Congratulations to Kolpin - you are the winner of the Summer Giveaway Series: free Veggie Grill entree! I will be in contact with you shortly. Unfortunately, the random number generator gave me a few different winners, but not everybody provided an e-mail address. :/ Make sure I have a way to contact you, folks!
A recipe review that I've been dying to share is of some delicious Shredded Jerk Jackfruit Tacos with Creamy Coconut Slaw by The Gluten Free Vegan. Having felt wary of the thought of trying jackfruit - what is this mystical food? how do I prepare it? will it even taste good? - I decided to forge ahead and try out this unknown delicacy.
Jackfruit are typically found in India and Eastern Asia and can be purchased in canned form around here, either in brine or syrup. The outer parts of the flesh pull apart easily and, while pale and of a slimy texture, still visually resemble pulled pork or chicken. When sautéed, seasoned, and browned they really take on a creepy appeal - if someone who didn't know me had walked into my kitchen at that moment they might've assumed I was an omnivore!
Jerk seasoning is also something new to my palate. Deep and flavorful, smokey and spicy... it really set the stage for the dish and was complimented beautifully by the creamy sweetness of the coconut slaw. Truth be told: I could eat the slaw by itself for days.
I recommend giving jackfruit a try. It can be found in many Asian groceries or online and is pretty inexpensive. While it doesn't offer the protein content of other vegan "meat" substitutes, the possibilities are endless with how to flavor and season jackfruit. Happy experimenting!
