Thistle Fajitas with Jackfruit Carnitas, Fajita Veggies & Hemp Avocado Crema

We love this plant-based fajita recipe for it’s depth of bold flavors, tender texture, and the fact that it all comes together in 35 minutes! We’ve made this dish super simple to prepare on the stovetop and we’ve also included a few of our favorite toppings to make the perfect taco or burrito. In this recipe we’re featuring Siete, a Mexican-American food brand that makes delicious grain free products. While all of their tortillas are gluten-free and match well with this dish, we especially like the Cassava & Coconut Tortillas, made with cassava and coconut flour.

‍Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 25 min
Serves: 4-6

Jackfruit Carnitas
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced (about 1/2 medium onion)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 20oz can young green jackfruit, drained (about 10 oz drained)
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp chipotle powder
1/4 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp nutritional yeast
1 cup vegetable broth

Heat the sunflower oil in a medium sauté pan. Sauté the diced onion & garlic for 2-3 minutes until soft & translucent. Add in the drained jackfruit and allow to sear in the pan for about 5 minutes, turning occasionally. The jackfruit should get some nice browning on the outside and start to break down & dry out a bit. Add in all the spices and continue to cook for another minute or so until the very fragrant and the jackfruit & onion are well coated. Add in the nutritional yeast & vegetable broth - continue to simmer the for about another 15 minutes, continuing to break up the jackfruit, until most of the liquid has evaporated.

Fajita Veggies:
1/2 cup red bell pepper, seeded & sliced (about 1/2 pepper)
1/2 cup green bell pepper, seeded & sliced (about 1/2 pepper)
1/2 cup red onion, sliced (about 1/2 medium red onion)
1 tsp sunflower oil

• Heat a saute pan (preferably cast iron) over high heat until very hot. Add about 1 tsp of oil, then add in the sliced peppers & onions.
• Cook the veggies for about 3-5 minutes until they are softened and the skins of the peppers are starting to blister.
• Remove from the heat, serve immediately.
  

Hemp Avocado Crema
4 oz ripe avocado (about 1 medium avocado)
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp hemp seeds
2 tsp fresh cilantro, chopped
1 tbsp water
2 1/2 tsp lime juice
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cumin
Pinch of ground black pepper

The added hemp seeds give this sauce a creamier texture and a major protein boost!

Mix all the ingredients together by hand with a fork or whisk to create a fairly smooth mixture, OR blend in a blender or with an immersion blender for a smooth “crema” consistency. Adjust for salt, lime & spice as desired!

‍How to Build Your Fajita Taco:
Recipes above are for about 4-6 tacos
Heat your favorite 6” Siete tortilla on a very hot pan - about 30 - 45 seconds per side.
Build your taco however you like! We recommend the following order:
- Jackfruit Carnitas
- Fajita Veggies
- Optional slaw mix (just a pinch for some crunch!)
- Hemp Avocado Crema drizzled over top
- Fresh cilantro garnish

Optional Sides:

Slaw mix:
1 medium carrot, peeled & shredded
1/4 cup green cabbage, shredded
1/4 cup red cabbage, shredded
1/4 cup radish, shredded (about 3 radishes)

Spanish rice
Black or pinto beans
Fresh cilantro
Siete’s many delicious hot sauces!

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