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!

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? ›

Green vs.

Red chilies make red enchiladas sweeter and milder than green sauce. However, you can adjust the spiciness. Additionally, you can prepare them with cooked peppers. On the other hand, enchiladas with green sauce are made with raw and fresh green ingredients, such as tomatillos or green chilies.

What is 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.

Can I substitute salsa verde for green enchilada sauce? ›

You might think green enchilada sauce and salsa verde are the same, but think again before you swap one for the other when testing a new recipe. That's because there are key differences between the two Mexican sauces, including the ingredients, how they're made, and what they're used for.

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.

Which tortilla is better for enchiladas? ›

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.

What is a good substitute for enchilada sauce? ›

Tomato sauce is a good way to replace enchilada sauce if you're looking for a milder alternative. It's easy to take a pre-made tomato sauce and spice it and add other ingredients to get closer to a real enchilada sauce.

Which is better red or green enchilada 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.

Which is hotter red or green enchilada sauce? ›

In Mexican food, is the red sauce or the green sauce hotter? - Quora. There's no rule about that. You just have to try them. The color is because of the base used, not because of the chilies.

How do you keep enchiladas from falling apart? ›

Fry each of your tortillas in hot oil before adding in your enchilada filling. This will help keep the tortillas from soaking up too much of your sauce too quickly, which can also cause them to break apart.

Are enchiladas better with corn or flour? ›

Corn tortillas go well with Mexican dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales. They are also perfect for use in tostadas, sopes, and quesadillas. Flour tortillas are often used in burritos, fajitas, and chimichangas. They are also great for making quesadillas, sweet dishes like dessert tacos, and breakfast burritos.

What is the difference between American enchiladas and Mexican enchiladas? ›

Dishes such as enchiladas can be authentic or of the Tex-Mex variety. Authentic Mexican enchiladas have a variety of ingredients wrapped and often fried. They can be topped with cheese, chicken, lettuce, or sauces. Tex-Mex enchiladas are typically baked and are made with beef and cheese.

What can I do with a jar of salsa verde? ›

Put It on Your Tortilla Dish of Choice

If a tortilla is involved, salsa verde can be too. Tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, any and all tortilla-based meals.

What is another name for green enchilada sauce? ›

Salsa verde means green sauce in more than one language. In Mexico it is the name of a sauce based on tomatillos that usually contains chili peppers, onions, cilantro and garlic for flavor.

What is a substitute for tomatillos in salsa verde? ›

For a tomatillo substitute, buy underripe tomatoes and add a squeeze of lime juice. You will often see tomatillos in Mexican dishes like salsas, tacos, soups, and enchiladas. This swap might work well in a recipe like Slow Cooker Chicken Verde, Ceviche Verde, White Chili with Avocado Cream or Baja Fish Tacos.

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 is the difference in red and green enchilada sauce? ›

Most green enchilada sauces use green chilis, which includes jalapenos and serrano, tipping off the spicy scale. As with any color chili, green sauces range from mild to hot. Red enchilada sauce, on the other hand, is typically made from a variety of red chilies, vinegar, onions, garlic and spices.

Are green or red enchiladas better? ›

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.

What is the difference between red and green tomatillo sauce? ›

The red salsa is made using a red tomato base, while the green salsa is made with a tomatillo base. Tomatillo is a small, green fruit that resembles a small green tomato. These tiny fruits grow on a vine and are covered in a husky that must be peeled away. They are acidic and sweet and give a nice tangy flavor.

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