Gochujang Jackfruit Sliders with a Sesame Slaw

Casual, easy to make and great for sharing, sliders make the perfect entertaining food. This vegan version takes it up a notch with jackfruit center stage and Korean flavors for an unusual spicy kick.  

Jackfruit is an exotic plant that makes a great stand-in for meat because it absorbs cooking flavors well and has a similar texture. As an added bonus, jackfruit has an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It can be easily found in most grocery stores in the canned foods section. Look for jackfruit in water instead of oil. 

Gochujang paste is a very popular savory Korean condiment that makes a great addition to any cook’s pantry. It is fantastic in a stir-fry or as a marinade. And in this recipe, it coats the jackfruit with a sweet-hot-salty flavor.   

And of course, no slider is complete without a colorful crunchy slaw! Below is a simple and sweet sesame slaw that pairs perfectly with the smoky Korean flavors. 

Make these Gochujang Jackfruit Sliders for your next get together and even vegan skeptics will be impressed. 

INGREDIENTS: 

12 Hawaiian slider buns

2 20 oz cans of young green jackfruit in water, drained  

1 tablespoons gochujang paste (taste for spice preference)

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

½ tablespoon sesame oil

½ tablespoon honey

For the sesame ginger slaw:

3 cups purple cabbage, sliced thinly (approximately 1 medium head) 

½  cup carrots, shredded 

2 medium green onion, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons black sesame seeds

Dressing

5 tablespoons rice vinegar

1.5 teaspoon honey

1.5 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce

1.5 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

1.5 teaspoon ginger, peeled and finely grated 

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 14oz jar of kimchi (no MSG)

INSTRUCTIONS:

To make the slaw, start by combining all the dressing ingredients into a large bowl and whisking to combine. Then add the cabbage, carrots, green onion, and sesame seeds to the bowl of dressing and toss. Cover and refrigerate. 

Next, drain and rinse jackfruit. Add sesame seed oil to a large nonstick frying pan and once hot, add jackfruit. Add 2 tablespoons of gochujang paste, rice vinegar, and maple syrup and toss until jackfruit is evening coated. Taste for heat and add an additional tablespoon of gochujang paste as needed. 

To assemble sliders, slice Hawaiian buns in half. Add approximately 3 tablespoons of jack fruit, 2 tablespoons of slaw, and a few pieces of kimchi to each. Close the slider and secure it with a toothpick or bamboo skewer.  

Serve with sides of additional slaw and kimchi and enjoy with friends. 

Makes 12 sliders. 

NUTRITION FACTS (PER SERVING): 

Calories 213

Protein 5 g

Total fat 2.7 g

Saturated fat 0.4  g 

Cholesterol 0 mg

Carbs 46  g

Fiber 2.7  g

Total sugars 9.5  g

Added sugars 6.5  g

Sodium 265  mg