Best Vegan Ribs Recipe (2024)

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The best vegan ribs made with tender meaty jackfruit, wheat gluten and all the traditional smoky barbecue spices. These meatless ribs are sure to impress even the pickiest meat eaters, a must make on your griddle, in the oven or your outdoor grill! No oil recipe.

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High Protein Vegan Ribs!

They are real, they are a thing, they are totally legit! 4th of July, Labor Day, Memorial Day, all the big barbecue days can bring it.

I mad a seitan and jackfruit based recipe that unbelievably resembles tender ribs on every level. The jackfruit really helps bring the ideal shreddable texture together and keep the moisture at a perfect level.

What is seitan?

A high protein food made from vital wheat gluten with a chewy and stringy texture that resembles meat (vegan steak, chicken, or turkey anyone?). When mixed with jackfruit it delivers magical texture and flavor. The sietan ribs “dough” can be prepared in advance and refrigerated until ready to grill and slather with bbq sauce.

What is jackfruit?

A large, versatile tropical fruit with meaty texture.

When eaten ripe it has a sweet taste much like a mango and pineapple but then picked green it makes a fantastic meat substitute as it picks up whatever flavors you season it with. It should not be confused with “durian” a smaller fruit similar in shape but with a strong pungent odor.

These Ultimate Barbecue Jackfruit Ribs Are:

mouthwatering

smoky, savory & sticky

tender meaty texture

high in protein

super easy to make

caramelized at the edges

meatless, cruelty-free, not made from baby pigs

ultimate party food alongside vegan mac and cheese

they taste amazing

oil-free!

What to Serve With

  • Olive oil mashed potatoes
  • Lemon roasted broccoli
  • Vegan creamed spinach
  • Scalloped potatoes
  • Butternut squash Mac and cheese
  • Rice pilaf + green apple coleslaw
  • European potato salad
  • Tomato cucumber salad
  • Potato pizza
  • Classic vegan potato salad
  • Mushroom leek pasta
  • Creamed Peas
  • Pickled Red Onion
  • Vegan Ramen.

P.S. As always, if you make this recipe please come back here to rate in the comments below.

watch how to make the best vegan ribs

Best Vegan Ribs Recipe (7)

4.96 from 25 votes

Best Vegan Ribs

The best barbecue vegan ribs made with tender meaty jackfruit, wheat gluten and all the traditional smoky BBQ spices

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Total Time:1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 20 oz canned green jackfruit (packed in water not syrup)
  • 1.25 cups vital wheat gluten + more as needed
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp sweet smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp mustard powder
  • 1/2 tsp red chili flakes , or to taste
  • 4 cloves garlic , grated
  • 3/4 cups water (or low sodium vegetable stock)
  • 3 tbsp tamari or coco aminos
  • 1 cup BBQ sauce + more for dipping
  • 2 leaves bay
  • 1/3 cup fresh chives , for garnish
  • 1 tsp liquid smoke (optional, only if you want a very smoky flavor)
  • sea salt + black pepper to taste (1/2 tsp each)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 375”F

  • Drain and rinse the jackfruit very well then boil it with the bay leaves and a pinch of sea salt for about 20 minutes until softened. Drain and mash with a potato masher or shred with a fork. Discard any tough parts.

  • In a medium bowl combine all the dry ingredients together then add the shredded jackfruit, tamari, water (or vegetable stock) and a pinch of sea salt. Mix well until a dough forms and use your hand to knead it for a good 5 minutes until the dough holds together nicely. Add a little extra sprinkling of wheat gluten if the dough seems too wet or a little more water if it feels to dry.

  • Shape the dough down into a rectangle loaf about one inch thick then slice in half crosswise.

Grill & Oven Method:

  • Preheat a seasoned cast iron griddle over medium flame. Grill the ribs for about 3 minutes on each side until nice grill marks form.

  • Meanwhile line a 5 x1 0 rectangle shaped baking dish with parchment paper. Spread a thin layer of barbecue sauce over the bottom and place the grilled ribs on top. Spread the top with a thin layer of barbecue sauce and cover the pan with aluminum foil (or a lid) and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

  • Use a pair of kitchen tongues and carefully flip the ribs. Brush with more barbecue sauce on top and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes.

  • Remove from the oven and allow to set for a few minutes.Using a sharp serrated knife to cut the ribs alongside the grill marks and serve on a bed of mashed potatoes with extra sauce and garnished with the fresh chives.

Easy Oven Baked Method:

  • Alternatively you can skip the grilling step and bake the ribs in the oven.

  • Spoon some BBQ on the bottom of the pan, place the ribs on top and brush with more BBQ sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes.Allow to cool and set for a few minutes before slicing with a sharp knife.

Bone In Method:

  • Soak bamboo sticks, popsicle stick or cinnamon stick in warm water for 20 minutes.

  • After shaping the rib mixture into a rectangle push the soaked bones through the dough about one inch apart.

  • Spread some sauce in the bottom of the pan and place the rib rack on top. Spread more barbecue sauce over the top and cover with aluminum foil. Bake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes.

How to Reheat the Ribs:

  • To reheat the ribs preheat a cast iron griddle or fire up the grill. Cook the ribs on medium low flame for a few minutes on each side until warmed through.Remember to brush with more BBQ sauce while grilling. This method will add extra smokiness to the ribs and nice charred grilled marks.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 2g | Sodium: 1527mg | Potassium: 568mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 1270IU | Vitamin C: 4.6mg | Calcium: 165mg | Iron: 4.3mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: vegan ribs

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 444kcal

Author: Florentina

Jackfruit Recipes

Best Vegan Ribs Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are vegan ribs made from? ›

Vegan BBQ Ribs are made using Seitan. It's often called “wheat meat.” Seitan is fairly bland and tasteless on its own. But, when spices like onion powder and soy sauce are added it becomes a very savory and meaty dish.

What happened to MorningStar Farms ribs? ›

Back by Popular Demand: MorningStar Farms Riblets Return to Retail Spring 2024. After disappearing from store shelves in 2018, the customer favorite is back to stay. After disappearing from store shelves in 2018, the customer favorite is back to stay.

What is the secret to tender ribs? ›

The secret to incredibly tender ribs is baking them low and slow. Baking ribs in the oven is so easy.

Why do you soak pork ribs in vinegar? ›

Essentially, the vinegar solution "cleanses" the meat and makes the flavors shine through without any "gamey" flavor.

Which is healthier tofu or seitan? ›

Both seitan and tofu are plant-based proteins. However, while seitan is an excellent plant-based protein alternative, tofu is a complete protein (seitan lacks the amino acid lysine). Unseasoned tofu is typically lower in sodium than store-bought seitan, which can be processed with salt, sugar or other flavors added.

Is seitan healthy to eat? ›

Is Seitan Healthy? In many ways, yes, seitan is quite a healthy option. The seitan nutrition facts are hard to argue with: notable amounts of protein, iron, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. This combination of macro- and micronutrients can result in some pretty impressive health benefits.

What do you put on ribs to tenderize them? ›

The least strenuous method is to coat your ribs with a rub. You just need to combine some spices and seasonings, then pat the mix onto the pork's surface. Even a simple concoction of Knorr Pork Cubes, salt, and pepper will do wonders for your meat's texture and flavor!

What is the best meat tenderizer for ribs? ›

Dry brining with baking soda is an ideal route for making slabs of ribs or roasts because it isn't time-sensitive! With this method, you can tenderize your cuts of meat with baking soda in the morning and have them ready to cook in for your afternoon barbecue or an appetizing feast at dinner.

Should I boil ribs before baking? ›

The reason you would boil ribs before cooking them is simple. This process helps tenderize the ribs and makes them more juicy. It not only shortens the cooking time significantly, but it also helps make the meat far easier to chew.

Can you use white vinegar instead of apple cider for ribs? ›

While some traditional barbecue sauce recipes do call for ACV, many use distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar instead, and the difference between the former and the latter two is pretty noticeable.

What does spraying vinegar on ribs do? ›

My favourite choice for spritzing meat is a mix of apple cider vinegar and water as it helps balance fatty cuts of meat, add moisture, and inject flavour. Avoid spritzing too often as it will increase your cooking time.

What kind of vinegar do you use to tenderize ribs? ›

To moisten your dried pork ribs, mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and barbecue sauce and cover the ribs in them. Wrap the ribs in aluminum foil and place them in the oven or on the smoker at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Within one hour, they should be flavorful and supple.

What are false ribs made of? ›

Like all ribs, the false ribs are flat bones that arise from joints on the thoracic vertebrae. A slightly thickened and rounded head articulates with the vertebra. From the head, the neck extends laterally before turning anteriorly at the angle of the rib.

What are pork ribs without bones called? ›

Country-style ribs are a budget-friendly cut of pork from one of two areas that contain bones from other parts of the animal. They are usually boneless and come from the shoulder area which is a fatty and muscular part of the shoulder blade near the loin.

What are spare ribs made of? ›

Spare ribs (also side ribs or spareribs) are a variety of ribs cut from the lower portion of a pig, specifically the belly and breastbone, behind the shoulder, and include 11 to 13 long bones. Meat and fat cover the bones. Spare ribs (pork) are distinguished from short ribs, which are beef.

What animal do Chinese ribs come from? ›

Chinese-style barbecue spare ribs are a form of siu mei, Cantonese-style roasted meats. You know, the ones that hang out in the windows in Chinatown? The most common cut of meat used for traditional char siu is thin strips of fatty pork shoulder, but ribs are not uncommon and make perfect finger foods.

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