I lived in Texas for 5 years and came to really appreciate good BBQ. Now that I'm Vegan, I have been experimenting a lot with VEGAN BBQ and I think I may have found the absolute best replacement for Vegan Pulled Pork yet.... mushrooms.
Yes, I've tried BBQ Soy Curls, and they were pretty good...... but not everyone can tolerate Soy.
I've even tried BBQ Jackfruit, since that was the up and coming thing last year..... and it was pretty good too. But a common question I got was "What exactly IS a jackfruit anyway and where in the heck do I buy it?"
So the search for the ultimate Vegan BBQ Sandwich continued....
I even tried using mushrooms once in my Texas Style Vegan BBQ Recipe, and THEY were good too (especially the homemade sauce), but to me - the texture ...wasn't ...exactly ... right. Not like the pulled pork I remember from my favorite Texas BBQ joints anyway.
Don't misunderstand me, any of these 3 recipes will give you an amazing sandwich with that great BBQ flavor we all know and love. But recently? Just recently I think I have finally found .... the ultimate replacement.... for pulled pork yet.
And yes it's a mushroom, but a very special mushroom.
I'd like to introduce to you the King Trumpet Mushroom.
What I found unusual about this particular mushroom, is it's mostly stem and not much of a cap.
Not only that, that stem shreds! Look at that - does that not look like shredded pulled pork? Craziness!
So I created this particular recipe based on these King Trumpet Mushrooms, which I found at our local Whole Foods.
But first - a disclosure:
- These are kind of pricey - I paid $14.99 for a pound of them.
- 1 lb of the shredded mushrooms in this recipe will give you about 3 regular sandwiches.....or maybe 4- 5 small sliders.
- I found them at Whole Foods but I realize not everyone lives close to one. So - you could also try Trader Joes, Sprouts, or any Asian supermarket.
Bottom line - if you don't want to spend the money on these mushrooms, or can't find them - you can STILL use the recipe for the marinade and just choose a different 'meat' replacement. (Soy Curls, Jackfruit, or regular Mushrooms, etc.)
But if you ever get a chance to TRY the King Trumpet Mushrooms.....they will blow your mind.
Ok - enough chatter - here's how I made my Best Vegan Pulled Pork yet.
Vegan BBQ: Best Vegan Pulled Pork Yet
I started with one pound of King Trumpet Mushrooms.
Wipe off any dirt or debris, and then cut about ¼" off of the very end of the stem. (the very end is usually pretty yucky looking anyway).
Also, cut off the cap, and then using a fork, begin to shred the stem by pulling the fork across it from one end to the other. The cap can also be shredded and smashed with the tines of your fork.
Place all your mushroom shreds into a bowl and set aside while we make the marinade.
Carolina Style Marinade
Since pulled pork is traditionally a Carolina BBQ specialty, I went with a thinned down, vinegary sauce I adapted from an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.
In a small bowl were basically going to mix some of your favorite BBQ Sauce (I used Stubbs), some Apple Cider Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Vegan Worcestershire, Yellow Mustard, and a touch of Liquid smoke. We whisk that until smooth and then pour over our mushrooms and mix until thoroughly coated.
That's it.
That's the entire recipe. Simple, but tasty.
Let that marinate for at least an hour (or longer) and right before cooking - we are going to strain the mushrooms (as we no longer need the marinade). Pour the whole mixture into a seive and let the mariade strain off leaving you just the mushrooms.
To cook:
Place your marinated mushrooms into a non-stick skillet and add ½ cup or so of your favorite BBQ Sauce and stir. Let that simmer over med-high heat until it begins to caramelize and brown, adding additional sauce if necessary.
I served these on some toasted whole wheat buns with a big helping of my Creamy Vegan Coleslaw and they ... were ..... amazing.
Taste. Texture. Mouthfeel.
Everything about this sandwich screams Pulled Pork. But they're mushrooms! Crazy!
Have a finicky meat-eater or BBQ aficionado in your family? Give these a whirl and see what they think.
I bet they won't be able to tell the difference!
Until next week: Happy Vegan BBQing..
Vegan BBQ: Best Vegan Pulled Pork Yet
- Yield: 3 1x
- Category: BBQ, Summer Picnics
- Cuisine: American, BBQ, Vegan
Description
I think I may have found the absolute best replacement for Vegan Pulled Pork yet.... mushrooms. This meaty mushroom shreds just like pulled pork and with my tangy marinade makes for one AWESOME sandwich. Oh boy oh boy oh boy.
Ingredients
- 1 lb King Trumpet Mushrooms ((shredded))
- 1 batch Creamy Vegan Coleslaw
Marinade
- ½ cup BBQ Sauce ((any))
- ½ cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- ¼ cup Soy Sauce ((low sodium))
- ¼ cup Worcestershire Sauce ((vegan))
- ¼ cup Prepared Yellow Mustard
- 1 tsp Liquid Smoke
Instructions
- Prepare Coleslaw and set aside in fridge. (not necessary - but really, really good!)
- Shred mushroom stems and caps into a bowl.
- Mix all marinade ingredients to make the marinade, then pour over shredded mushrooms and mix.
- Allow the mushrooms to marinate at least 1 hour (but longer is better) - then strain.
- Add strained mushrooms to a non-stick skillet and heat over med-high heat.
- Add ½ cup of your favorite BBQ Sauce and cook until mushrooms caramelize and begin to brown.
- Serve on bread or bun of choice with a good dollop of coleslaw on top. Yum!
Notes
Tips are always welcome!
[paypal_donation_button]
Pam
I second what others are saying about sourcing your King Trumpet /King Oyster mushrooms - if you have an Asian market nearby, they should be available for much less than what Whole Foods charges. I recently got around a pound of them at my local Asian Market for just a few dollars.
Jenbro
I'm curious, are the King Trumpets a different texture than King Oysters? We tried the oysters for carnitas but they were still rubbery & not very appealing. But we're excited to try new suggestions!
Collett
Hi! I'm super new to doing plant based! I don't know basics laws of food to much haha but can I freeze this so I can use it for easy lunch sandwhichs for future use or is it just best to have fresh?
Brad
Made this last night and it turned out really nicely. I would caution against using *all* of the marinade to marinate the mushrooms. I had about a pound and a half of mushrooms, and only needed about half the marinade (made per the recipe). Just put in enough to get a nice even coat, then save the rest to put in while cooking them. Would also suggest cooking them on high for a bit before putting any additional sauce in to get a nice brown going.
David Stowell
Hi Everyone,
Great new recipe idea. I had used the King Trumpets for vegan scallops (great!) but never knew how perfectly they would shred.. In Chicago these mushrooms are readily available and only about $2.50 per pound. Thanks for posting the recipe.
Lisa
Where did you get the mushrooms in Chicago area? That's a good price and I would like to try this recipe. Thanks!
Suzy
I ditto Elke's post. I used king oyster mushrooms and I marinated for about 3 hours. Draining was difficult. And to say that sauce is "twangy" is being kind. It's definitely TWANGY! I preheated and cooked in a cast iron skillet (I don't use non-stick) and I had to cook for almost 1/2 hour, moving them around frequently, to try to get the sauce to cook off and the mushrooms to dry. They did a bit and then I added some homemade BBQ sauce. The mushrooms were still very tangy and chewy and some were slimy. I wonder if they needed to cook even longer? But I'm not sure I would attempt it again. .
Will
What about smoking the mushrooms first? either whole, or after shredding, placing the shreds atop a mesh screen and onto the smoker?
Chuck Underwood
Sounds good! Try it!
Heather
I just made this and it was super delicious! I had some King Trumpet mushrooms from an Asian market Iast week, although less than a pound so I bulked it up with some baby portobellos. I did end up broiling for about 10 minutes at the end to get some crispy ends. The slaw was also very tasty. Thanks for the great recipe!
Elke Murphy
I used the king oyster mushroom, Flavor was great but the mushrooms were very chewy. How long do the mushrooms actually need to be cooked?
Nikki A
I live in Northern California and recently noticed that our Raley's has added a huge mushroom selection. I didn't notice if they had king oysters, but I wouldn't be surprised. They even have wood ears, which I have never seen in a supermarket before. Anyway, for people who are trying to find out of the norm mushrooms you might want to check Raley's, Bel Air, or Nob Hill.
Jacqui
You xan also use king oyster mushroom. Not sure how they compare pruce wise but they qork great
Vaneta
Looks fabulous however anything other than portabella mushrooms is hard to come by; even in our Asian markets which is sad as I love mushrooms they are very versatile!
Patty
Great idea! I love King Oyster Mushrooms! I always use them as 'scallops' with a little vegan butter and white wine sauce but this is another great use for them. We have them readily available here in Hawaii. There's a local grower so it's handy but still a bit pricey.
Kate
Can you use the marinade as the bbq sauce?
Chuck Underwood
You can - but it might be a bit twangy with all the vinegar. I like to counter that with a sweet BBQ sauce myself.
Sue
Well, this looks delicious but I'll have to wait for another time. I have been unsuccessful finding a grocery stores in my area that carry the King Trumpet Mushrooms.
Jenbro
Asian grocery stores tend to carry mushrooms like these for a fraction of what Whole Foods charges, good luck! :O)