When I first became plant-based, I struggled with cooking and eating jackfruit. Similar to tofu, I had an issue with the soggy texture. Then, I discovered jackfruit is magical if cooked correctly. After some thought, I figured shredded jackfruit was the perfect filling for vegan enchiladas. Then I added a few other magical ingredients for jackfruit enchiladas.
Actually, jackfruit has the texture of chicken! I didn't say it tastes like chicken because obviously, I'm not too fond of chicken. But I love the texture, especially for vegan enchiladas!
So, let's talk about making jackfruit enchiladas that will bring your family to the vegan dinner table.
Transforming shredded jackfruit into enchilada meat
Jackfruit, when drained and removed from a can, looks like triangles of chicken. If you taste it, as it comes from the can, it is tasteless and somewhat salty. In fact, jackfruit's bland flavor makes it the perfect sponge for absorbing flavors.
For me, the fun is transforming a can of jackfruit into shredded jackfruit as the base of my enchilada filling. That shredded jackfruit fools any meat-eater.
Tips
- First, it is important to buy the jackfruit in water or brine.
- One of the biggest mistakes people make, however, is buying jackfruit in syrup.
- Unfortunately, I have made this mistake, and I ended up throwing my whole meal away. And I hate wasting food. So, avoid that pitfall and buy jackfruit in water or brine.
- Remove any visible seeds in the triangles; they are tough and do not shred well.
Then, you rinse the jackfruit, put it in your food processor, and pulse until shredded.
Although many recipes suggest using the jackfruit as is, I'm afraid I disagree. So instead, I like to cook it first. Like my Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip, cooking the jackfruit first gives it a different texture and flavor.
For the jackfruit to get the right flavor and texture, shred it to absorb the onions, jalapenos, cilantro, garlic, and spices before it goes inside the vegan enchilFirst, sauteeing the onions, garlic, and jalapeno t first, brings the flavors before adding the cilantro.
However, the magic is sauteeing the cilantro with the initial vegetables with lime and adding the shredded jackfruit.
How to cook jackfruit for enchiladas
Once the jackfruit is added to the pan, the goal is to add spices, brown it and dry it out.
How to make veggie enchiladas
At this point, I added Nacho Cheese Sauce, as well as raw spinach and black beans. Even though I used Nacho Cheese Sauce, substituting vegan cheese works well for the jackfruit mixture to make vegan enchiladas.
Once the shredded jackfruit is cooked with the vegetables, transfer to a large bowl and add the cheese sauce mixture.
Then add the black beans and raw spinach. Whenever I make jackfruit enchiladas with spinach, I always use a generous amount of spinach.
Even though the mixture appears chunky, the vegan enchilada mixture cooks perfectly in the oven and the spinach wilts.
MEAL PREP TIPS FOR VEGAN ENCHILADA RECIPE
As you all know, I am all about cooking ahead of time to make daily meals easier. For this reason, I doubled the jackfruit sauteed recipe to make my vegan tortilla soup recipe. As a result, the jackfruit mixture can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until you are ready to make the enchiladas.
Then, all you have to do is throw it together to save time when it's time to make dinner. In the same way, if you double the recipe for the jackfruit meat, you prep once for two separate meals.
Also, the Nacho Cheese Sauce made ahead of time can be used for a variety of recipes such as:
- Vegan Chili Mac Kid Tested; Mother Approved
- Cauliflower Nachos
- Chili Cheese Dip
- Vegan Guilt-Free Potato Nachos; A Game Day Treat!
- Tater Tot Nachos
Vegan enchilada sauce
Recently, I made a Mexican Lasagna using a combination of fire-roasted tomatoes and hatch chili sauce. This two-ingredient enchilada sauce, for example, is simple and can also be prepared beforehand if food prepping.
To avoid using any oil, add half of the enchilada sauce n the bottom of a 9 X 13-inch pan, and then roll the enchiladas together.
ROLLING THE TORTILLAS FOR VEGAN ENCHILADAS
As soon as the pan's bottom is covered in half the enchilada sauce, it is time to roll the tortillas.
First, lay each tortilla on a flat surface. Next, using the combined jackfruit mixture, place a generous amount in the middle of the tortilla lengthwise.
Then, fold both ends, tuck, and roll the tortilla tightly, keeping the jackfruit filling inside. The trick, then, is to lay each tortilla in the base of the pan, on top of half the enchilada sauce, seam down. As a result, the filling will stay inside the tortillas.
Now, pour the remaining enchilada sauce equally over the top of the stuffed tortillas. For a bonus, using a squirt bottle, I drizzled additional Skinny NachoCheese Sauce on top.
GARNISH OPTIONS FOR VEGAN ENCHILADAS
Even though these enchiladas are fabulous alone, I love to add extras to make them pretty and a bit more yummy.
- Lime
- Cilantro
- Jalapenos
- Avocado
- Nacho Cheese Sauce
Because I love Mexican food, I often think about the possibilities of different recipes, but, without a doubt, vegan enchiladas are a game-changer. My family, for instance, is my test kitchen. And, by no means are they easily swayed.
Even though I love my Green Plant-Based Potato and Kale Enchiladas, my family is now a fan of my new vegan enchilada recipe.
DO YOU LOVE MEXICAN FOOD? TRY THESE RECIPES:
- Vegan Crunch Wrap Supreme
- Mexican Lasagna
- Mexican Street Corn Vegan!
- Vegan Coleslaw with Avocado-Cilantro
- Taco Tuesday Skinny Potato Tacos
- Sweet Potato Tacos
- Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Avocado-Cilantro Cream
- Roasted Vegetable Tacos
- Mushroom Chorizo Tacos
- Roasted Broccolini and Sweet Potato Tostados
- Green Plant-Based Potato and Kale Enchiladas
- Pico de Gallo
Jackfruit Enchiladas
Ingredients
Jackfruit Enchilada "Meat"
- [1 14 ounces can jackfruit in water or brine]
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 1 lime juiced
- 1 jalapeno diced (deveined, seeds removed)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup cilantro chopped
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Other Filling ingredients
- [½ cup nacho cheese sauce or vegan cheese of choice]
- 1 can black beans drained and rinsed
- 3 cups chopped fresh spinach
Easy Enchilada Sauce
Instructions
- JACKFRUIT ENCHILADA MEAT
- Rinse and drain a can of jackfruit.
- Place all contents in a food processor with a large blade.
- Pulse until jackfruit is shredded.
- In a medium-sized skillet, saute garlic, onions, and jalapeno and cook on medium-low until onions are translucent.
- Add a small amount of vegetable broth to avoid sticking.
- Then, add chopped cilantro and cook a few more minutes.
- Next, add the shredded jackfruit to the skillet with the onion, garlic, cilantro mixture.
- Cook jackfruit until brown and dried out.
- Add the chili powder, paprika, and cumin.
- Stir together and add a little more vegetable broth.
- Cook until add fluids have dissipated.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Once the jackfruit is cooled, add nacho cheese sauce or vegan cheese of choice. Or vegan cheese of choice.
- Then, add black beans and chopped spinach.
- Stir everything together and set it aside.
- EASY ENCHILADA SAUCE
- In a high-speed blender, add fired roasted tomatoes, and blend slightly (You do not want to puree the tomatoes).
- Then, pour fire-roasted tomatoes into a bowl, add the green chile sauce, and stir to combine.
- In a 9X 13 inch pan, pour half the enchilada sauce in the bottom of the pan, spreading it evenly.
- MAKING THE ENCHILADAS
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Lay each tortilla on a flat surface
- Spoon a generous amount of filling in the center of the tortillas.
- Then, fold each side in before rolling each tortilla tightly.
- Put each filled tortilla in the pan on top of the enchilada sauce, seam down. This will prevent your filling from spilling out, and it seals the seam.
- Now, continue until all the filled tortillas are placed in the pan.
- The rest of the enchilada sauce covers the top of the filled tortillas, ensuring the vegan enchiladas are all covered.
- As a bonus, drizzle with additional cheese sauce.
- Place the uncovered pan in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.
- SERVING/GARNISH
- Once the enchiladas have been set up, carefully remove each enchilada and place them on a plate.
- Drizzle with additional cheese sauce
- Add jalapeno slices, chopped avocado, and chopped cilantro.
Notes
- Use store-bought enchilada sauce
- Instead of making a homemade cheese sauce, use favorite vegan cheese of choice, or Bitchin Cheese Sauce is a great substitute.
- Use pre-packed southwestern jackfruit.
- Add Pico de Gallo instead of suggested garnish.
- Add vegan sour cream
- Serve with tortilla chips and salsa
- Use refried beans instead of black beans
- Pinto beans are a good replacement for black beans
- If you don't have a food processor or use a fork to shred the jackfruit
- Vegan enchiladas can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Hi! My name is Kathy, I am a retired high school English teacher & vegan enthusiast and blogger. My entire blog is fully plant-based vegan. I truly believe what we eat & how we live determines our health & the preservation of our planet! 🙂
Brenda
This recipe looks delicious! I recently bought several cans of Jackfruit to try some new recipes. Love the great tips!!
Kathy Carmichael
Hi Brenda, it was really good, and I made a double batch of the cooked jackfruit "meat" and made the tortilla soup with the rest. Two recipes with two cans of jackfruit. Check out the tortilla soup recipe too. And thanks so much! Please let me know how they turn out.
Anonymous