So let’s talk seafood! I know so many people who want to go plant based but still dabble in seafood from time to time. Or friends who were vegan or plant based and eventually go back to eating seafood for whatever reason. Like seafood just has some pull that brings people back that other meats don’t seem to have.
Again, I don’t judge your decisions. I just think there is a misconception that somehow eating seafood is healthier than eating other meats, or has less of a harmful environmental impact. Farm raised fish are still given harmful antibiotics and fresh caught fish are being “overfished” while the practices used are causing a severe environmental impact on our oceans and their ecosystems.
There is plenty of research on these topics available, and I encourage everyone to look into modern fishing practices and the effects they have on ocean life and the ocean ecosystems. Also look into what you are really getting with farm raised fish! It’s not good to say the least.
That said, there are so many plant based recipes out there to replace fish or seafood without the negative health implications or dangerous environmental impacts!!! Jackfruit, soy curls, banana blossoms, and even tofu do a great job mimicking some of your favorite seafood if prepared properly. You would be amazed, if you have never tried a banana blossom, how much it looks like, and can even taste like a fried fish fillet. Or how soy curls breaded and seasoned just right have just the right amount of chew to mimic a clam strip. We use jackfruit to mimic lump crab, and even tuna!
I believe finding unfamiliar ingredients is often what stops people in their tracks from trying their hand at many new recipes. Y’all, its 2020! If you live in rural area or a place that does not offer many vegan options, the internet will have everything you need! I can often find anything I need on Amazon for the same price if not less than I can find it locally.
Banana Blossoms, tofu, and jackfruit can often be found at local Asian markets. I personally buy all of my jackfruit at Trader Joe’s but have been told Walmart carries it in a can now as well. Soy curls can normally be found at health food stores or online, and tofu can be found at just about any regular grocery store these days!
To achieve a seafood taste in most of these recipes, we add dulse (seaweed) flakes or I buy seaweed snack sheets and break them up. You can find these items at a local grocery stores, Costco, or Amazon. You can omit this ingredient but it is what gives the recipes that “fishy” seafood kick!
Just know if your doctor or conscience is telling you to give up animal products for health reasons, because you feel strongly about protecting the health of the ocean, or because you have an allergy, there are options, and we are here to show you just how to do it!
Vegan Tuna Salad with Jackfruit
JACKFRUIT:
Let’s start with jackfruit. Jackfruit is certainly gaining popularity and momentum in the vegan food community. It is becoming easier and easier to find, even at stores like Walmart. If you don’t already know, jackfruit is a large fruit native to Thailand. It is sweet and even the seeds are eaten. When you buy jackfruit in the can, you always want to look for it to be packed in brine, not syrup.
When it is picked green and young, and packed in brine it is not really sweet. It comes in triangular pieces that can be easily broken apart or shredded between your fingers to resemble a shredded meat. The flavor is mild, and I always give it a rinse to remove the brine. Jackfruit can easily take on the flavor of whatever you are marinating or cooking it in.
The texture works really well to mimic crab, or tuna so this is why we use jackfruit to make vegan crab cakes, crab puffs, and vegan tuna salad! I have even chopped it up to use in crab wontons. I often make vegan crab cakes for my non vegan friends because they are so convincing! Vegan tuna salad is a constant in our house as well. I have seen a ton of chickpea “tuna” salad recipes and have tried more than one. I still prefer to use jackfruit. It is far more convincing and just as convenient. Pop open a can, drain, rinse, shred, and mix with our regular tuna salad ingredients. It’s that easy, y’all!
If you have not jumped on the jackfruit wagon, by all means, now is the time. It will be a vegan seafood game changer for you! I promise!! It’s so affordable, low in calories, and a good source of dietary fiber, too! All good things, while being ocean friendly.
Tofu Po’Boy sandwich
TOFU:
Oh tofu, how I love you, let me count the ways! I love tofu, y’all!
I know if you are new to a plant based or vegan diet, you may have heard some concerning soy rumors, but let me encourage you to first, check your source, second look up new research regarding soy. There has been lots of new research and some pretty big studies to debunk some common myths concerning soy and certain diseases. New extensive studies have been done to actually prove the opposite of what many think concerning soy and estrogen. So, I ask you to look further into this if it is a concern of yours and don’t let meat or dairy industry funded studies make up your mind about certain plant foods. That’s right, often studies telling us that plant foods are bad for us, and milk and meat are the right choice for everyone, are funded by those trying to push their own agenda. But again, I could bombard you with facts, links, and so on, but I learned when I went down this path that I had to educate and decide for myself on these topics to have peace of mind and confidence in my own choices. Decided for yourself if tofu if a good choice for you, but make sure you make an educated decision, not a fear based one!
That said, I eat tofu. I do not often eat processed foods containing soy products for a variety of reasons. I do not like soy milk, or soy cheese products, because I do not like the way they taste. But I would eat tofu every single day and be very, very, happy. You can do SO many things with tofu and I have more recipes than I can count on the site using it, but right now we will just talk using it in place of seafood.
I have worked very hard to create the perfect popcorn tofu recipe. Like I made, I don’t know how many versions before getting it just right. So the first time I served it to some non vegan friends to get their opinions, I was elated that they loved it….but, they said it reminded them of popcorn shrimp. I was aiming for chicken and it does remind me of popcorn chicken, but with a few season adjustments and the addition of dulse flakes, you can easily create a convincing popcorn shrimp!!
This tofu recipe is perfect to use in our bang bang tofu “shrimp” recipe or even in our vegan Po’boy. You could just fry it up and serve it with vegan tarter sauce and a side of fries.
You can also air fry this recipe if you are trying to cut back on oil. No matter how you cook it, I promise you will likely love it, and it will become a regular recipe in your house.
Beer Battered Banana Blossom Fish and Chips
BANANA BLOSSOMS:
This is one of those ingredients that I had wanted to try for a long time and searched locally for with no luck. I eventually gave up and ordered some online, to later learn the one Asian grocery store I did not check carries them.
Like jackfruit, banana blossoms are canned in brine. I had no idea what to expect before I opened the can, but they kind of look like a long artichoke heart for lack of better description. They have kind of a spine/stem running down them and petals (I assume) coming off from the center. If you carefully remove them from the can and pat them dry, you can season them, batter and fry them for the MOST conniving vegan fish fillets you could possibly make at home!
Seriously my family was shocked, amazed, and elated. Fried fish was maybe the thing I missed most after going vegan! Even when you bite into these, they look and taste like you are eating fried fish. The texture is pretty much spot on!
We make these vegan fish filets using banana blossoms and serve with tarter sauce and fries. We also use them in the most perfect fish tacos! They would also make a pretty delicious fried fish sandwich!
Again, don’t let a seemingly weird or unfamiliar ingredient stop you. Check your local Asian markets for canned banana blossoms or look online. Amazon for sure sells them! They are worth the hunt if you loved and miss fried fish fillets!
Vegan clam strips
SOY CURLS:
So my friend Lane often inspires me to make new things. Lane likes to ask me for recipes for things I have yet to create, and I am always up the challenge. She is who inspired me to make bang bang tofu, actually!
Lane deiced to order some soy curls online and accidentally ordered six bags instead of one! So she came to me to see what she could do with some of them.
Soy curls come dried in a bag. You have to soak them in water or broth to reconstitute them. From that point you can sauté them, use them for stir fry, fajitas, in soups, or fry them up.
I had recently visited a food truck that was serving vegan clam strips and was so excited to try them. They were using mushrooms and they were pretty tasty, but I knew soy curls would work way better than mushrooms. They would have just the right amount of chew, and would fry up beautifully!
Well they did. With the right combo of seasonings, and again some dulse flakes for a fishy kick, they are really really, really convincing! Not only are the deliciously convincing, they are sooooo easy to make. I have fried them in oil and I have tried them in my air fryer. Both work just fine!
So if you are craving seafood, but want to stick to your plant based or vegan diets, there is hope and a few really great options to keep you on track! These ingredients are becoming increasingly easier to find and are super easy to work with. Get creative and don’t be afraid to try new things. You will likely be pleasantly surprised and the positive impact these choices will have on your health, ocean life, and the environment will be huge!
