Jackfruit Carne Asada Burrito Bowls

Meatless Mondays just got a little more exciting!

One of the biggest myths around The Paleo Diet® is that it is a carnivore or meat-heavy diet. While we do tout the importance of consuming animal proteins, we also recognize that people may not always want or need to eat meat with every meal. So whether you’re Paleo, Pegan (Paleo vegan), or just looking to budget more with Meatless Mondays, you can enjoy this vegetarian-friendly Jackfruit Carne Asada Burrito Bowl whenever the mood strikes.

Jackfruit is a tropical fruit that has gained popularity in the United States as a meat substitute. When the flesh is pulled apart and seasoned, it resembles shredded pork or chicken. It is the largest tree fruit in the world, containing hydrating magnesium and potassium, immune-boosting vitamin C, and eye-healthy vitamin A and lutein.¹ It also has a modest amount of protein (almost 3 grams per cup), one of the highest amounts of any fruit.²

Jackfruit can be either soft or firm in texture, with a sweet flavor similar to banana, though it lends itself well to both sweet and savory recipes. We wanted to complement its sweetness with the kick of spices and the sweet-tart taste of pineapple for this Carne Asada Burrito Bowl. To get that delightfully crisp texture similar to seared meat, we recommend using a cast-iron skillet when sautéing the jackfruit. And unlike raw meat, the leftover marinade is safe to reuse in this recipe and adds a juicier flavor to your burrito bowl.

TIP: Some U.S. grocery stores sell jackfruit fresh (check in the summer, when it’s in season), though if you’re having trouble sourcing it, look for plain jackfruit canned, jarred, bagged, or frozen, preferably without added salt or citric acid.

Love our recipes? Make going Paleo even easier and download our 7-Day, 14-Day, and 28-Day digital meal plans!

References

(2019, April 1). Jackfruit, raw. FoodData Central; U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/174687/nutrients
Sherwood, A. (2022, December 1). Fruits With the Most Protein. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-fruits-with-most-protein

Jackfruit Carne Asada Burrito Bowls

Recipe by: Andrea Dehnke
Serves: 4
Meal: Dinner

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

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Ingredients

3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
¹⁄₂ lime, juiced
¹⁄₂ orange, juiced
¹⁄₄ cup olive oil, plus more for sautéing
1 tsp. ground cumin
¹⁄₂ tsp. chile powder
¹⁄₂ tsp. paprika
1 lb. jackfruit, shredded
¹⁄₂ cup cilantro
¹⁄₂ yellow onion
1 cup pineapple
1 Roma tomato
1 avocado
4 cups cooked cauliflower rice

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Directions

Create marinade: In a large bowl, combine garlic, jalapeño, lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, cumin, chile powder, and paprika. Stir until well combined, then add jackfruit and toss to coat.
Marinate 1 hour in the refrigerator.
While jackfruit marinates, prep remaining ingredients: roughly chop cilantro and dice yellow onion, pineapple, and tomato. Combine in a small bowl to make pineapple pico de gallo. Slice avocado and set aside. Cook cauliflower rice if needed.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Drain marinade into a bowl and set aside to use later. Add jackfruit to pan. Sauté until edges are crisp, about 15 minutes.
Assemble the bowls: Start with cauliflower rice, then top with carne asada jackfruit. Add pineapple pico de gallo, avocado, and more cilantro to taste. Drizzle with leftover marinade.