In recent years I have been working to slowly wean myself off meat, and so I have been incorporating more meatless dishes into my diet. My biggest issue with becoming a vegetarian, besides my passionate affair with cheese, is that I always felt that my meals would be very limited if it didn’t include meat. I saw myself eating countless bowls of unseasoned lettuce and tasteless tofu…and really, who wants that?! But with this whole eating what you grow movement that has become more pronounced in the past two years, I have been shown the foolishness of my ways of thinking. Going meatless does not mean tasteless and cardboard like food, what it does do is force us to “think outside the box”, to reconnect with the bounty of food that nature makes available to us. This to me is an exciting concept!

So…perhaps you are asking yourself, we are going into the summer season, full of BBQ parties and picnics filled with grilled meats, how will she survive? My response would be, that though it may not always be easy, I may slip here and there, my goal is to stay the course on what I believe will be a healthier option for my daughter and I. Besides, there are tons of meat alternatives and meatless recipes that are delicious and can be incorporated into any Summer BBQ picnic! This summer I will share with you my favorite ones. Here is the first one!

Have you heard of Jackfruit?? This delicious fruit is normally found in Asian, but as of most recent, it is being grown in Brazil and Florida. When ripe, Jackfruit taste like Pineapples and Bananas, and makes for a delicious snack, but for those looking to create meatless meals, Jackfruit is ideal when green. When green, Jackfruits are flavorless and can absorb any flavors you wish to create. Its texture can lend to creating many chicken dishes and it is why I have used it to creates this delicious Pulled BBQ Chicken Slider!

Want to include more meatless meals into your diet? Try this recipe below!

BBQ Jackfruit

2 20-ounce cans young green jackfruit in water (NOT in syrup)
2 teaspoons olive
1/3 cup onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tablespoon paprika
1/2 Tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

Drain jackfruit, cut the core off and break apart pieces by hand until shredded.
Heat a medium/large skillet over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons of oil. Once hot, add onion and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Season with a little salt and pepper and stir occasionally so the garlic doesn’t burn.
While onions and garlic are cooking, combine BBQ spices (paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder and sea salt) in a small bowl.
Add shredded jackfruit and spices into the skillet. Toss well to combine.
Turn on the oven to 400 degrees.
In a sheet pan, spread the jackfruit and bake for 25 min.
Combine jackfruit and sauce in one bowl and serve warm.

For an added kick create a simple coleslaw and some pickled cabbage.

Quick and Easy Coleslaw