Jackfruit “Pernil”

The crispy, juicy pernil-style jackfruit, slowly roasted until tender. Seasoned with garlic, herbs & spices for a traditional Puerto Rican pernil flavor.

Vegan | Gluten-free | Soy-free

After posting on Instagram my Thanksgiving dish, I received close to 100 messages asking how on earth I managed to come up (and pull off) Jackfruit that looked & tasted like pernil . Well, You guys asked & I’m here to deliver.

Traditionally, pernil is roasted pork leg, the centerpiece for most holiday dinners in Puerto Rico, typically accompanied by arroz con gandules, pasteles & ensalada de coditos. For Thanksgiving, I took on the challenge to add pernil to my Veganized Puerto Rican Series. 

Jackfruit has been one of my favorite staples for the series; it absorbs just about any seasoning and has a great meaty texture. The result? Delicious juicy & tender jackfruit, that resembles perfectly that classic Puerto Rican meal. With just a few seasonings and a few simple steps, you can recreate this Veganized Puerto Rican dish right at home. 

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Jackfruit “Pernil”

Rating: 3.4/5

( 54 voted )

Serves: 4-6 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cooking Time: 30 Minutes 30 Minutes Nutrition facts: 200 calories 20 grams fat

Ingredients

• 2 14oz cans of jackfruit
• ½ tbsp avocado or olive oil
• Seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder & paprika
• 2 tbsp water
• Optional: 1 tsp liquid smoke

Procedure

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Drain and rinse the jackfruit. Cut big pieces into smaller ones and remove all seeds. Rinse once more, place jackfruit between two paper towels to squeeze out all of the remaining liquid. This procedure will help in the absorption of the seasoning and will remove the brine taste.
• Place jackfruit in a small to medium baking dish. Add oil, seasonings and liquid smoke. Mix until completely incorporated, spread jackfruit into a single layer and drizzle 1 tbsp of water on top. 
• Place jackfruit in the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes. When done, stir jackfruit and add the other tbsp of water. Cook for another 15 minutes, or until golden brown. 
• Serve as a side with your favorite Holiday dishes, & ENJOY!
• Bonus: make a sandwich with the leftover jackfruit. 

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