Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (2024)

These amazing jackfruit enchiladas are totally vegan and topped with a homemade green enchilada sauce. They're so easy, so flavorful and absolutely scrumptious!

Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (1)

this recipe

One of the things I was surprised about on our recent trip to Mexico City was that finding vegan wasn't as easy as I expected it to be. Mexican cuisine for me is often a default because of the corn and beans aspect. What I didn't think about so much? The cheese.

Surprisingly (at least to me), there was a lot of cheese on the menus. Like A LOT.

So when I got home, I decided I needed to start sharing some healthy Mexican-inspired recipes that were also vegan. Cheese-free and delicious! The first one I tacked was Enchiladas Verdes because that was Matt's favorite meal while we're there.

Today I'm giving you my spin with a vegan Enchiladas Verdes recipe that is stuffed with jackfruit and black beans. And we're even making our own simple enchilada sauce from scratch!

Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (2)

Simple Homemade Enchilada Verde Sauce

The secret to any good enchilada recipe is definitely the sauce. The sauce is where you're getting a lot of the flavor, which is why I think it's so important to try and make them from scratch when you can!

I might seem intimidating to make this kind of sauce at home, but it's actually super duper simple. My homemade green enchilada sauce takes about 15 minutes and tastes incredible.

The base is a blend of sauteed onions, garlic, tomatillos, and jalapeno. To speed things up, we're using jarred hatch green chiles which have an amazing flavor and cut the cooking time way back. I like this brand from Amazon – they're super flavorful and high quality.

Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (3)

The Ultimate Jackfruit Enchilada Filling

The next stop on our enchilada train is the filling. I was contemplating filling these with black beans and sweet potato, but since I was making these with Matt in mind, I had to go a more classic route. Shredded chicken.

Except again, we're making them vegan, so instead of actual chicken, we're using the ultimate shredded chicken alternative: jackfruit!

What is Jackfruit?

Jackfruit is a fruit that grows in Southeast Asia and has a surprisingly similar texture to chicken. It's meaty, it shreds easily and it can be flavored any which way you like. I bought mine in a can, but they're also sold in packages.

To add some depth to our filling, I stirred in some black beans (which also add protein), as well as some jarred salsa and spices. Stirred it all together and I swear it was almost exactly like the classic.

Even Matt – who admittedly does NOT like beans – loved these enchiladas. To me, that's a huge win!

Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (4)

How to Make Vegan Enchiladas

When it comes to assembly, the only thing I caution is speed, especially if you're using corn tortillas. Corn tortillas tend to break apart the longer they sit, so the faster you can roll, the more “intact” your enchiladas are going to bake.

However…it's all getting eaten anyway, so if there's some breakage I'm totally fine with that.

To make our enchiladas, you'll start by adding some of the sauce to the bottom of the baking dish. Then fill a tortilla with some filling, roll it up and place it in the dish.

I like to set up a kind of assembly line. I'll have the filling to my left, the tortillas in the middle and the baking pan to the right. Then I just work quickly until I've filled up my dish.

Drizzle on the rest of my sauce, sprinkle with some vegan shredded cheese (which is totally optional) and toss it in the oven.

Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (5)

Ultimately, these are incredible and I hope you try them! You could totally throw in some extras into that filling too – I think roasted sweet potatoes, kale/spinach, chopped peppers, etc., would all be fabulous!

If you do end up making them, don't forget to share a photo with me. You can tag @simplyquinoa or use #simplyquinoa on Instagram – seeing your photos lights me up!

Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (6)

More Healthy Vegan Mexican Recipes

  • Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
  • Cilantro Lime & Black Bean Quinoa Tacos
  • Mexican Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
  • Mexican Quinoa Breakfast Bowls
  • Clean Eating Refried Bean Dip
  • Sweet Potato Quinoa Nachos

Vegan Jackfruit Enchiladas Verde

4.9 from 16 votes

These amazing jackfruit enchiladas are totally vegan and topped with a homemade enchilada verde sauce. They're so easy, so flavorful and absolutely scrumptious!

author: Alyssa

yield: 8 servings

Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (7)

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 40 minutes minutes

Total: 50 minutes minutes

Ingredients

for the sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 white onion , chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves , chopped
  • 1 jalapeno (option)
  • 1/2 pound tomatillos , husks removed (about 10)
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

for the filling

for the enchiladas

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375ºF.

  • Heat the oil in a small saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and saute until onion is tender, about 3 minutes. Add the jalapeno, tomatillos, cumin, salt, and pepper and saute for another 2 - 3 minutes.

  • Pour in the broth, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until the tomatillos are soft. Transfer the mixture to a blender and blend on high until creamy.

  • While the sauce is cooking, prepare the filling. Add the jackfruit, beans, salsa, and spices into a large bowl. Stir together until combined and set aside.

  • When ready to assemble the enchiladas, add 1/4 cup of sauce into the bottom of a baking dish. Spoon about 2 - 3 tablespoons of filling into the center of a tortilla and roll it up. Place the tortilla seam side down in the baking dish. Repeat until you've filled the dish.

  • Once filled, pour on the rest of the sauce and spread evenly across the tortillas. Sprinkle on the cheese.

  • Bake on the center rack for 25 - 30 minutes until the cheese is melted and the filling sounds bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Serve immediately and garnish with your fave toppings (I like avocado & cilantro!).

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1enchilada | Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 470mg | Potassium: 532mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 659IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg

cuisine: Mexican

course: Entree

★★★★★

Did You Make This Recipe?

Be sure to share a comment and rating to let us know!

Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (8)

Filed Under:

  • Blender
  • Dairy Free
  • Dinner
  • Gluten-Free
  • Recipes
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian
Jackfruit Enchiladas Verdes Recipe | Vegan & GF - Simply Quinoa (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between enchiladas Rojas and Verdes? ›

The main difference is usually this one: Red sauce (salsa roja) is prepared with tomatoes (jitomate or tomate rojo). Green sauce (salsa verde) is prepared with tomatillos (miltomate or tomate verde).

What's the difference between salsa verde and green enchilada sauce? ›

The main difference between green enchilada sauce (verde sauce) and salsa verde is that enchilada sauce is cooked, and salsa verde is raw. Enchilada sauce also requires liquid (either stock or water), but salsa verde ingredients are simply blended together and eaten as is.

What are enchiladas verdes made of? ›

What are enchiladas verdes made of? Enchiladas verdes start with a homemade green enchilada sauce made of roasted tomatillos, onions, and serrano chilis. Once cooked, these vegetables are blended with garlic, lime juice, cilantro, chicken stock, and a little sour cream until smooth and creamy.

Why are they called divorced enchiladas? ›

They are called 'divorced' enchiladas because one is covered in green salsa and the other in red salsa! Subscribe to our free CTP download, to be kept up to date with all cookery items.

Are enchiladas better with red or green sauce? ›

If you are making enchiladas, you may be wondering, “Which sauce should I use?” This is an excellent question, and the most straightforward answer is whatever you prefer. If you are making beef enchiladas, it is more common to pair them with a red sauce, and chicken enchiladas usually have a green sauce.

How do you make store-bought green enchilada sauce better? ›

I find that the 2 primary things canned enchilada sauces lack are body and flavor. Body, aka viscosity, mouthfeel, whatever you want to call it, is quite easily rectified by starting with a rue - a little butter and flour rue is a quick and easy way to instantly amp up canned enchilada sauce.

Can I use salsa verde instead of enchilada sauce? ›

You can use store-bought green chile enchilada sauce or salsa verde for this recipe. I like the options from Hatch, Las Palmas, and Frontera. Or, to make it from scratch, try this homemade salsa verde made with tomatillos, green chile peppers, and garlic (it's amazing).

Which Mexican sauce is hotter red or green? ›

We are frequently asked how hot they are and many believe that one is spicier than the other. So, which one is hotter anyway? The real answer is; neither! The true difference between the salsa roja and verde is the base.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour? ›

While some recipes use flour tortillas, corn tortillas are traditional — and for good reason — are the better option for enchiladas. Corn tortillas have a distinct flavor that plays a key part of the enchilada experience, compared to flour tortillas, which are more like a blank slate.

Is it OK to use flour tortillas for enchiladas? ›

This particular chicken enchilada recipe probably most closely aligns with Tex-Mex and New Mexican styles of enchiladas, especially being made with flour tortillas (although you are welcome to use corn tortillas), filled with green chiles and soft shredded cheese, and made with a tomato-free red chile sauce.

How do you keep enchiladas from falling apart? ›

Before frying your tortillas, spread about a cup of sauce lengthwise down the center of your baking sheet. After frying the tortillas, dip each side in your sauce to coat the whole surface. This method will ensure even distribution—and less sauce means your tortillas are less likely to fall apart.

Should I rinse canned jackfruit? ›

If you've opted for the version in brine, give the chunks a good rinse under the tap as it can have an unpleasant taste. Then, pull the chunks apart with your fingers, to give the jackfruit a shredded texture like pulled pork, chicken or beef.

Should I boil canned jackfruit before cooking? ›

The boiling method creates a nice stringy texture and helps to remove any tinned or metallic taste that canned jackfruit (and other canned goods) can typically have. If you've already had jackfruit and don't think you like it, I urge you to try it prepared like this before swearing it off.

Is canned jackfruit healthy? ›

The Bottom Line. Jackfruit is very good for you for many reasons. It is high in nutrients and antioxidants and may have a number of health benefits, including improved blood sugar control. You can easily incorporate jackfruit into your diet by eating it plain or in various dishes.

What is the difference between Rojas and Verde? ›

Salsa verde, or green salsa, is growing in popularity as more people are willing to try different salsa beyond the common salsa roja. Instead of red tomatoes, salsa verde uses tomatillos. Tomatillos are closely related to tomatoes, but it is important to know that they are not simply unripe or baby tomatoes.

What's the difference between red sauce and green sauce? ›

The difference between the two sauces is actually how it's prepared. When making the sauces, if the seeds and the veins of the pepper are removed, the sauce won't be as hot. A red pepper is riper than a green pepper and so it can have a sweeter taste, while a green sauce may have a more herby flavor.

Is red sauce or green sauce spicier? ›

Typically, red hot sauce is flavored with ripened red chilis and is typically a lot hotter than green. Red also typically has what many people describe as a more “earthy” taste, while green tends towards a “fresher” taste.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Horacio Brakus JD

Last Updated:

Views: 6178

Rating: 4 / 5 (51 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Horacio Brakus JD

Birthday: 1999-08-21

Address: Apt. 524 43384 Minnie Prairie, South Edda, MA 62804

Phone: +5931039998219

Job: Sales Strategist

Hobby: Sculling, Kitesurfing, Orienteering, Painting, Computer programming, Creative writing, Scuba diving

Introduction: My name is Horacio Brakus JD, I am a lively, splendid, jolly, vivacious, vast, cheerful, agreeable person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.