I've been really yearning for Hawaii lately.
Not sure what it is- maybe it was the rainy weekend in Portland or maybe it's the bout of "June Gloom" we'd had here in LA the last couple of weeks, but I can't stop thinking about Maui.
The idea of lounging poolside with a good book all day sounds incredibly enticing. Acai bowls from Choice sound really good right about now too (I can make my own, but they taste so much better when someone makes them for me). Snorkeling with sea turtles doesn't sound half-bad either.
Until we can find some free time and some spare cash laying around, however, this pizza will have to suffice.
To be honest, I never really cared for Hawaiian-style pizzas in the past. It always seemed like there were weird chunks of ham on them and even before I became vegetarian and later vegan, that was always extremely unappetizing to me. What those pizzas needed all along was BBQ jackfruit instead.
I know jackfruit can be hard to come across, but if you have a Whole Foods near you, check them out (in the same aisle as the canned pumpkin/squash/etc.) because my local Whole Foods just started carrying it. If not, check out your local Asian market and if you do not have either of those, you can always try online. For savory recipes, be sure to find the kind that is packed in brine, though, and not syrup. Once you find some, stock up- you're going to be wanting to make this pizza all the time.
With loads of jackfruit drenched in barbecue sauce, chunks of bright and juicy pineapple, bold bits of sun-dried tomatoes, and topped with crisp red onions, this pizza will have you donning a grass skirt and doing the hula in no time. Yeah- it's that good.
Ingredients
- 2 20 oz. cans of jackfruit, packed in brine
- 1 cup BBQ sauce (I used Organicville)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (I used Sriracha sauce)
- 1 teaspoon cumin (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
- salt and pepper to taste (optional)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 red onion, chopped, plus a few slices for a topping
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup sliced sun-dried tomatoes
- 3/4 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 cornmeal pizza crust (I used Vicolo's but you can use your crust of choice, or prepare your own).
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425. Prepare your pizza baking pan.
- Place the jackfruit in a colander and thoroughly rinse it. Use two forks or your fingers to tear the jackfruit into shreds. Set aside.
- Combine the BBQ sauce, Sriracha sauce, tomato paste, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Mix together and set aside. (Note: If you make your own sauce, you may not want to add the extra spices. I add them because I used a store-bought sauce and I wanted to add a little more depth. It's totally up to you).
- Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat for about one minute. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until translucent.
- Add the jackfruit and sauté until most of the liquid released from the jackfruit is gone. Mix in the prepared sauce, lower the heat to medium-low, cover the pan and let the jackfruit cook for about 10-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in the sun-dried tomatoes and let cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Place your prepared pizza crust/dough on your prepared pan and spread the jackfruit mixture out on the crust. You will have a little more than half leftover to make a second pizza or save for sandwiches later on (trust me- you'll want to do this). Top with pineapple chunks and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes until crust is crisp and golden. Remove from oven, top with red onion slices, slice and serve. Enjoy!
Have you been to Hawaii? If so, what's your favorite island? What is your favorite thing about it?
Photography by Chris Miller
Sarah S.
I think you may have topped your buffalo cauliflower pizza here with this one! Can't wait to try!
keepinitkind
I hope you enjoy it, Sarah! 🙂
Caitlin
i always felt the same way about hawaiian pizza. who the heck wants chunks of ham on there?! i love this one, though, and will definitely be making it soon for pizza sunday!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Caitlin! I love the idea of Pizza Sunday! Every time I have pizza, I forget how much I love it. I should be eating it at least once a week! 🙂
Ashley
100% making that this weekend. Looks awesome!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Ashley!
Richa
that surely reminds me of beachy sunny Hawaii! gorgeous napkin:)
keepinitkind
Thanks, Richa! 🙂
Shira
Fantastic pizza! Loving all the savoury Jackfruit recipes lately -- I am a Hawaii fan too - the Big Island for me with all the luscious agriculture and lush valleys. Oh man wouldn't I love a few days there now....xx Gorgeous pizza Kristy!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Shira! A few days there does sound heavenly right now! 🙂
Alexandra @ Delicious Knowledge
Looks great! I recently made Chef Chloe's Hawaiian pizza and it was such a hit. Excited to try this kind next! Never been to Hawaii- wish though! I don't know we don't travel there more often? You would think living in CA it would be an easy skip over, but we tend to go to Jamaica for our tropical vacations. It's vegan-friendly heaven!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Alex! That's good to know about Jamaica- I had no idea! I'll need to check that out! 🙂
Andrea
I haven't been to Hawaii, but that doesn't mean I don't dream about soaking up the sun on a beautiful Hawaiian beach. On our last Alaskan airlines flight I read all about small Hawaiian towns to visit. Hawaiian pizza would be a perfect accompaniment to reading the rest of the article.
keepinitkind
I couldn't agree more. There is just something about those islands- they're like nowhere else I've ever been. It's not just the beauty, it's the attitude and the vibes going on there. It's amazing. 🙂
Hannah
I just had jackfruit for the first time as part of a "tuna" sandiwch at FuD in Kansas City, so I am surely now extremely able to say this looks awesome. 😉
keepinitkind
Thanks, Hannah! FuD is on my list of places I want to try- I need to get my butt on over to Kansas City!
Crista
I've never heard of jackfruit until today. A local vegan restaurant just added a few items to their menu that use jackfruit ...and then I come across this post. The jackfruit fritters I had for lunch were quite tasty and this pizza you've made looks pretty yummy too. Thanks for the inspiration. I'll take a trip to Whole Foods this weekend.....
keepinitkind
If you're talking about Native Foods, I couldn't agree more- those jackfruit fritters are amazing! I hope you have fun- playing around with this awesome ingredient! 🙂
Cadry
If the Hawaii experience is like this pizza, sign me up! I'm always excited to see more jackfruit recipes. This looks wonderful!
Surprisingly, I've never been to Hawaii or anywhere more tropical than Florida or California. Curiously, we always seem to opt for cold, drizzly places on vacation. But sometime I've got to do it your way - with an afternoon on the beach in the warm sun, sun hat shading my face, and a drink with an umbrella. Oh, and I was promised there would be jackfruit. 😉
keepinitkind
I remember you telling us about how you always end up going somewhere cold and drizzly. After Portland, I have to say, it's not a bad way to vacation! 😉 Hawaii should be done at least once, though. It's such a pleasant, laid-back place to be. 🙂
Sue | CandlesOffMain.com
This looks amazing!!!! Thanks so much for sharing. I'm on the hunt for a delicious vegan, gluten free pizza and this looks perfect. I've never heard of jackfruit before. Hopefully our Whole Foods has it. I've been making bbq pizza on brown rice tortilla with red onion, pineapple and cilantro. Decent but boring. This sounds like a much needed upgrade!!!!!
keepinitkind
I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Gabby @ the veggie nook
I always hated the idea of hawaiian pizza, until I went vegan and realized, just because I don't want the ham on there, doesn't mean I can't have pineapple!! Lovely recipe my dear 🙂 I hope the weather has cleaned up and that you are enjoying the sunshine!
keepinitkind
Everything is always better with pineapple, isn't it? 🙂 Thank you, and I hope you are getting some lovely weather as well! xx
luminousvegans
Mmmm, this pizza sounds wonderful! I love pineapple on all my pizzas and adding the bbq jackfruit is a great idea!
keepinitkind
Thank you! If you like bbq jackfruit and you love pineapple, then this pizza has your name all over it! 🙂
Bobbie {the vegan crew}
I've never been to Hawaii, but I am fine settling for this pizza until we can make it there. It sounds right up our alley!
keepinitkind
Thanks, Bobbie! This pizza should get you by until you can finally make it there. 🙂
Heather
Never been to the Islands but it is on our list of musts after reading about your trip with Chris (maybe a year ago?) to Maui! I LOVE pineapple and broccoli pizza and I love BBQ pizza with corn and red onions- you made my perfect pizza!
keepinitkind
Awesome- Thank you! 🙂