As promised, here is the fourth of five recipes I am sharing from my cookbook for FREE! This recipe is for Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit Tacos! This recipe was adapted from a recipe for Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit Tacos from the blog Yup, It’s Vegan, and it is incredibly flavorful and well-balanced.
And if you want more than 90 incredible vegan Instant Pot recipes, be sure to order my cookbook, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook!
With my recipes, I strive to balance flavors in a harmonious way. In this recipe, the jackfruit is spicy (thanks to the habanero pepper and cayenne pepper) and smoky (thanks to the liquid smoke), so it needs a cooling balance. That’s where the mango avocado salsa comes in! It’s so refreshing and cooling and creamy, making it the perfect complement to the jackfruit.
Finally, this recipe is really easy to make. Just sauté a few aromatics in the Instant Pot, toss in the canned and shredded jackfruit with some seasonings, and let the Instant Pot do its magic! And for the salsa, it’s as easy as combining a few diced ingredients!
If you are sensitive to spicy food, I recommend not using the whole habanero pepper, which is very spicy. If you can tolerate moderate spiciness, you can use half or even just 1/4 of the pepper. If you are very sensitive to spicy food, I recommend using a less spicy pepper, such as a serrano pepper or a jalapeño (jalapeños are the least spicy).
And finally, I highly recommend flame grilling your tortillas! It adds a nice textural dimension and slight smoky taste to the tacos!
Introducing
Big Vegan Flavor
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Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Jackfruit Tacos (recipe from the Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook)
Ingredients
Mango-Avocado Salsa
- 2 cups peeled and diced mango, about 2 medium
- 1 medium ripe avocado, diced
- 3/4 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup diced cucumber
- 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, about 11⁄2 limes
- 1 ⁄2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro, finely chopped Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Jackfruit
- 2 (20-ounce) cans jackfruit in brine or water
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil or other neutral cooking oil
- 6 scallions (white and light-green parts only), sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 -inch piece fresh ginger, grated or minced
- 1 habanero or Scotch bonnet pepper, seeded and minced (use only 1⁄2 pepper for less heat or substitute with a milder pepper such as serrano or jalapeño)
Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar, coconut nectar, or agave nectar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup reduced-sodium tamari or soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, about 11⁄2 limes
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
- 1/2 cup water
Jamaican Jerk Spices
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon sweet or hot paprika
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 to 1⁄2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg
For serving
- 12 corn tortillas
- Vegan sour cream (optional)
Instructions
- Make the mango-avocado salsa: In a medium bowl, combine the mango, avocado, onion, cucumber, orange juice, lime juice, and cilantro and mix gently. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Preparing the salsa in advance gives it some time to marinate and will deepen the flavor, but you can also make it while the jackfruit pressure cooks.)
- Prepare the jackfruit: Drain the canned jackfruit and lightly rinse under water, shaking off excess water. Use your fingers to remove any thick cores and pull the pieces apart so that it resembles shredded pork.
- Select the Sauté setting on the Instant Pot and, after a few minutes, add the oil. Once the display reads “HOT,” add the scallions and cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, and chile pepper and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Add all of the Jamaican jerk seasoning, stir to coat, and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until very fragrant. Select the Cancel setting.
- Add the shredded jackfruit, along with the coconut sugar, tomato paste, tamari, lime juice, and liquid smoke (if using). Stir well. Pour in 1⁄2 cup water and mix again.
- Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Pressure Cook setting at high pressure and set the cook time to 4 minutes.
- Once the 4-minute timer has completed and beeps, allow a natural pressure release. Open the pot and stir well. Transfer the jackfruit to a serving bowl.
- To serve: Heat the tortillas over an open flame (I place them directly on the burner of my gas stove) and use tongs to ip them after 30 to 45 seconds or when small brown spots appear, and cook for another 15 to 30 seconds. Stack them in a clean kitchen towel or in foil to keep them warm.
- Serve the jackfruit with the warmed corn tortillas, mango avocado salsa, and vegan sour cream (if using).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Hi. There seems to be 2 different recipes for Jamaican Jerk Seasoning. I feel like I am seeing double, lol. Are those just 2 different choices one can chose from for the Jamaican Jerk Seasoning?
Hi Lee, great catch! The first header now reads “Seasoning” and the second heading reads “Jamaican Jerk spices.” Thanks for pointing that out!
Overall a wonderful recipe, but beware that it takes quite a bit of time, especially if you prepare the jerk seasoning as the recipe suggests.
Great flavors with an immense depth. The only thing I would say is that the jackfruit portion is quite tangy. I would suggest using less lime juice, or none at all.
Sorry to hear it took you longer than expected, Lauren! Thank you for sharing your experience, we’re glad you think the jackfruit had great flavors. 🙂
So delicious! Mouth watering, juicy,tender and flavorful! Mimics pulled pork with the bonus of being truly cruelty-free, since it’s vegan!! I loved the addition of your homemade mango salsa and homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning! I omitted the avocados in the salsa and added red bell peppers, then sliced the avocados and topped them last with Cocojune coconut yogurt! It transported me back to tropical paradise on a hot summer day! Thank you Nisha 😘
Thanks for sharing, Teresa!