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Most of the meat eaters I know have a lot of misconceptions about prepared/packaged veggie cuisine, with the biggest one of all being that it must be boring, tasteless cardboard. While that was true a decade ago, these days there are so many amazing options to choose from that virtually anyone can go veggie for any meal they can dream up without worrying about flavor or quality. I love scanning the freezer section for new meal starters from my favorite brands, and just last week I discovered the new MorningStar Farms® Veggie Pulled Pork during my weekly Walmart trip! I grabbed a few bags, and the wheels in my head immediately began turning. It has been super nice outside this week, so I decided to fire up my grill and create some amazing Tropical BBQ Sandwiches that are tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor!
Eating outdoors is something that we do a lot of during the warmer half of the year, and I absolutely adore cooking on the grill. We dine on the back deck once a week, and it is always a great way to break the cycle of boring dinners and really get out and spend some time together. Yes, I know we can spend time together around the regular dinner table, but this way is so much more fun! Another thing I love is simple dinner prep, and these sandwiches are just that thanks to MorningStar Farms®. There are a number of other veggie meal starter brands out there right now, but I feel like MorningStar® has been at the head of the pack ever since I can remember. They are constantly innovating and coming out with new flavors, and they have really made it a point to appeal to everyone, vegetarian or not, with each new product offering. Before finding this Veggie Pulled Pork, the only “BBQ” sandwiches that we ate used jackfruit, which to be honest isn’t exactly the best substitute, especially if you really want that smoky, straight-off-the-grill flavor. But now? It’s on!
Since I love variety, especially when grilling out, I also fired up some MorningStar Farms® Spicy Black Bean Burgers, which happen to be America’s #1 Veggie Burger. These have been my favorite burgers for a very long time, and I always have some in the freezer! They also go perfectly with our pineapple salsa!
Tropical BBQ (Veggie) Pulled Pork Sandwiches
This recipe is very easy, and the prep work is simple enough that you can have an entire meal ready in right at 30 minutes. It makes enough for 6 sandwiches, and you can make your sauce from scratch or use your favorite brand. A printable version of this sandwich recipe is available here, or you can follow along with the step-by-step guide below. Here is what you need to build your sandwiches:
- 2 bags of MorningStar Farms® Veggie Pulled Pork
- 2/3 cup barbecue sauce (recipe here)
- Pineapple salsa (recipe here)
- 6 buns
I like to make the pineapple salsa a day ahead of time, so the flavors have a chance to mesh together, but you can do it whenever you like. It is super easy, and only has five ingredients: Pineapple, cilantro, jalapeño, onion, and olive oil. To make, just dice 2 cups of pineapple, 1/2 a red onion, a hand full of cilantro, and some jalapeño. Mix together with a little olive oil and refrigerate until ready to serve.
To prepare your pulled pork, pour it into a large bowl while still frozen, and mix with 2/3 cup barbecue sauce. You can add more or less depending on your needs, but with grilling, I always add a little more than I think I should just so it doesn’t dry out.
Fold a large piece of foil in half, and spray it with nonstick. Pour your pulled pork in, shape it like a bowl (or use a grill basket like the one here), and cook over a medium flame with the lid down for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
When it is ready, it will be bubbly and a little crisp around the edge of your foil – that means it is just right!
Doesn’t that look delicious? Now all you have to do is build your sandwich! Cut your bun in half, pile on pulled pork, and add a heaping spoon full of pineapple salsa.
Every single bite of this is heaven, and I adore the meshing of spicy, tangy, and sweet all rolled into one! These sandwiches have instantly become a family favorite, and I know I will be pulling them out for many more back porch dinners to come!
You can find MorningStar Farms® products in the frozen section of your local Walmart.
