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Vegan “Crabcakes”

Crab cakes made with jackfruit can be most enjoyable.

Everybody loves a good recipe — even if the cook is a homemaker or someone trying to acquire the culinary skills to branch out into the world as a professional chef. You may not choose to become a chef, but that’s okay. There are tons of recipes that you can follow that will convince people that you’re a skillful cook.

Have you heard of a fruit called jackfruit? Well, if you haven’t, it is an edible tree-borne fruit that can weigh up to 80 lbs. and grow up to 36 inches long and up to 20 inches in diameter. It is a tropical fruit that is native to South and Southeast Asia and can be found in Asian stores.

The flavor of jackfruit may not suit your taste buds in the raw. It is starchy and its flesh is fibrous. It tastes similar to a tart banana. There are different characteristics or varieties of the fruit though, from soft and sweet to butter and hard. The pulp is an excellent source of fiber.

Now that you know what jackfruit is, you can use it as an ingredient to prepare some delicious meals. If you’re a meat eater, I’m sure you’ve eaten crab cakes before. But have you eaten crab cakes that were made without the crab’s flesh? Well, you’re in for a treat. The crab cake recipe below is made with jackfruit, and I can assure you that you’ll find it most enjoyable.

Bon Appétit!
Chef Timothy Moore
http://www.cheftimothymoore.com

Crab Cakes (Jackfruit)
Yields: 9

1 small onion
1 20 oz. can young green jackfruit in water, rinsed and well drained
1 15 oz. can white beans, drained, rinsed
2 tablespoon of poultry seasoning or Old Bay Seasoning
2 large cloves garlic, pressed
2 tsp. organic tamari soy sauce
1 tsp. prepared mustard (any kind)
1/8 tsp. turmeric powder (optional)
½ cup of oatmeal (regular or quick)

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Chop the onion finely in a food processor and place it in a medium bowl. Add jackfruit to the processor. Pulse until broken into rough pieces about ½ inches. Do not grind into a paste. Add to onions. Place white beans and all the remaining ingredients except oatmeal. Pulse to distribute seasonings well. Add mixture to a bowl along with oatmeal. Stir with jackfruit and onion. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat. Scoop up approximately 1/3 cup of mixture and shape into patty. Carefully place on prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining mixture. Bake each side 15 minutes in a gas stove and 20 minutes in an electric stove and enjoy these cakes.