10 Faux Fishy Recipes

Tuna salads, fish cakes, fish sticks, fish and chips, mussels, scallops, and oysters—one might think that on a vegan diet, you’d have to give all these things up.  Alas, no!  Inventive foody folk out there have come up with plant-based substitutes for all this seafood fare so that no one misses a thing.

Tofu, mushrooms, carrots, and hearts of palm are some of the ingredients used to mimic that distinctive seafood texture, and often, various types of seaweeds are used to give that unmistakable fishy flavor. Check out these OGP recipes that will give your fishy fix in plant-based glory.

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! 

1. Hearts of Baltimore Crab Cakes

Source: Hearts of Baltimore Crab Cakes

Maryland crabcakes are famed for being enormous, so these Hearts of Baltimore Crab Cakes by Ayinde Howell won’t disappoint.  These crab cakes are made from hearts of palm and are seasoned with celery, bell pepper, and onion, as well as Old Bay seasoning to give the cakes an authentic flavor.

2. Lobster Mushroom Bisque

Source: Lobster Mushroom Bisque

Lobster mushrooms are used in this recipe for Lobster Mushroom Bisque by Lauren Hartmann. This bisque is smooth, creamy, and filled with rich ingredients.  Cashews, carrots, cayenne, and kelp accompany the lobster mushrooms to make this heavenly soup that will satisfy any seafood cravings.

3. ‘Fish’ Pie With Tofu and Oyster Mushrooms

Source: ‘Fish’ Pie With Tofu and Oyster Mushrooms

‘Fish’ pie is a comfort food favorite and is something that can be enjoyed on a plant-based diet.  This recipe for ‘Fish’ Pie With Tofu and Oyster Mushrooms by Becky Cotter is very easy to make as uses tofu and the fishy-smelling oyster mushroom to give that sought-after texture.  Nori also helps to add an ocean flavor.

4. Fish-Free See-Food Salad

Source: Fish-Free See-Food Salad

This is a great recipe for a Fish-Free See-Food Salad by Aaron Calder.  It can be used in wraps, as a side dish, on sandwiches, or crackers.  Chickpeas and tofu make up the ‘meat’ while nori gives it that fishy flare.  Capers, gherkins, and sweetcorn add color, texture, and flavor to this hearty and protein-rich salad.

5. Tofu ‘Scallops’

Source: Tofu ‘Scallops’

These Tofu ‘Scallops’ by Rhea Parsons are easy to create and are very versatile.  They look delicious served on a plate as appetizers, or you can add them to pasta dishes or any number of ‘seafood’ dishes.  The tofu is seasoned with kelp and Old Bay seasoning to achieve that classic taste of the sea.

6. Vegan Carrot Lox Toast with Herbed Cheese

Source: Vegan Carrot Lox Toast with Herbed Cheese

This recipe for Vegan Carrot Lox Toast with Herbed Cheese by Loubna is ideal for a special brunch or light lunch.  Thinly shaved carrots are soaked in a mixture of brine, nori, soy sauce, maple syrup, and liquid smoke for four hours to get the perfect flavor.  Then they are served on top of toast or bread with creamy cashew-based herby cream cheese.

7. Southern Faux Fish and Chips

Source: Southern Faux Fish and Chips

Super-firm tofu is used to recreate all the ‘fish’ you need to have yourself a Southern-style fish fry!  In this recipe for Southern Faux Fish and Chips by Lauren Hartmann, the tofu is seasoned with kelp and Old Bay seasoning and ‘breaded’ in cornmeal before being shallow-fried until golden and crispy.  Serve with a big pile of chips and white BBQ sauce for dipping.

8. Chickpea Tuna Salad

Source: Chickpea Tuna Salad

Tuna salad is pretty classic, and, once again, can be made vegan-style in a pretty convincing way! Gabrielle St. Claire‘s Chickpea Tuna Salad will hit just the spot.  This can be made in bulk to have on hand anytime you want to enjoy a seafood sandwich.  Lots of texture, protein, flavor, and fun.

9. Kashubian ‘Herrings’: Polish Salted Oyster Mushrooms

Source: Kashubian ‘Herrings’: Polish Salted Oyster Mushrooms

This is a vegan take on a traditional Polish dish. This recipe for Kashubian ‘Herrings’: Polish Salted Oyster Mushrooms by Magdalena Pienkos combines oyster mushrooms, soy sauce, and nori to recreate the herrings.  They are then layered between an aromatic and spicy tomato sauce.

10. Seaweed and Seitan ‘Mussels’ in a Zesty Marinade

Source: Seaweed and Seitan ‘Mussels’ in a Zesty Marinade

This is certainly a labor of love, but so worth it in the end.  This recipe for Seaweed and Seitan ‘Mussels’ in a Zesty Marinade by Yana Chistyakova will have you making your seitan that is flavored with nori, kelp, and smoked paprika.  Your seitan mussels are then marinated in a zesty mixture that results in a meal that reminds you of the seaside.  Eat your ‘mussels’ as they are, in a salad or on crackers.

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