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Deliciously seasoned shredded jackfruit nestled in crisp lettuce cups topped with fresh green onions and bell peppers! This quick and easy vegan recipe is done in just 15 minutes and makes the perfect party appetizer, game day snack, or a simple yet filling weeknight dinner.
Easy, delicious, and nutritious. Those words are the magic words we want to hear when we need to whip something up on a hectic weeknight. These Jackfruit Lettuce Cups fit that description to a T! It is a great way to use simple pantry ingredients and turn them into a mouthwatering dish in a jiffy!
Why Use Jackfruit?
Jackfruit is a tropical fruit, but the unripe version of it is often prepared as a vegetable instead. It is an ideal plant-based alternative because of its meat-like texture and neutral taste. For this recipe, we used Roland Foods’ Young Green Jackfruit to make the prep easier! Roland Foods is known as a purveyor of fine ingredients. They import products from around the world from the places that make them best and offer everything from balsamic glazes and artichokes to jackfruit and organic noodles. We just love how mindful they are of where their products are sourced from. And their growing selection of vegan offerings is top-notch!
The Asian-style Vegan Filling
The ‘meaty’ green jackfruit doused in an Asian-style peanut butter sauce is so flavorful you wouldn’t believe it was done using one pan in 5 minutes only! We love how the ‘meatiness’ of the filling plays well with the crisp lettuce cups and crunchy veggie toppings. But it is so versatile that it can also go well with taco shells or tortillas topped with Pico de Gallo or stacked on sandwiches with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. Yum!
Ingredients Used and Possible Alternatives
- Creamy peanut butter – Use any brand you like! You can also use chunky if you do not mind a coarser sauce. The tiny bits on nuts would actually be nice.
- Soy sauce – Gives the sauce a nice umami flavor. If you want to make this gluten-free, you can use tamari. If you are allergic to soy, try making it using coconut aminos instead.
- Agave – Adds a touch of sweetness! Alternatives are maple syrup or coconut sugar.
- Rice vinegar – A splash of this will brighten the sauce with its tangy flavor!
- Water
- Garlic chili sauce – For a savory and spicy kick!
- Roland Foods Jackfruit in Brine – Drained and shredded, it is amazingly similar to pulled pork in texture. If you want to make the filling even more substantial, you can also add water chestnuts and mushrooms.
- Butter lettuce – Select medium to large ones with perfectly shaped deep leaves to nestle the filling. If you cannot find this, you can also use iceberg or romaine lettuce.
- Toppings – We used diced red bell pepper and chopped green onion stalk. However, feel free to top your jackfruit lettuce cups with other garnishes like cilantro, corn, avocado, jalapeno, sesame seeds, crushed nuts, or lime wedges.
How to Make Jackfruit Lettuce Cups
- 1) Make the Asian-Style Sauce. Combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, agave, vinegar, water, and chili sauce in a medium bowl and whisk together until smooth and thoroughly mixed.
- 2) Prepare the Jackfruit. Drain the jackfruit, shred them using your fingers and remove any tough pieces. Place them into the bowl with the sauce and mix until the jackfruit is evenly coated.
- 3) Cook the Filling. Heat a pan on medium-low heat. Once heated, add the jackfruit mixture and any remaining liquid from the bowl. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 4) Assemble. Allow to cool for a few minutes, and then serve over large lettuce leaves garnished with bell pepper and green onion.
Tips
- If you want this recipe to be kid-friendly, just omit the chili sauce.
- If you want your topping to be extra flavorful, marinate the jackfruit for a few hours or even overnight.
- You can serve this with the filling already in the lettuce cups or just place the filling on a serving plate at the center and let your guests pile the lettuce up with their preferred toppings.
- Make this a meal-in-one by layering the lettuce with rice or quinoa before adding the jackfruit filling.
Make Ahead and Storing Notes
It is always best to serve this with fresh lettuce and toppings. However, you can make the filling ahead of time and keep it refrigerated for up to 7 days. Make sure to place it in an airtight container. You can also freeze it for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or stovetop before serving.
Photos by Alfonso Revilla
Jackfruit Lettuce Cups
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons of soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons of agave
- 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of water
- 1 teaspoon of garlic chili sauce
- 1 can of Roland Foods jackfruit in brine, drained 19-ounce
- 1 head of butter lettuce
- ¼ cup of finely diced red bell pepper
- 1 stalk green onion sliced
Instructions
- Combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, agave, vinegar, water, and chili sauce in a medium bowl and whisk together until smooth and thoroughly mixed.
- Using your fingers, shred the jackfruit into the bowl and remove any tough pieces. Mix until the jackfruit is evenly coated.
- Heat a pan on medium-low heat. Once heated, add the jackfruit mixture and any remaining liquid from the bowl. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Allow to cool for a few minutes and then serve over large lettuce leaves garnished with the bell pepper and green onion
Notes
- If you want this recipe to be kid-friendly, just omit the chili sauce.
- If you want your topping to be extra flavorful, marinate the jackfruit for a few hours or even overnight.
- You can serve this with the filling already in the lettuce cups or just place the filling on a serving plate at the center and let your guests pile the lettuce up with their preferred toppings.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
These are great! My guests loved it!
So glad they enjoyed it 🙂 They’re a yummy one!
Ooh! I’m dying to try this with Roland jackfruit. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
You’re going to absolutely love it!
Love lettuce cups! Now I’m hooked on making them with jackfruit—yum!
They pair so well with one another!
I love doing lettuce cups with beans and rice and toppings! This looks amazing to try as well!
Love the bean and rice addition!
Wow! This dish looks absolutely yummy! Plus it’s very unique, with such great creativity! Loved it!
You’d love it! It’s light yet super filling and tasty!
Best recipe I’ve found for canned jackfruit. Delicious!
Right?! Sooo incredibly tasty and the texture is spot on!
These lettuce cups are so good!!
Right?! I’m all about them!
These lettuce cups are the best! Love the jackfruit taste and texture so much!