This vegan chipotle lime jackfruit recipe is quick, easy and super tasty. It’s got the perfect balance of acid, sweetness, savory flavors and smokiness. And best of all, this simple vegan recipe for chipotle chili lime jackfruit can be used in tacos, nachos, burritos, enchiladas, or even as a vegan pizza topping!
For this recipe, I used Embasa Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce. Even if you only use 2 or 3 of these peppers in this recipe, you can dump the rest of the contents of the can into a sealed container, and keep it in your fridge for a few weeks. You also can freeze them, as well.
And there’s a lot you can do with the leftover chipotle peppers in adobo sauce–make some Chipotle Bean and Barley Salad, Chipotle Tempeh Kebabs, Stovetop Vegan Chili Mac n’ Cheese, or Vegan Al Pastor. Or just kick-up some salsa a notch, stir it into some vegan mayo, or throw it in with your next batch of homemade chili.
When you’re making this easy chili lime jackfruit recipe, you can add more chipotle peppers to the food processor, if you prefer a much spicier sauce. If you like your sauce much milder, go with ½-1 of a chipotle pepper to start, blend it, taste it, and go from there. I don’t recommend completely skipping the chipotle pepper, because without it, this recipe isn’t that special.
Check out more delicious UVK recipes, like White Bean Jackfruit Chili, Slow Cooker Vegan Ropa Vieja, or Vegan Curry Shepherd’s Pie.
Chipotle Lime Jackfruit
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
3-4 garlic cloves
2-3 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce (see notes above)
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 Tbsp + 1 tsp olive oil
¼-½ tsp salt
¼ tsp smoked paprika
¼ cup sliced red onion
14 ounce can of young jackfruit in water, drained and shredded
1. First, you’ll make the chipotle chili lime sauce for the jackfruit. Add the cilantro, garlic cloves, chipotle peppers, 2 Tbsp olive oil, salt and the smoked paprika to a small food processor or blender. Blend until mostly smooth, taste, and decide if it needs anything. Make adjustments, if needed (another chipotle? salt?).
2. In a heavy skillet, add red onions and 1 tsp olive oil. Sauté over medium heat for ~3 minutes or until the onions soften.
3. Then, add the jackfruit and chipotle lime sauce. Stir together, and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Remove from heat, and serve. Tastes excellent in tacos, on nachos, inside enchiladas or even on vegan pizza!
