Vegan BBQ Jackfruit Lettuce Tacos

# What you'll need:

→ BBQ Jackfruit

01 - 2 cans (14 oz each) young green jackfruit in brine, drained and rinsed

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

03 - 1 small red onion, finely diced

04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced

05 - 1 cup vegan BBQ sauce

06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

08 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Creamy Slaw

09 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage

10 - 1 cup shredded purple cabbage

11 - 1 medium carrot, julienned

12 - 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

13 - 1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise

14 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

15 - 1 teaspoon maple syrup

16 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Assembly

17 - 8 large butter lettuce leaves or romaine hearts

18 - Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

19 - Lime wedges

# Method:

01 - Combine shredded green cabbage, purple cabbage, julienned carrot, and sliced green onions in a large bowl. In a separate small bowl, whisk vegan mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, salt, and pepper until smooth. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss until evenly coated. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

02 - Drain and rinse canned jackfruit thoroughly. Using your hands or two forks, shred the jackfruit pieces into tender strands, removing any hard cores or seeds.

03 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced red onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute longer until fragrant.

04 - Add shredded jackfruit, smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir continuously for 2 minutes to evenly coat the jackfruit with spices.

05 - Pour vegan BBQ sauce into the skillet and reduce heat to low. Simmer uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until jackfruit becomes tender and sauce thickens slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

06 - Place a generous spoonful of BBQ jackfruit into each lettuce leaf. Top with creamy slaw, garnish with fresh cilantro leaves, and serve with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -

Jackfruit transforms into something that tastes remarkably meaty without any of the heaviness, making these tacos feel like a clever kitchen secret.
The whole meal comes together in under 45 minutes, which means you can have restaurant-quality dinner on a random Tuesday night.
One batch feeds four people generously, and leftovers actually taste better the next day when the flavors deepen.

02 -

Don't skip the rinsing step with canned jackfruit—this is where most people run into that metallic, tinny aftertaste that makes them swear jackfruit doesn't work.
The slaw actually improves after a few hours in the fridge as the dressing softens the cabbage slightly, so you can make it earlier in the day if you're prepping ahead.
If your BBQ sauce is very thin, the simmering time might need to extend to 15 minutes—you want the sauce to coat the jackfruit, not pool at the bottom of the pan.

03 -