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These Jackfruit Tinga Tacos are made by slow cooking jackfruit in a spicy tinga sauce. Jackfruit is a wonderful meat substitute that shred like carnitas or chicken, so whether you are vegan or vegetarian you can still enjoy something comforting and delicious! The jackfruit tinga sauce takes 40 minutes to cook and it makes wonderful leftovers! Pair with Aguas Frescas for Taco Tuesdays!
As you know, I love a good meat taco (hello to my Birria Tacos) and I love a fish taco (hello to my Baja Fish Tacos) but there are so many vegetarian and vegan recipes that are just a tasty! Jackfruit is a wonderful meat substitute for these tacos, and there are many other vegetarian options too! Try using cauliflower for these Cauliflower Tacos or add extra black beans and sweet potatoes in these Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas. Don’t forget to add a refreshing Watermelon Margarita to the mix for the perfect summertime lunch pairing!
What is Jackfruit
Jackfruit comes from jack trees—they’re related to the fig and mulberry trees—which are commonly found in southeast Asia. And while it’s related to figs and mulberries, jack fruit’s texture is similar to artichoke hearts. The best part about jackfruit is that it’s easily attainable (I bought it in the can) and shreds kinda similarly to meat (think carnitas or chicken!).
It’s also wildly affordable. One can was about two dollars and fed four people with leftovers!
Ingredients You’ll Need for Jackfruit Tinga Tacos
- Jackfruit (in brine or water)- This is the “meat” of these tacos. Grab young, green unripe jackfruit in brine. It’s starchier and not as sweet as the ripe variety so it works perfectly as a meat substitute.
- Tinga sauce – This is a chipotle tomato sauce made with sauted onions, garlic, fired roasted tomatoes, and chipotles(you’ll need the ones in adobo).
- Seasonings – Dried Mexican oregano, ground cumin, and of course salt and black pepper to taste.
- Tortillas – Corn or flour, whichever you like best!
- Toppings – Diced onion, chopped cilantro, avocado, and cotija cheese(leave off if vegan!).
For the rest of the ingredients, please refer to the recipe index card below!
How to Make Jackfruit Tacos:
- For the tinga sauce: Cook onions, garlic, and salt in a medium pot for 5 minutes. Put onion mixture into a blender along with the rest of the spices, chipotles in adobo and the fire-roasted tomatoes. Blend until silky smooth.
- For the jackfruit: Drain canned jackfruit, chop and shred it then give it a good rinse under cold water. Transfer shredded jackfruit to the tinga sauce. Bring everything to a simmer then turn the heat to low, cover the pot then cook for 20-25 minutes.
- Assemble: In a medium bowl add the onion, cilantro, lime juice, chopped avocados and salt. Mix to combine. Spoon the jackfruit tinga filling in the middle of a warm tortilla then top with the onion mixture.
Tips and Tricks
Make this recipe ahead of time: Your leftover tinga sauce will last for up to 5 days in the fridge inside an air-tight container, so it’s perfect for meal prep! You can freeze any leftovers for up to 3 months.
How to shred jackfruit: Drain the brine or water then use your fingers to pull the chunks of jackfruit apart into shreds. You can also use two forks or use a wooden spoon to smash it until it reaches a texture you like. The center core of the jackfruit is edible but it can be a little bit firmer than the rest of the fruit.
Make sure to rinse your jackfruit: Unripe jackfruit can sometimes have an unpleasant taste, so it’s important to rinse it really well before adding it to the tinga sauce.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! It doesn’t have an unpleasant taste, it looks like shredded meat, and its very affordable because one can will feed a lot of people!
Tinga sauce is a Mexican dish made by cooking shredded meat or vegetables in a spiced chipotle tomato sauce. It can be served over rice or stuffed inside burritos or tacos!
More Vegetarian Recipes
If you tried this Jackfruit Tinga Tacos Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Jackfruit Tinga Tacos
Equipment
- 1 (4-quart) Dutch oven or medium pot
- Medium-mixing bowl
Ingredients
Tinga:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 yellow or white onion, peeled and roughly chopped
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt + 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 whole chipotles in adobo
- 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes or regular tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) cans jackfruit, drained
For Serving:
- 1/2 white onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons minced cilantro
- 1 lime, plus more for extra
- 1/2 diced avocado
- Pinch kosher salt
- Flour or corn tortillas , warmed
- 1 ounce cotija cheese , (optional)
Instructions
To Make the Tinga:
- To a medium pot, set over medium heat, add the olive oil. When warm, add the onion and garlic cloves, along with the salt. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Transfer to the onion mixture to the blender, along with kosher salt, freshly ground pepper, Mexican oregano, ground cumin, chipotles in adobo and can of fire-roasted tomatoes. Blend for about 30 seconds, until smooth. Pour the mixture into the pot.
- Meanwhile, chop up and shred the jackfruit. When you’re done, rinse it with cold water and then give it a bit of a shake to get rid of any excess water that’s on them. Transfer the jackfruit to the pot with the tinga sauce and bring to a gentle simmer. Immediately return the heat to low and cover the pot; cook for about 20 to 25 minutes, until all of the flavors have been married. Give it a taste and adjust the salt according to taste (I actually didn’t need any additional salt but everyone is different!).
To Serve:
- To a medium bowl, mix together the onion, cilantro, lime juice, avocado and a few pinches of salt.
- Add a spoonful of tinga to the center of a warm tortilla. Top with the onion mixture, a handful of cotija cheese (if using). Repeat until you build however many tacos you want!
Notes
Tips and Tricks
Make this recipe ahead of time: Your leftover tinga sauce will last for up to 5 days in the fridge inside an air-tight container, so it’s perfect for meal prep! You can freeze any leftovers for up to 3 months. How to shred jackfruit: Drain the brine or water then use your fingers to pull the chunks of jackfruit apart into shreds. You can also use two forks or use a wooden spoon to smash it until it reaches a texture you like. The center core of the jackfruit is edible but it can be a little bit firmer than the rest of the fruit. Make sure to rinse your jackfruit: Unripe jackfruit can sometimes have an unpleasant taste, so it’s important to rinse it really well before adding it to the tinga sauce.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made these last night for taco Tuesday – first time using jackfruit! It was pretty good. It took on the flavor of the tinga sauce, which was delicious. I think next time I’d use 2 cans of jackfruit, because it seemed like there was too much sauce. These were messy! 🙂 And maybe some raw purple cabbage for crunch. But excellent recipe and I will make them again.
“I’m not going to lie, . . .” By starting so many of your sentences this way, you’re implying that you lie a lot so you need to clarify when you don’t. I’m guessing that is not your intention.
My first time trying Jackfruit. The entire family loved these tacos. The flavor of the sauce is absolutely delicious.
We all came up with different ways to use the Tinga sauce using other proteins. I’d definitely make it again using the jackfruit. This is a great recipe for our vegetarian, vegan and g.f. friends.
amazing to hear! 🙂
My first time using jackfruit. This was delicious. I was looking for something different that was gluten free and vegetarian for family members. Everyone loved these tacos. It’s a keeper!
So glad this worked out!
Can’t wait to make these! Is “1 whole chipotles in adobo” supposed to be without the “s” or did you mean something else? I’m doubting you meant a whole can but wanted to find out for sure before trying the recipe…
These look so good! I love any form of tacos, and this is a delicious and unique recipe 🙂
Never tried jackfruit but always very curious! This might be the recipe that gets me to finally try it ;). Thanks for sharing!
Hmmmmm…… I love ripe jackfruit. Tastes like a banana-pineapple combo…. unripe jackfruit, which is what is sold for vegan substitute is taking me longer to warm to…
This looks good. I’m vegan but scared of jackfruit. I want to try these!
oh if you’re vegan then you must try it!
Healthy and tasty thing to eat.
Glad to know about this dish.
I must appreciate your creativity.
Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe with us.
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