Meatless “meat” options have progressed dramatically in recent years.
Beyond Meat’s ground beef-like Beyond Burger jumped into easy accessibility by hitting Whole Foods Market shelves and fast food chain markets.
While the Beyond Burger features a long list of ingredients that most restaurant kitchen’s wouldn’t have, another (simpler) meat substitute has reached mainstream stardom — jackfruit.
The massive fruit, native to southwest India, can reach 120 pounds in weight. While the ripe fruit has a sweet tropical flavor, the unripe fruit has a mild flavor and texture that resembles pulled pork when cooked.
At Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine Bar, the Jackfruit Asada Torta features marinated jackfruit, pickled shallots, jalapeños, Merchant’s Garden lettuce, and cashew aioli on an Alejandro’s birote.
The shallots and jalapeños add brightness, while the cashew aioli provides a richness. Although the jackfruit itself is the star, take notice of the exceptionally fresh local lettuce grown less than three miles away, along with the local birote baked about six miles away.
Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine Bar is located at 220 N. Fourth Ave. For more information, visit ermanosbrew.com.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
