Best plant-based protein substitutes for carnitas texture?

Question

I am trying to make a vegan version of a carnitas-style burrito where the protein has that shredded, slightly crispy-edged texture. Everything I have tried either stays too firm or too soft and nothing gets the pull-apart quality that makes carnitas work.

Has anyone found a plant-based ingredient that gets genuinely close to the carnitas texture?

ChilePete · Answer

Young jackfruit braised in the same aromatics and fat — lard for depth if you are not strict vegan, or a neutral oil with added smoked paprika — gets the closest to the shredded carnitas texture of anything I have tried. It pulls apart naturally, it crisps at the edges, and it takes on the seasoning of whatever you braise it in. Mushroom and walnut blended and cooked also works well for a different but good result.

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