Mixed Feelings About Trader Joe’s Pulled Jackfruit in Smoky BBQ Sauce

I was feeling like trying some new things this week so I headed down to Trader Joe’s to see what neat stuff they had added to the shelves.  One of the things I found was a cool looking pouch of Pulled Jackfruit in Smoky BBQ Sauce.

I had been hearing about pulled jackfruit being used as a great alternative to traditional pulled pork and was eager to give it a try.

Trader Joe's Pulled Jackfruit in BBQ Sauce

Heating Instructions

Trader Joe’s provides two sets of heating instructions, one for the microwave and one for the stovetop.

To heat this product in the microwave:

  • Make a two inch tear at the top of the pouch.
  • Place the pouch upright in the microwave and heat for one minute.
  • Carefully pour the hot contents from the pouch into a bowl for serving.

I ended up heating he pouch for 90 seconds in the microwave and it came out at a perfect temperature.

To heat the product on the stovetop:

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil.
  • Add the sealed pouch to the water.
  • Let the pouch simmer for five minutes.
  • Remove the pouch from the water, open and pour contents into a bowl for serving.

Calories and Nutrition

A single serving of the jackfruit is 140g (about 2/3 of a cup) and you get about two servings per bag.  One serving has the following nutritional information:

  • Calories: 120
  • Fat: 1g (1% DV)
  • Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
  • Sodium: 400mg (17% DV)
  • Carbohydrates: 27g (10% DV)
  • Protein: 4g

This product, which is a product of India, is not Vegan as it may contain traces of milk. The meal has 17g of added sugar so it definitely is not keto or paleo friendly.

Pulled Jackfruit Calories

Taste

The flavor of the pulled jackfruit was completely defined by the smoky barbecue sauce which was surprisingly tasty.  The sauce had a deep, smoky flavor with a nice balance of sweetness and heat.

I was also surprised at how much the jackfruit itself looked like chunks and shreds of pulled pork.

The texture of the jackfruit was not unpleasant but it also wasn’t something that I enjoyed.  There was nothing wrong with the texture as I am sure that it is exactly like what a jackfruit should be like.  It just wasn’t satisfying to eat.

My wife and I took turns trying bites of the dish and agreed that the barbecue sauce was really nice but neither of us were interested in eating the jackfruit as a meal.  The fruit “felt” thin and unsatisfying.  I suspect we could have dressed things up by throwing it on a toasted bun with some coleslaw but we just weren’t interested in spending any more time on the meal.

If you are a fan of jackfruit then I suspect that you will love this meal as the flavors are great.  I didn’t dislike the meal but wanted to eat something more filling and satisfying instead.

Bowl of Pulled Jackfruit from Trader Joe's

Location

My Trader Joe’s had this meal at the same location they keep the pouches of microwaveable Indian meals such as Madras Lentils and Yellow Tadka Dal.

The bbq jackfruit costs about $3 for a 10 ounce pouch which is a decent price.

If you are looking for a tasty, affordable vegetarian meal option then you should check out the jackfruit.  It didn’t get me too excited but I can imagine that some folks would love it!

Cost of Pulled Jackfruit at Trader Joe's

David

Good morning and welcome to the site dedicated to helping you find great products at Costco and other stores! My name is David Somerville and these are hands on reviews of products that I have bought and used or am seriously considering purchasing. I do most of my shopping at the Costco in Baton Rouge, Louisiana but will check out any other Costco warehouses I find while travelling. Please get in touch with any questions and let me know of any great products that deserved to be featured in this blog!

2 thoughts on “Mixed Feelings About Trader Joe’s Pulled Jackfruit in Smoky BBQ Sauce

  1. I tried it myself last weekend. It was so a good price to experiment with something I had wanted to make myself (but preparing Jack fruit is work!!!)
    I totally get what you meant by the texture. And, even the taste for me was pretty good. I was expecting a little more depth.
    I think it’s super important to pair it with complimentary condiments (mustard?) AND a soft bread! (I tried it on some French bread I baked. But toasted it… 😑 The crust made it “hard” for me to enjoy.
    I will definitely try it again- maybe on ciabatta. 🤔
    I’ll be sure to Google traditional pulled pork sandwiches to get some ideas too for a fair comparison. 👍🏽😉👍🏽

  2. I think you are confused about veganism. This product is absolutely vegan. “May contain traces” is only there for allergen purposes not ethical. It is vegan to eat things that “may contain” milk etc.

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