This easy jackfruit curry is a comforting and hearty vegan meal that's packed full of flavor and great for a weeknight dinner. The jackfruit helps to add a 'meaty' texture, absorbing the flavors of the rich, creamy sauce.
Who's in the mood for some comfort food? I certainly am, as always. That's where this jackfruit curry comes in handy. I've been making this recipe for a long time, and I'm surprised that it's taken me so long to finally share it on the blog.
Regardless, I'm excited that it's finally here. And if you're a fan of hearty comfort foods like myself, I totally recommend you give this one a go! I think it's my favorite vegan jackfruit recipe yet.
Easy Jackfruit Curry
This jackfruit curry is simply phenomenal - even fussy eaters will love it! The flavor is rich and savory, with a perfect amount of spice.
For this recipe, we're making a homemade spice blend using peppercorns, cumin seeds, chili flakes and coriander seeds which is just packed with so much flavor, especially when paired with simple aromatics (like garlic, onion and ginger).
This jackfruit recipe uses fresh tomatoes which create a lot of depth when cooked down to a thick sauce. And the addition of coconut milk makes for a creamy, rich sauce which pairs incredibly well with the jackfruit.
Serve this jackfruit curry for a weeknight dinner, paired with vegan naan, and you'll want to go back to this recipe over and over again!
What is jackfruit?
Jackfruit is a fruit variety that grows in Asia, Africa and South America. When ripe, jackfruit has a fresh, subtly sweet flavor.
Young jackfruit, however, is neutral in flavor. This is the variety that you find in cans in grocery stores. The texture is chewy and 'meaty', resembling that of pulled pork or chicken.
For this reason, it's a very popular ingredient to use in plant based cooking.
How to Make Jackfruit Curry
Start by making the spice blend. Use a mortar and pestle to lightly crush the peppercorns, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and chili flakes until thoroughly combined and smelling incredible.
If you don't have one, you can alternatively whir the spices together in your blender or a coffee grinder. But it's a handy little tool to have!
Next, heat some olive oil in a large non-stick pan or skillet over a medium heat. Add the spice blend and a couple of bay leaves. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring around once every minute, until fragrant. Discard the bay leafs.
Now add the garlic, ginger, onion, and fresh tomatoes. Cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes have fully softened and broken down.
Meanwhile, drain the jackfruit and pull apart the strands using your hands or a fork. Then, add it to the pan together with turmeric, dried thyme, paprika and salt. Continue cooking for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the jackfruit starts to crisp up and brown.
Now add coconut milk and vegetable stock. Bring to a light simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring once every couple of minutes, until the sauce is thick and creamy.
Serve the jackfruit immediately with rice and any other side dishes of your choice. Enjoy!
How to Store Jackfruit Curry
This jackfruit curry is a great recipe for meal prep! You can store it in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge, reheating on the stove or in the microwave.
It's also a freezer-friendly meal. To freeze, transfer to freezer-friendly bag, leaving a bit of room for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw fully in the fridge before reheating either in the microwave, or on the stove.
P.S. If you love freezer meals, you should check out my Vegetarian Freezer Cooking eCookbook too!
When reheating, add extra coconut milk or vegetable broth if the texture is too thick.
You will love this jackfruit recipe!
This jackfruit curry is:
- Packed full of flavor. The spices work really well together and the addition of coconut sugar brings in a subtle sweetness that really makes the dish pop.
- Comforting and cozy. The perfect dinner to enjoy at the end of any day!
- Easy to make with uncomplicated ingredients.
- Great for vegans and non-vegans alike. Curries like this are the type of versatile dish that anyone can enjoy.
- Gluten-free.
- Freezer-friendly and great for making ahead of time! I'd recommend making a huge batch, because chances are, you'll want to eat it over and over again.
Other jackfruit recipes you'll love
If you love jackfruit, you will love pulled jackfruit to serve in burgers and sandwiches as a pulled pork alternative. Also, be sure to try my wild rice soup with jackfruit for a cozy weeknight meal.
Let me know in the comments: what's your favorite thing to cook with jackfruit? If you give this easy vegan curry recipe a go, be sure to tag me on Instagram (@ohmyveggies) so I can see your recreations, and leave your feedback in the comments below together with a star rating.
Recipe
Equipment
- Deep Frying Pan or skillet
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp black peppercorns
- 1 tbsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- ½ tbsp crushed red pepper flakes aka chili flakes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp ginger grated
- 1 large onion diced
- 2 cups tomatoes diced
- 14 oz canned jackfruit about one can
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 can coconut milk
- 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
Instructions
- Make the spice blend. Use a pestle and mortar to lightly crush the peppercorns, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and chilli flakes until thoroughly combined and smelling incredible.2 tbsp black peppercorns, 1 tbsp cumin seeds, 1 tbsp coriander seeds, ½ tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Heat the olive oil in a large non-stick pan or skillet over a medium heat. Add the spice blend and a couple of bay leaves. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring around once every minute, until fragrant. Discard the bay leafs.1 tbsp olive oil, 2 bay leaves
- Add the garlic, ginger, onion, and fresh tomatoes. Cook for 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes have fully softened and broken down.2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp ginger, 1 large onion, 2 cups tomatoes
- Drain the jackfruit and pull apart the strands using your hands or a fork. Then, add it to the pan together with turmeric, dried thyme, paprika and salt. Continue cooking for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the jackfruit starts to crisp up and brown.14 oz canned jackfruit, 1 tsp Turmeric, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt
- Add coconut milk and vegetable stock. Bring to a light simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring once every couple of minutes, until the sauce is thick and creamy.1 can coconut milk, 1 ½ cups vegetable stock
- Serve immediately with rice and any other side dishes of your choice.
Video
Notes
- Store the jackfruit curry in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge, reheating on the stove or in the microwave.
- To freeze, transfer to freezer-friendly bag, leaving a bit of room for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw fully in the fridge before reheating either in the microwave, or on the stove.
- When reheating, add extra coconut milk or vegetable broth if the texture is too thick.
Ezra says
This recipe is great but holy crap do not use that many peppercorns. I was able to cover the taste with acid and sweetness but it still burns!! Use half of what the recipe calls for if not less.
Jen says
This curry is delicious! We didn’t find that the jackfruit offered much to the overall dish. We ended up adding cubed zucchini at the same time as the tomatoes and onions, and were pleased with how it bulked up the sauce. My husband offered a fist bump after this meal! Nice job Nicole!
Tricia says
I made this without tomatoes and used a vegan miso broth instead of vegetable broth and it was delicious. I will make this on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing.
Denise says
This is amazingly delicious and easy. Yum. It’s going onto our rotation of veg dishes.
Ceridwen Harman says
Made this the other night for dinner and it was amazing! The spices went so well together, and the different textures and flavor really made this a delicious curry, will definitely use this recipe again.
Fiona says
Made this for the first time today. Added peas to bulk it out as some of us don’t eat rice. Definitely a keeper, plenty of sauce and great flavor.
Marize Morel says
SLV. Still Learning Vegan. For my health. Going well. So very happy to 5 star your easy, yes it is, jackfruit , looks like pulled pork , curry. Excellente!
Michelle says
This recipe is delicious and simple… I had no idea jackfruit was so versatile… my Jamaican chaps loved the texture and depth of flavor.
Merlene says
great recipe, easy and turned out delicious!!
Rick says
I made this a LOVED it! I did, however, have a ton of trouble fresh "grinding" the spices. Is there a way to convert the quantities so one may use already ground ones?
Gobnait Sweeney says
Really nice. Will definitely make it again. Delicious