5 Simple Vegan Recipes For You

Once considered a fringe movement, the vegan diet (vegetarian and non-dairy) now has more takers than ever. Gia Claudette Fernandes offers five recipes to get you started

JACKFRUIT BURGERS

SERVES: 4

PREP TIME: 15 minutes

COOKING TIME: 35 minutes

CALORIES PER SERVING: 350

FOR THE PULLED JACKFRUIT

600 g green jackfruit, in brine or water, drained

1½ tbsp olive oil

1 onion, finely sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

150 g barbecue sauce, plus extra as needed

100 ml water

1 tsp smoked paprika

1/2 tsp cumin powder

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

FOR ASSEMBLING

4 sesame seed buns, split

1 small Romaine lettuce, roughly shredded

1 large handful salad sprouts

Spread out the jackfruit on layers of kitchen paper and pat dry with more kitchen paper; try to remove as much excess liquid as possible.

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan set over a medium heat until hot. Add the onion, garlic, and a pinch of salt, sweating until softened and starting to colour, for six to seven minutes.

Add the jackfruit, barbecue sauce, water, spices, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a steady simmer and cook until softened, for six to eight minutes, stirring from time to time.

Once softened, shred the jackfruit using two forks. Add a splash of water, cover, and cook over a low heat until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring in-between.

When ready, season to taste with salt, pepper, and a little more barbecue sauce, if needed.

Top the bottom halves of the buns with the pulled jackfruit, some lettuce and sprouts. Sit the tops of the buns in place before serving.