Tacos al Pastor de Jackfruit (Vegan Al Pastor Tacos)
Shredded green jackfruit seared in guajillo adobo with sweet pineapple, the vegan answer to the taco stand favourite.
Made with Guajillo adobo paste and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time40 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.89 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Drain the jackfruit and squeeze it dry in a clean tea towel. Cut off the hard cores, then shred the soft pieces with two forks until stringy like pulled pork.
- 2
Mix 80 g of your ready made guajillo adobo paste (see the base recipe) with the vinegar, the salt and 3 tablespoons of water. Stir this through the shredded jackfruit until coated.
- 3
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. Fry the jackfruit for 12 to 14 minutes, stirring now and then, until sticky with browned, crisp edges.
13 min - 4
Add half the pineapple for the last 3 minutes so it caramelises slightly.
3 min - 5
Warm the corn tortillas (your ready made corn tortillas from masa harina, see the base recipe) in a dry pan for 30 seconds each side.
1 min - 6
Pile the jackfruit into the tortillas and top with the rest of the pineapple, white onion and coriander. Serve with lime wedges.
Tips
- Buy young green jackfruit in water or brine, not in syrup. The syrup version is sweet and will not shred properly.
- Squeeze the jackfruit as dry as you can. Wet jackfruit steams instead of browning.
- Pineapple is the signature of tacos al pastor. Tinned pineapple in juice works if you drain it very well, but fresh gives better texture.
- Let the pan get properly hot and leave the jackfruit untouched for a minute at a time so it catches.
Storing and freezing
Keep the cooked jackfruit in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat in a hot pan until steaming hot all the way through. Freeze the cooked jackfruit in portions for up to 2 months.
Questions
What is al pastor?
Tacos al pastor are a Mexican street food made from thin slices of marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit and served with pineapple. This version keeps the chilli marinade and pineapple but uses shredded jackfruit so it is plant based.
Where do I buy young green jackfruit?
Most large UK supermarkets and Asian or world food shops sell tinned young green jackfruit in water or brine. Check the tin says young or green, not ripe.
Can I use fresh or tinned pineapple?
Either. Fresh gives better texture, but tinned pineapple in juice works if drained and patted dry so it can brown instead of boiling.
More made with guajillo adobo paste
Tamales Rojos de Rajas con Queso (Red Poblano and Cheese Tamales)
GFEFNFSalmón al Adobo de Guajillo con Aguacate (Guajillo Salmon with Avocado Salsa)
EFNFLCEnchiladas Rojas de Frijol y Queso (Red Bean and Cheese Enchiladas)
GFEFNFTacos de Coliflor Adobada (Adobo Cauliflower Tacos)
GFDFEFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.