbage, cilantro, coleslaw, onions, etc if you want.  Place the top of the slider bun on and enjoy!