Curried Jackfruit Burger

This Curried Jackfruit Burger is so delicious and it makes a fun, kid-friendly dinner. The recipe is soy-free and nut-free. If you are gluten-free, use gf buns.

I have for you today a recipe for Curried Jackfruit Burgers that's going to make you fall in love. And I don't say that lightly.

The curried jackfruit that goes into these burgers is rich and flavorful and incredibly delicious, and once you make it, I know you'll be making it again and again. Better still, it is quite foolproof, so no matter where you fall on the scale of culinary expertise, you ain't gonna screw it up.

Jackfruit, as a fruit, is easy to love. Jackfruit, as a veggie, is a revelation. This tropical fruit, in its raw form, has always been a popular ingredient in Indian kitchens, but in recent years it has made its presence felt in western plant-based cuisine. With a texture that emulates shredded meat, jackfruit can be a great substitute in recipes that call for pork or chicken. And although it lacks protein, it makes up in oodles with its other nutritionally beneficial qualities. It's low in calories, is a good source of potassium, has healthy fiber, and even has cancer- and high-blood-pressure-fighting abilities.

All in all, whether you're vegan or not, it's a food you really should include in your diet.

When I use jackfruit, I usually roast it first and then shred it. The roasting gives you a chance to build flavor into your jackfruit before you add it to whatever it is you're making, and it improves the texture too, especially if you're using it as a meat substitute. In fact, I have to warn you here that when you roast up the jackfruit for this dish, with a dash of salt and pepper and oil, you'll want to eat it straight off the baking sheet before you even add it to your curry. So exercise caution. Or roast up twice as much! 😉

This is the easiest jackfruit recipe I've created and it's one for any diet. There's no soy here, nor any nuts, and gluten-free eaters can use gluten-free buns or bread. And all you need, in addition to the jackfruit, are a handful of ingredients, along with any toppings you want for your burger or sandwich.

Ingredients

• Jackfruit, canned.
• Onions
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Tomato paste
• Garam masala
• Vegetable oil

You need burger buns, of course, use whole wheat or gluten-free, or you can put this curried jackfruit inside a wrap. Toppings I love with this burger are slices of avocado and kimchi. Both provide a nice flavor and texture contrast to the jackfruit. 

How to make Jackfruit Burgers

Making the curried jackfruit itself couldn't be easier. You need to roast the pieces of jackfruit after tossing them with salt, pepper and oil until they are golden-brown and crispy along the edges. Shred them after. Saute the onions, ginger, garlic and tomato paste, add the garam masala and jackfruit, warm through, and you're done.

To assemble the burgers, slather some vegan mayo on the buns, layer on the curried jackfruit followed by avocados and then kimchi (or cole slaw works just fine). To keep the recipe healthy, use whole wheat burger buns.

If you're not used to jackfruit, this is a great recipe to start with. Jackfruit is easily available at almost all supermarkets these days, in tinned or canned form, and I usually buy it at Trader Joe's. Be sure to drain and rinse your jackfruit before using, because it's usually packed in brine.

This is definitely a kid-friendly recipe, and one they'll love. Jay loves jackfruit and he especially loves these burgers. If you have a little one around, try it on him or her and come back and tell me all about it.

Now go, have a great weekend. But the recipe first.

More tasty vegan burger recipes

You might also like these recipes for jackfruit curry, jackfruit tagine and vegan massaman curry.

Recipe card