Vegan Corned Beef and Cabbage (Corned Jackfruit)
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
Easy one pot Vegan Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day or simply put Corned Jackfruit with cabbage and potatoes. Plant based, gluten free and so incredibly delicious! Stove top and slow cooker recipe included.
What is “Corned Beef” ?
A 1-pot meal made popular during wartime when everything was rationed and was referred to as a “boiled dinner”. Fast forward to the evolution of humanity and it is now made with cruelty-free vegan ingredients like meaty jackfruit and potatoes. Really, nobody has to die, right ?!
Vegan corned beef can also be made using seitan (say-tan) also called wheat meat or wheat protein, tofu or tempeh. For me the jackfruit is a way more convenient and healthier alternative that delivers incredible flavor and texture with minimal effort.
The Method
Traditionally the beef was “corned” by brining it up to 10 days with spices like: bay, allspice, whole cloves, ginger, black peppercorns and mustard seeds. Say whaaat ?
Not to worry at all as my easy corned jackfruit doesn’t require any of that. Instead it all goes in one pot and simmers together with the spices until all the flavors infuse the jackfruit, potatoes and the cabbage with the most wonderful aromas.
Super easy but so tasty, just the way I like my recipes to be!
About the Ingredients
- The Jackfruit: it’s really important that you use young unripe jackfruit here. I love the organic jackfruit pieces in bulk bags I order from Amazon, however you can use the canned variety packed in water Not syrup if you prefer. Just make sure to rinse it well before making the stew.
- Potatoes: any potato that you love that holds its shape during cooking is fine here. I prefer Yukon gold or small red potatoes for this.
- Cabbage: a small green cabbage is all you need for this stew, make sure to cut it into small wedges and discard the core.
- Pickling Spices: this is what gives the corned jackfruit its distinctive flavor. Easiest way to go about this is to use a pickling spice mix that you love. Alternatively you can definitely make your own combining the classic pickling ingredients: coriander seeds, bay leaf, yellow mustard seed, dill seed, cinnamon, red chili pepper flakes, allspice, ginger root, black pepper and organic cloves. I used this pickling mix from amazon and also added more bay leaf, mustard seeds and more heat with extra chili flakes.
How to Make Vegan Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Start with the holy trinity: onion, carrot and celery and sautee until softened.
- Add jackfruit, veggie stock, pickling spices mix, a touch of smoked paprika, black peppercorns, extra bay leaf and mustard seeds then simmer away to infuse the jackfruit with all their aroma.
- Add potatoes and cabbage into the mix and continue cooking until everything is tender to your liking. Bump up the flavor with a sprinkling of nutritional yeast and brighten up the dish with fresh dill and cilantro.
- Alternatively you can slow cook everything in your slow cooker for a couple of hours on high, just until the jackfruit is tender and the potatoes and cabbage cooked to your liking.
Vegan St. Patrick’s Day Recipes
- Potato Jackfruit Stew
- Vegan Shepherd’s Pie
- Ultimate Potato Leek Soup
- Vegan Pot Roast
- Vegan Mushroom Wellington
- The Best Avocado Mashed Potatoes.
Vegan Corned Beef and Cabbage ~ Corned Jackfruit
Easy one pot Vegan Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day or simply put Corned Jackfruit with cabbage and potatoes. Plant based, gluten free and so incredibly delicious! Stove top and slow cooker recipe.
Print Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lb jackfruit pieces green unripe
- 1 yellow onion diced
- 2 carrots sliced into rounds
- 2 ribs celery diced
- 1 small green cabbage (cut into small wedges, core discarded)
- 3 qt vegetable stock
- 3-4 tbsp pickling spices
- 1 tbsp smoked paprika (omit or use less if you don't want a smoky flavor)
- 2 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 2 tsp mustard seeds optional
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes to taste
- 2 lb Yukon gold or red potatoes cut into 1 inch cubes
- 3-4 tbsp nutritional yeast optional
- sea salt + black pepper to taste
- fresh dill and cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a large heavy bottom dutch oven saute the onion, carrot and celery with a pinch of salt and red pepper flakes in a splash of veggie stock or a drizzle of olive oil until the onion is translucent. (Omit the oil for WFPB Plantricious diets).1 yellow onion, 2 carrots, 2 ribs celery, 1 pinch red pepper flakes to taste
- Rinse the jackfruit pieces well and add them to the pot together with the vegetable stock, pickling spices, bay leaf, smoked paprika, mustard seeds, peppercorns, onion powder and a good pinch of sea salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes. (NOTE: Make sure to use a tea steeper for the pickling spices if you don't like them floating around in the stew, or a make a little pouch out of cheesecloth).2 lb jackfruit pieces, 3 qt vegetable stock, 3-4 tbsp pickling spices, 1 tbsp smoked paprika, 2 tsp black peppercorns, 1 tbsp onion powder, 2 tsp mustard seeds, 2 bay leaves, sea salt + black pepper to taste
- Add the potatoes and cabbage and continue simmering until both the potatoes and cabbage are cooked to your liking and the jackfruit is tender. Stir in the nutritional yeast and adjust seasonings to your taste with more sea salt and black pepper. For a richer more authentic flavor finish with a drizzle of olive oil. (Omit all oil to make the recipe WFPB & Plantricious compliant)1 small green cabbage, 2 lb Yukon gold or red potatoes, 3-4 tbsp nutritional yeast
- Serve hot garnished with fresh dill or cilantro, more chili flakes to your liking and nice piece of this crusty bread.
Slow Cooker Method:
- Sautee the onion, carrot and celery in your slow cooker until softened. Add the rest of the ingredients including the spices (except the fresh herbs) and slow cook on high for 2 hours or until the jackfruit, potatoes and cabbage are tender. Serve garnished with the fresh herbs.
Notes
- It’s really important that you use young unripe jackfruit here. I love the organic vacuum sealed bulk bags I order from Amazon but you can use the canned variety packed in water Not syrup. Make sure to rinse it well before making the stew. Do not use ripe fresh jackfruit!
- Use a good veggie stock you love here, I like to make my own with whatever aromatics I have in the fridge at the moment, nothing goes to waste.
- If you don't like the idea of the pickling spices floating in the broth put them in a tea steeper, or use a piece of cheesecloth to tie a little pouch holding them together.
Nutrition
Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 77mg | Potassium: 967mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 3102IU | Vitamin C: 58mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 5mg
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 239kcal
Jackfruit Recipes:
Fantastic recipe, I’m so happy to have a healthy corned beef substitute for my family just in time for St. Patrick’s dinner. Thank you for sharing!
Yummy!!! But take it easy with the pickle seasining!
It’s a big pot of stew, use as much as you like 🙂
I used 4 tbsp of pickling spices. Too much.
I would suggest 2 tbsp, I am normally a fan of lots of flavor, but this w as a bit too much even for me.
So friggen good!! We doubled the recipe, added some Dijon mustard on top, and chowed down for the next couple of days. If you love corned beef, and have kicked cow meat, this will not disappoint!
This was delicious, but next time I’ll put all the spices in a tea ball or cheesecloth bag so I can remove them before serving.I didn’t like having a mouthful of peppercorns and pickling spices.
I agree! It was so delish and I couldn’t eat it fast enough but the spices in my mouth had me having to spit them out 😀
I made this a few days ago and it was absolutely delicious! I think I may freeze the rest for another day. Thank you!
Sitting here eating this right now and it is absolutely delicious but like another said I would probably put the spices in a tea ball next time.
Could you use canned jackfruit for this recipe?
Yes, just make sure it’s packed in water not syrup.
Tried it in a crockpot. Definitely needs more than 2 hours on high. More like 4-5 hours on high. I even cut the potatoes smaller than in the recipe. Smells amazing though!
We’ve been vegan for about 4 years. Prior to that we are meat. SO….with this recipe the jackfruit was mushy…nothing like the consistency of meat. That part was disappointing. Along with others I’d probably contain the pickling spice within something while cooking. The mixture had good flavor though so we were pleased about that.
Is there a way I can make this recipe with fresh yellow (ripe) jackfruit? Thanks.
Absolutely NOT, please don’t do that it will completely ruin it and I’d hate for you to have to throw out a perfectly good jackfruit. It’s important the jackfruit is young green unripe, (you can use canned in brine/water and rinse it well) so it can serve as a canvas and absorb all the savory flavors of the stew. Make sure to use an infuser for your spices also if you think it might bother you having them float around hehe.
I know you’re recommending jackfruit here, but what modifications would be needed for tempeh, etc?
I have not tested this recipe with tempeh Anna, you will need quite a bit of it. I’d probably go for mushrooms or even soy curls if you can’t do jackfruit.
I haven’t eaten corned beef and cabbage since I’ve been vegetarian for over a decade and I’ve been missing it so much that I decided to try this recipe for St. Paddy’s Day. It was INCREDIBLE! So delicious and flavorful and hearty and comforting. You absolutely must try it for yourself!
Do you have a recipe for sliceable vegan gluten free corned beef or pastrami? I have a craving for a Reuben sandwich and am having a hard time finding a suitable gluten free recipe. Jackfruit would be ideal.
Sorry Debi, i do not. I have not mastered making a gluten free seitan but will keep working on it and definitely post if / when I figure out the magic formula.
I am planning on making this with canned jackfruit this week. Can anyone who has used canned give me an idea of how many cans I need to get? I plan to get trader Joe’s canned jackfruit. Thank you! So looking forward to making this!
2 cans will should be great!
Made this for St. Patrick’s day and it was delicious! The only thing I tweaked was that I added in some pickle juice because I wanted it to have a slightly more pickled flavor. I served it with vegan soda bread and it was a hit 🙂
I attempted this with canned jackfruit and it was better leftover the next day after the jackfruit had a chance to absorb more of the spices. If I make it again, I may “corn” the jackfruit the day before and then add the potatoes and cabbage the next day. We liked adding extra ground pepper too. Thanks for this! Nice to have a fat-free alternative to the St. Patrick’s day tradition.