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Top-down view of cooked jackfruit in the pan, being tasted and adjusted with additional salt, spices, cayenne pepper, or lime juice, ready to be served in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or bowls.

Crispy Jackfruit Carnitas Recipe

Jackfruit carnitas are a smoky, spicy plant-based filling perfect for tacos, burritos, or bowls. With rich flavors from sautéed onions, garlic, and spices, this is a satisfying and flavorful dish!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine mexican-inspired
Servings 2
Calories 169 kcal

Equipment

  • Kitchen towel
  • Knife and Cutting Board
  • Large sauté pan
  • Measuring spoons and cups
  • Mixing spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
  • 1/2 a red onion diced (one cup) or one fat shallot
  • 4 garlic cloves rough chopped
  • 1/2 a jalapeno finely diced (add more or less depending on spice preference- this is medium spicy)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce or Braggs liquid amino acid
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin whole seeds are nice too
  • 1 teaspoon dry Mexican Oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika more for smokier
  • 1 /2 teaspoon sugar to help caramelize

Instructions
 

  • Drain and thinly slice the jackfruit, wring it out in a kitchen towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
    Top-down view of drained and thinly sliced jackfruit on a clean kitchen countertop, being wrung out in a kitchen towel to remove excess moisture, with a white marble cooktop background.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large pan. Sauté onion, garlic, and jalapeño over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until golden and fragrant.
    Top-down view of a large pan with olive oil heating on a white marble cooktop, with diced red onion, rough-chopped garlic cloves, and finely diced jalapeño sautéing until golden and fragrant.
  • Add the jackfruit and soy sauce, cook on low heat for 3-5 minutes to let excess moisture evaporate.
  • Once dry, add salt, sugar, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and smoked paprika. Stir-fry with the remaining oil until jackfruit caramelizes and deepens in color.
    Top-down view of the pan with drained jackfruit slices added to the sautéed onion, garlic, and jalapeño, and soy sauce being stirred in, cooking on low heat to let excess moisture evaporate.
  • Taste and adjust seasoning. Optionally, add cayenne or lime juice.
    Top-down view of cooked jackfruit in the pan, being tasted and adjusted with additional salt, spices, cayenne pepper, or lime juice, ready to be served in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or bowls.
  • Use as filling for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or bowls.