For a meatless barbecue recipe, or to try something new, our Barbecue Jackfruit Farmer Cheese Sliders are the perfect pork-free choice and are packed with benefits thanks to Lifeway Farmer Cheese and Lifeway Kefir. We blend both of our protein-packed cultured foods with an array of spices and seasonings which gives these sliders a creamy, herb-infused edge over other sliders.
What’s jackfruit, you ask? As mentioned, these sliders are meatless (and vegetarian) since we used jackfruit, a unique, delicious fruit that’s nearly identical to pork’s flaky texture for how it’s used in barbecue sandwiches. You can find it in a can at your local grocery store with other canned/packaged fruits and veggies in the canned foods section, or you can find it fresh in some specialty markets. Jackfruit has a lightly sweet flavor and delicate texture and can be used in any pork recipe with barbecue sauce when you want to skip the meat but want in on all the saucy pleasure.
Lifeway Farmer Cheese and Kefir also infuse these sliders with some serious gut-loving action thanks to their live and active cultures, and they’ll keep you satisfied since they’re both packed with protein. We served our sliders on traditional Hawaiian rolls with a few more seasonings for a final touch. So grab your favorite barbecue sauce and enjoy!
Cultured Dairy: The Nutrition Benefits You Need to Know
With increasing research linking the correlation between probiotics, gut health, and immunity, it’s no secret that the integrity of our gut is vital to our health. Although additional factors such as stress, antibiotic usage, and individual health conditions can contribute to the condition of our gut, a focus on healthy food choices is one of the easiest ways to support the microbiome.
Several studies have shown a strong association between the gut-brain-microbiota. Probiotics introduced to the gut have been found to support immunity, improve allergies, and improve digestion.
Studies have shown that reduced diversity of healthy gut bacteria during early years is associated with an increase in food allergies during school-age years. In addition, kefir made from whole milk helps absorb key nutrients such as Vitamins A, D, E, and K. Vitamin K is important because it helps your bones absorb calcium. It’s important to know that kefir contains a special trio: vitamin D, K, and calcium – all three crucial elements to support bone health. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is also a great source of all these nutrients, just in a different format for all the cheese lovers out there.
Prep Time: 15 minutes Servings: 6
Ingredients
To Assemble the Sliders:
- 3 cups young green jackfruit, cooked, loosely packed (can use canned)*
- 1 3/4 cup your favorite barbecue sauce
- Prepared Coleslaw (recipe below)
- Farmer Cheese Mixture (recipe below)
- Butter Topping (recipe below)
- Hawaiian-Style Whole Grain Sliders (or use your favorite gluten-free alternative)
For the Coleslaw:
- 3/4 cup Lowfat Plain Kefir
- 1/4 cup sour cream
- 2 1/2 tbsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
- 2 tsp. raw honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp. celery salt
- 1/4 tsp. onion powder
- pepper to taste
- 14-16 oz. pack of coleslaw-style veggies (sold in bags in the produce section)
For the Farmer Cheese Mixture:
- 8oz Farmer Cheese
- 1 tbsp, garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp pepper
- 1 tbsp dried parsley
- 1 tbsp chopped chives
Butter Topping:
- 4 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp steak seasoning powder
- Optional: Drizzle your favorite hot sauce on top for an extra kick!
Directions
- *If using fresh (not canned) jackfruit: Over high/medium heat, cook jackfruit until heated and shredded. Pull off the heat and add in the BBQ sauce. Mix together until well incorporated.
- *If using canned jackfruit, drain it really well, and warm it up on the stove in a small saucepan with the barbecue sauce just until lightly warm (you don't want it hot, just warm). Stir it well just for a few minutes, then take off the heat (don't let it burn). You can also warm it up for a minute or so with the sauce in the microwave covered too. Remove, set it aside for a minute, then proceed ahead.
- In a food processor, blend together all ingredients for the Farmer Cheese mixture. Set aside.
- Do the same for the coleslaw mixture in a food processor.
- Slice the Hawaiian rolls in half. On the bottom, spread the barbecue jackfruit mixture on top to cover to whole bottom half of the rolls.
- Spread Lifeway Farmer Cheese on the top half of the rolls., then add the coleslaw mixture on top of the barbecue jackfruit side, and add the top half to the bottom half of the slider to complete the sandwich.
- Melt the butter and add in the garlic salt + steak seasoning.
- Spread the butter melt over the top of the Hawaiian rolls.
- Bake in a preheated oven to 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Serve warm or cooled! Enjoy!
- *You can find canned jackfruit in the aisle with other canned veggies at many grocery stores now or in tetra packs if you can't find it fresh. It's sold fresh in some specialty supermarkets across the country.
