Pulled pork sandwiches are something I really miss since I stopped eating meat. There are a lot of recipes for vegan pulled pork made with mushrooms and figured I’d give it a try. I’ve already made mushroom bacon and that was fantastic, so this should be as well. Mushrooms are great for their meaty texture and they are kind of chewy. I wasn’t sure about the spice mixtures I saw out there. The spice blend I came up with for my ribs seemed to be the way to go.
I wanted it to resemble pulled pork in taste, therefore it’s necessary to use the correct spice blend. Furthermore, I wanted that full blown BBQ flavor profile. It was spot on! I could eat this once a week and aside from some sugar it’s healthy for you. Add some sides like cole slaw, french fries, or potato salad and you have a good old fashion BBQ meal. I even got some of my friends to try the recipe and they loved it.
INGREDIENTS
- 6 big bella mushroom caps
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- Gluten free dairy free rolls
- BBQ sauce (optional)
TIP: Do not wash the mushrooms because they absorb water. If they are dirty simply wipe them with a DAMP cloth. (Click on the word mushrooms for more information.)
Making Vegan Pulled Pork
Making vegan pulled pork with mushrooms is easy. First, you need to prepare the mushrooms. Flip them over and pull out the stems. Take a spoon and gently scrape out the gills. Now you are ready to thinly slice your mushrooms. I slice them as think as I can, which is probably less than 1/8 inch.
In a large bowl, add all the spices together, and mix thoroughly. In a rectangular container add half the mushrooms, then half the spices. Gently mix them to coat the mushrooms. Add the remaining mushrooms and spices. Gently mix to coat them. Be careful not to break them into pieces. Let the mushrooms sit for an hour to absorb the spices.
In the meantime, get your sides dishes together.
After sitting the mushrooms should resemble the picture below. The spices cause the moisture to be drawn out of the mushrooms. As a result, you will get an accumulation of liquid in the bottom of the container. The pulled pork spices will make the mushrooms become very aromatic as well! You are on your way to some phenomenal vegan pulled pork.
Are you ready to make the best vegan pulled pork out of mushrooms? Heat a pan over medium low heat and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Once it is done, add the amount of BBQ sauce you desire or leave it the way it is.
Put the rolls in the toaster, so they are ready to be slathered with mushroom goodness.
Place the toasted rolls on a plate, pile on the vegan pulled pork, put on the top bun, and you are ready to enjoy a little piece of heaven. Add some fries or other side and savor every delicious bite. You will undoubtedly love this sandwich.