Cansi Recipe (Meat Free & Healthier)

This Vegan Cansi recipe is a soup bursting with savory and sour flavors of young jackfruit and spices.  Some of the notable ingredients of this recipe are the young jackfruit, tamarind powder, lemongrass, and star anise.

Looking for more Filipino Recipes? Try my Corn Soup Recipe or my Filipino Hot Soup.

Jump to:

• What is Cansi?
• How did we make this healthier without loosing the authentic flavor?
• What is Batwan?
• Health Benefits of Jackfruit
• Top Tips
• Variations
• Substitutions
• Storage
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Cansi Recipe (Meat Free & Healthier)

What is Cansi?

This delicious dish called Cansi (also spelled as Kansi) is a native favorite of the Ilonggos, locals from the beautiful place of Iloilo. Cansi is usually made with beef shanks or beef bones with marrows and a bit of beef fat and tastes like Bulalo and sinigang combined.

And to veganize it, we used langka (jackfruit) instead of the beef, but no flavor was lost when making this dish!

How did we make this healthier without loosing the authentic flavor?

We kept the key ingredients: Batwan or tamarind powder, lemongrass, star anise, and annatto powder (atsuete).

What is Batwan?

Batwan is a tropical fruit native to the Philippines, particularly in the Visayas region. It is commonly used as a souring agent in Filipino cuisine, similar to how tamarind is used. Batwan fruit is small, green, and sour, with a flavor profile that adds tanginess to dishes. It is often used in soups, stews, and other savory dishes to impart a distinct sour taste.

Health Benefits of Jackfruit

• A great source of beta carotene
• A filling fruit that is low in calorie content
• Sodium-free
• Loaded with vitamins like Vitamins A and C
• Fiber-rich and grat for the lowering of blood sugar

Top Tips

• To know that jackfruit is good to use for this recipe, the color of the jackfruit of the flesh should be white and not yellowish.
• Soak the soy beans overnight to allow it to cook faster

Variations

• Use batwan powder if you can't find fresh Batwan.
• Use canned soy beans for faster cooking.
• Do you love a rich coconut milk dish? Incorporate coconut milk into the soup. Add it instead of adding water. For sure, you will love the rich, sour and milky taste!

Substitutions

• If you can't find batuan fruit, you can use tamarind or even sinigang mix.
• Use canned or dried black eyed peas instead of soy beans.
• Use canned young jackfruit if you are unable to get fresh young jackfruit.
• If you are avoiding salt, you can use mushroom seasoning. You can find this at your local Asian market or Trader Joes

Storage

• Refrigeration: Allow the cansi to cool to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
• Freezing: If you want to store cansi for a longer period, you can freeze it. Place the cooled cansi in a freezer-safe container or freezer bags, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 to 3 months. (Keep in mind freezing may change the texture of the jackfruit and vegetables)
• Thawing and Reheating: When ready to eat, thaw frozen cansi in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat it gently on the stovetop over low to medium heat until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave it, stirring occasionally, until warmed to your liking.
• Storage Tips: To maintain the best quality, ensure that the cansi is properly sealed to prevent moisture loss and absorption of other flavors from the refrigerator or freezer. Label the containers with the date of preparation to keep track of storage time.

Ingredients

These are the ingredients that you will need:

• dried soybeans  or black eyed peas
• water
• fresh langka (young jackfruit)
• red onion
• red tomatoes
• ginger
• Batwan (batuan) or tamarind powder
• lemon grass
• star anise 
• annatto powder (atsuete)
• tofu
• magic soy protein meat (here's a similar version of the protein meat)
• salt 
• pepper
• chili peppers
• sesame oil

Instructions

In a pot over medium heat, add 1 ½ cups of water,  dried soy beans and cover the pot and cook until beans are soft, about 20 minutes:

Note: Some of the water will evaporate and be absorbed by the beans so you may need to add 2 cups of water again and allow it to boil. 

Next, add young jackfruit and cover pot with lid until it softens, about 10 minutes:

Then add onions, tomato, ginger and batwan or tamarind, star anise, lemongrass, mix and cover until it boils:

Once it’s boiling, add annatto powder:

Now, it's time to add the tofu cubes:

Then add the vegetarian meat:

Season with salt, pepper, and chili peppers mix until combined, then cover for a minute or two:

Add sesame oil to attain the fatty meat usually seen in boiling meat:

And that's it! Vegan Cansi is so easy to cook and the ingredients are easy to find! I love to have this with warm, steamed rice 🙂

Hint: To keep the jackfruit flesh from browning after slicing them, soak it in water squeezed with a bit of lemon juice or calamansi juice.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Filipino Recipes:

• Vegan Kare-Kare 
• Vegan Laswa
• Vegetarian Bicol Express
• Ginataang Gabi
• Vegan Humba
• Vegan Dinuguan
• Vegan Bopis
• Vegan Ginataang Puso ng Saging