Photo by Kelly Allison Photography
Great Vegan BBQ without a Grill is full of recipes for plant-based hearty foods, including ribs, burgers, and even steaks! But there are things on sticks, lots of sides, and cool appetizers like this Vegan Crab Dip made with jackfruit.
I’ve been getting more obsessed with jackfruit lately and have been using it in recipes that call for shredded chicken like veganizing a Tom Yum Soup. I hadn’t thought about using it in place of crab until I saw Linda and Alex’s recipe. It’s a brilliant idea!
photo by Kelly Allison Photography
Vegan Crab Dip Made with Jackfruit
Reprinted with permission from Great Vegan BBQ without a Grill by Linda & Alex Meyer, Page Street Publishing Co. 2018. Photo credit: Kelly Allison Photography.
Here's what Linda & Alex have to say about their recipe:
Crab dip is one of our favorite party dips. It’s so creamy and mild in flavor, perfect for spreading on crackers or for dipping with your favorite veggies. Our vegan version is every bit as good as the conventional version. Shredded young jackfruit is surprisingly similar in texture to crab, and the flavors of the Dijon, Old Bay seasoning and the other spices are spot on. In case you’re not familiar with Old Bay seasoning, let us acquaint you. Old Bay is a fragrant mix of spices, such as celery salt, mace, cloves, ginger, cardamom and more. It’s what gives most crab cakes their flavor, and it’s what brings this crab dip to life.
To get the texture and mouth feel of crab, we used shredded jackfruit, and the creaminess of mayonnaise comes from cashews. It’s the ultimate party food. Bring this, and your appetite, to your next get together. You and your friends are going to love it! Serve with crackers, toasted sliced bread or corn chips.
Ingredients
- 2 cups (300 g) raw cashews, soaked in 2 cups (480 ml) water overnight
- 1 large clove garlic
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) unsweetened cashew milk or other vegan milk
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1/2 tsp ground sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground paprika
- 1/8 tsp onion powder
- 1 (14-oz [400-g]) can young jackfruit packed in water or 1 1/2 cups (400 g) fresh jackfruit
Instructions
Drain and rinse the cashews and put into a high-powered blender or food processor. Add the garlic, cashew milk, lemon juice, mustard, Old Bay seasoning, salt, paprika and onion powder and blend for approximately 2 minutes (scrape the sides frequently), or until it’s smooth and velvety. You shouldn’t see or taste pieces of solid nuts.
Scrape the cashew mixture into a medium bowl.
Drain and rinse the jackfruit well. Shred the jackfruit with a fork or in a food processor and put in the bowl with the cashew mixture. Gently fold until fully combined. Serve with crackers, toast or sliced vegetables.
Here are a few more appetizers that will wet the appetites of your party guests:
- Air Fryer Bow Tie Pasta Chips
- Eggplant Tapenade from Vegan Slow Cooking for Two
- Air Fryer Sesame, Ginger and Garlic Edamame
Or try one of these 14 Easy Vegan Recipes to Help You Keep Cool!
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