Being vegan is a great way to get healthy, be ethical, and be cruelty-free. But, sometimes we see food that others can have, and it just looks so good. There should be a version for us, right?
Seafood is one of these. As much as we hate where it comes from, some dishes look so nice! Wouldn’t it be great if we could get it, I don’t know? Vegan shrimp?
Well, good news! You can!
As we all know, shrimp isn’t vegan, but there are many vegan shrimp alternatives out there.
Vegan shrimp is indeed a thing, while most restaurants may not sell it, you can make yourself tasty imitation shrimp dishes at home. You could make your own version of a prawn cocktail made from entirely vegan foods!
How cool is that? Want to learn more? Stick with me…
What Is A Vegan Substitute For Shrimp?
The vegan substitute for shrimp is konjac, which is used heavily in most vegan cooking as a substitute for animal gelatin. It is also known as ‘elephant yam’. It’s used a lot in Asian cooking, but is now used more widely as a vegan substitute for shrimp and seafood!
What Is Imitation Shrimp Made Of?
Imitation shrimp is often made from konjac. However, some use a mixture of red algae and plant-based protein powders. This is if we are keeping it vegan.
You see, not all imitation shrimp are vegan. There is surimi. Surimi is a paste that is made out of finely shredded fish. This is more often seen in imitation crab than shrimp, but as a vegan, it is something to look out for.
You want something made from konjac most ideally.
What Is Plant-Based Seafood Made Of?
However, if you don’t specifically want shrimp, there is much in the way of plant-based seafood. You can get plant-based tuna, salmon, squid, crab, shrimp, and even caviar! All of these vegan versions of popular seafood are usually made from seaweed, yeast, soy, vegetable oils and starches, and legumes too.
Some can even be made from pea proteins.
There are lots of options, and there are many brands that have their own ingredients that they use.
Is Vegan Fish A Thing?
Vegan fish is most definitely a thing, as bizarre as it may sound. Places such as the Vegan ZeaStar even have vegan sashimi!
You can get many types of vegan fish. There are the most common types of fish available in vegan form, and a host of vegan crustacean options as well.
What Does Vegan Shrimp Taste Like?
It really depends on where you get your vegan shrimp from and what it is made of that will dictate the taste.
However, when it comes to vegan shrimp made with konjac, most seafood products will reflect a fresh taste post-cook. It looks and has the mouthfeel that people report to taste like actual shrimp.
This is good news for previous seafood enthusiasts who turned vegan. Having vegan options that taste like the real thing without the crustacean killing makes for an easier transition to the vegan diet!
So, you can enjoy shrimp, even as a vegan!
Is Vegan Shrimp Healthy?
Vegan shrimp is indeed healthy, being made from plant-based materials. This also means that it is jam-packed with plenty of nutrients. So, you can get a whole load of nutrients from vegan shrimp, and do your body some good while also not having to harm a single living shrimp!
What Is Vegan Shrimp?
Vegan shrimp is just a version of shrimp that is made from plant-based materials. It is packed with nutrients as well, so it is highly nutritionally beneficial. One of the best parts of it, however, is that it is suitable for people of all diet types.
Can I Eat Vegan Shrimp If I’m Allergic To Shrimp?
Maybe you aren’t vegan, but you do have a super aggressive shellfish allergy. If this is the case, you might be dying to eat some shrimp but cannot without risking your life!
Well, fear no more, vegan shrimp is not only good for vegans and vegetarians but also for those with a shellfish allergy! There is no trace of a crustacean at all in vegan shrimp, so the components you are allergic to, are not present!
Enjoy vegan shrimp and feel like you beat your allergy!
Where Can I Find Vegan Shrimp?
You can find vegan shrimp sold in quite a few restaurants now. Many vegan and vegetarian restaurants will now sell them, as well as places that specialize in seafood.
In the UK, you can easily get them from superstores such as Tesco. In the US, you will find them in some superstores, however, I highly recommend hitting up ZeaStar and trying their shrimp, as they have perfected the art of vegan seafood in the U.S.A.
Where To Buy Vegan Shrimp?
Here is the best place in the U.K. that get vegan shrimp:
There are not any supermarkets in the UK that sell vegan shrimp yet, however, there are online locations like this.
Here are the superstores in the USA that sell vegan shrimp
Some other US stores may start doing them more soon, as Whole Foods and Target are starting to open up their vegan options more. It is still best to buy online, though. You can even get them through Amazon.com!
3 Vegan Shrimp Brands
There are a few vegan shrimp brands that are taking over the market at the moment. Here are the top 3!
Try out all three of these if you want, and let me know which one you enjoyed most, or which best resembled real fish!
Vegan Shrimp Recipe (Recipe To Make Vegan Shrimp)
There are several different ways to make vegan shrimp. My favorite way is by using some meaty mushrooms. Check the recipe below and let me know your thoughts!
Vegan Shrimp Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces/225g of King Oyster Mushrooms
- ½ cup/125ml Of Dairy Free Milk
- ½ cup/65g Of Plain All Purpose Flour
- 1 cup/110g Of Panko Breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 2 tbsp Of Crushed Vegan Seaweed
- Sesame Seed Oil For Frying
Instructions
- Remove the stalks of the mushrooms by cutting them with a knife. Then slice the musrooms in discs.
- Try to slice the musrooms in a S shape (which resembles the shrimp)
- Add dairy-free milk and the flour to a mixing bowl and mix together.
- In a separate bowl add the breadcrumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, seaweed salt and ground black pepper and mix together.
- Dip the mushroom slices in batches into the batter, making sure they are well coated.
- Then transfer it to the breadcrumbs and roll the mushroom slices in the breadcrumbs making sure they are well coated on all sides.
- Transfer them to the baking sheet or a plate and then continue with the rest of the mushroom slices until they are all battered and coated in breadcrumbs.
- Add just enough sesame oil to your frying pan so that the bottom is well coated and heat on medium high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add only as much vegan coated mushrooms as will comfortably fit, making sure the pan isn't too crowded, there should be space between each piece.
- Fry for around 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
- Repeat with the next batch.
- You can use a kitchen paper to absorb the excess oil.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Best to reheat them in the oven, so they crisp back up a bit.
Nutrition
Summary:
There are so many vegan alternatives out there. How could you not love veganism? Anything that meat eaters can eat, vegans have a vegan version of it, that is totally cruelty-free and often tastes amazing too.
But, if you have time, and you love experimenting in the kitchen, I definitely recommend that you make your own vegan shrimp at home.
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