I have recently discovered Jackfruit, a tropical fruit found in Southeast Asia. It has a mild, sweet flavour, but when packed in water it becomes really versatile so that it can be transformed into burgers or vegan pulled BBQ ‘pork’. I found a tin of jackfruit in my local Aldi and so it is definitely becoming more accessible to get hold of. These little golden brown cakes have a slightly crunchy outer layer and are perfectly moist and meaty on the inside. They are so simple to make and only require a hand-full of staple kitchen cupboard ingredients. This recipe makes approximately 4 large burger patties.
Ingredients:
1 can of jackfruit (in water)
1 tbsp of milled flaxseed
2 tbsp tomato puree
2 tsp mixed herbs
30g bread crumbs*
*I used a rye and spelt boule from a bakery, but any bread you have will work just as well.
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a baking tray with grease proof paper.
• Combine the flaxseeds with three tablespoons of water. Set aside for the time being.
• Open, drain and rinse the can of jackfruit. Then pat dry to remove the excess liquid.
• Chop the dried jackfruit into smaller chunks. (You could put it in a food processor if you prefer a smoother textured burger).
• In a large bowl, combine the flaxseed mixture with tomato puree and mixed herbs. (You can add any other seasoning you like here.)
• In the same bowl, add the jackfruit and bread crumbs.
• Use your hands to form the patties. Really squeeze the ingredients together until the mixture becomes sticky and holds together. Combine about 3 tbsp of mixture to form balls then press between your palms to form the burger patties.
• Place on the prepared baking tray and bake in the oven for approximately 10 minutes on each side, or until they’re golden brown and firm to the touch.
• Remove from the oven.
I enjoyed these with tomato ketchup but you could have vegan mayonnaise. I also roasted sweet potato and vegetables on the side, however, these would be just as delicious topped with a slice of melted vegan cheese, slice tomatoes, lettuce and put in a seeded bun to create your more typical burger appearance and taste.
Rachel
rachelfoxweb.wordpress.com 