15 Fabulous Faux Fish and Seafood Recipes

Vegan or not, sometimes a bit of ocean flavor is just what you crave and that can come from all kinds of different seaweed.

While there are faux burgers and sausage recipes, there are plenty of faux fish and chips, lobster rolls, and crab cake recipes, too, using imaginative ingredients that don’t harm a sole (wink emoji)!

Here are some fabulous OGP recipes that take all of those traditional fish and seafood recipes and transform them into amazing plant-based versions that give you a whiff of the sea!

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

1. ‘Fish’ Pie With Tofu and Oyster Mushrooms

Source: ‘Fish’ Pie With Tofu and Oyster Mushrooms

A good fish pie, like this ‘Fish’ Pie With Tofu and Oyster Mushrooms by Becky Cotter, has different textures and flavors, so oyster mushrooms are added to give a bit of a chew alongside the soft tofu and al dente vegetables. Another quality of a good fish pie is a thick layer of cheesy mash on top! This is easily recreated with vegan cheese.

2. Seafood Pot Pie

Source: Seafood Pot Pie

Why have “chicken” pot pie when there are so many other proteins out there? Flaky pie crust, sweet potatoes, leeks, and peas paired with fishless fillets, Old Bay Seasoning, and kelp powder. Serve this Seafood Pot Pie by Tara Binder with a great big salad or whatever sides you like.

3. Baked ‘Fish’ Cakes With Lemon Herb Mayo

Source: Baked ‘Fish’ Cakes With Lemon Herb Mayo

Using nori and miso gives the perfect fishy flavor to these Baked ‘Fish’ Cakes With Lemon Herb Mayo by Jessica DeMarra.  They are backed instead of fried to keep them light and healthy. Parsley and green onion are then blended to make a very pleasant sauce.

4. Fish and Chips

Source: Fish and Chips

Enjoy this amazing vegan version of a British classic. These Fish and Chips by Betsy DiJulio will make a very convincing Friday night supper!

5. Tempeh ‘Fish’ N’ Chips With Tartar Sauce

Source: Tempeh ‘Fish’ N’ Chips With Tartar Sauce

This recipe for Tempeh ‘Fish’ N’ Chips With Tartar Sauce by Rhea Parsons is what you’ve been waiting for. Kelp flakes and Old Bay seasoning bring the flavors of the sea, while a cornstarch mixture makes the tempeh extra crispy. The result is a nostalgic dish that doesn’t have any animal products. The tempeh “fish” is crunchy on the outside, tender and flaky on the inside; the chips are crispy and flavorful, and the tartar sauce is perfect for dipping. You have to try this vegan fish and chips recipe––it’s amazing!

6. Hearts of Palm ‘Fish’ Sticks

Source: Hearts of Palm ‘Fish’ Sticks

Remember those frozen fish sticks your mom used to throw on a sheet pan and heat up in the toaster oven? These Hearts of Palm ‘Fish’ Sticks by Tori Cooper are way better. Hearts of palm are the secret ingredient in these “un-fish” sticks, and you will be amazed at how similar they look and taste to traditional fish sticks! Vegetables – what can’t they do?

7. Fishless White Bean and Jackfruit Fishsticks

Source: Fishless White Bean and Jackfruit Fishsticks

Try these fishless fish fingers, made with jackfruit, white beans, and nori! These Fishless White Bean and Jackfruit Fishsticks by Maya Sozer have a realistic, fish-like texture due to the jackfruit. The nori brings in the sea taste, the white beans boost the protein content, and capers deliver the acidity to brighten things up. This will become a family favorite fast.

8. Coconut-Crusted Fishless Sticks

Source: Coconut-Crusted Fishless Sticks

Since fish has such a unique texture and flavor, it’s a hard one to mimic, but this one has got it. This recipe for Coconut-Crusted Fishless Sticks by Rosie Newton and Dillon Sivyour uses hearts of palm, an ingredient that’s probably not in your everyday pantry. Yet this odd asparagus-like vegetable that is harvested from palm trees is easily found in tins, probably next to the artichoke hearts that also create that seafood texture. These have a flaky texture that has the taste of the sea.

9. Beer Battered Artichoke ‘Fish’ Sticks

Source: Beer Battered Artichoke ‘Fish’ Sticks

These Beer Battered Artichoke ‘Fish’ Sticks by Melanie Sorrentino are delicious finger food perfect for an appetizer or a night in watching the big game! These crispy, fried artichokes are spiced with seaweed and coated in a beer batter to replicate the classic!

10. Chickpea Tuna Salad

Source: Chickpea Tuna Salad

What we love about this Chickpea Tuna Salad by Gabrielle St. Claire, is everything! It’s quick and easy, contains staple ingredients, can easily be made in bulk, is perfect for meal prep, is affordable, packs flavor, packs texture, protein, and fiber, and is non-vegan approved to boot! (trying to watch your carbs? It’s good even without the bread!)

11. ‘Tuna’ Pan Bagnat

Source: ‘Tuna’ Pan Bagnat

This vegan ‘Tuna’ Pan Bagnat by Annabelle Randles is packed with delicious flavors for a hearty lunch option. Pan Bagnat is a typical sandwich from Nice in the South of France. This is a super tasty and sustainable alternative to fish. Sunflower ‘tuna’ sandwiches for the win!

12. Hearts of Palm Lobster Rolls

Source: Hearts of Palm Lobster Rolls

You’ve probably heard of making vegan crab cakes with hearts of palm, but what about a vegan lobster roll? It’s got a pretty similar flavor and texture, so why not? This Hearts of Palm Lobster Roll by Ayinde Howell re-imagines the New England summertime favorite while maintaining traditional flavors and textures. It’s all about how you season it. Serve these at your next get-together to prove once again to your family that vegan food isn’t just salads and smoothies or just make one for yourself. This vegan lobster roll recipe is perfect for any occasion!

13. Artichoke ‘Lobster’ Roll

Source: Artichoke ‘Lobster’ Roll

Lobster roll is a popular sandwich in New England that consists of a mayo-based filling in a soft, toasted, and buttered bun. This classic sandwich is easily veganized using artichoke hearts, vegan mayonnaise, and a touch of dulse seaweed flakes. Transport yourself to Maine with this delicious comfort food Artichoke ‘Lobster’ Roll by Zsu Dever!

14. Tempeh ‘Crab’ Cakes with Horseradish-Dill Mayo

Source: Tempeh ‘Crab’ Cakes with Horseradish-Dill Mayo

In making a mock “fish” dish, it’s important to get that taste that reminds you of the sea. Seasonings like Old Bay, kelp, dulce, seaweed, lemon, and dill are good for that. These Tempeh ‘Crab’ Cakes with Horseradish-Dill Mayo by Rhea Parsons are so delicious. They are crispy on the outside, moist, and flaky on the inside. The flavors are so spot on, they could fool an omnivore!

15. ‘Crab’ Rangoons

Source: ‘Crab’ Rangoons

These ‘Crab’ Rangoons by Lauren Hartmann are stuffed with carrots, vegan cream cheese, and a secret blend of ingredients that makes them taste better than the real thing. Their crunchy, golden shells are wrapped around an indulgent, velvety filling that will make your mouth smile.

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!