How to make CRISPY PLANT-BASED 'FISH' | VEGAN 'FISH' RECIPE - Virtually Vegan (2024)

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3 ingredients that make a great vegan fish alternative with this recipe for crispy ‘fish’ flavour coating. This recipe goes perfectly with homemade chips, pea and mint puree and a squeeze of lemon juice!

PLUS an idea for a plant-based ‘tuna’ filling.

Keep reading to see what my secret ingredient for the ‘fish’ batter is!

How to make CRISPY PLANT-BASED 'FISH' | VEGAN 'FISH' RECIPE - Virtually Vegan (1)

How to Make Vegan Fish ‘n’ Chips:

Plant-Based ‘Fish’ Alternatives:

1. Banana Blossom (£2.25) – Find it HERE on The Vegan Kind Supermarket.

How to make CRISPY PLANT-BASED 'FISH' | VEGAN 'FISH' RECIPE - Virtually Vegan (2)

2. Jackfruit (£2.99) – Find it HERE on The Vegan Kind Supermarket.

How to make CRISPY PLANT-BASED 'FISH' | VEGAN 'FISH' RECIPE - Virtually Vegan (3)

3. Firm tofu, I like Tofoo Co (£2.00) – This one.

The stringiness of the banana blossom and jackfruit makes it fishier in texture (see photo), but tofu will be easier for you to get hold of. I have tried both ways and I would recommend either.

How to make CRISPY PLANT-BASED 'FISH' | VEGAN 'FISH' RECIPE - Virtually Vegan (4)

CRISPY PLANT-BASED ‘FISH’ | VEGAN ‘FISH’ RECIPE

3 ingredients that make a great vegan fish alternative with this recipe for crispy 'fish' flavour coating. This recipe goes perfectly with homemade chips, pea and mint puree and a squeeze of lemon juice!

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Course: Main Course

Keyword: crispy, fish and chips, fish n chips, vegan fish, vegan fish and chips

Servings: 2 people

Ingredients

  • Any of the above 'fish' alternatives
  • 1 cup Fine breadcrumbs store-bought panko breadcrumbs also work
  • 2 Nori sheets crumbled
  • 0.5 cup Plain flour
  • 1 tsp Turmeric
  • 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • Vegan Beer or Sparkling Water for alcohol free version
  • Salt and pepper To taste
  • Flavourless oil such as sunflower
  • 0.5 cup And the SECRET INGREDIENT… CORNFLAKES crushed into finer crumbs. You can also use crumbled nachos or taco shells.

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C. Add your chips to the oven.

  • Add the breadcrumbs and either smashed cornflakes or taco shells/nachos to a small bowl. About 3/4 breadcrumbs to 1/4 crunchy ingredient of your choice. Add a good pinch of salt and pepper and mix to combine.

    Then add your nori, crumbled, to the breadcrumb mix to add that extra ‘fishy’ flavour. You can crumble the sheets up in dry hands.

  • In a small bowl, prepare a batter by adding the plain flour, turmeric, smoked paprika and mix to combine. Add the lemon juice. Then add sparkling water to the mix a few tbsp at a time, until the batter resembles a Victoria sponge cake mix constancy.

  • Drain your vegan 'fish' alternative of choice; if you are using tofu, pat it dry with some kitchen paper, then chop into chunks (roughly 4cm x 4cm in size and about 2cm thick). You can use the other vegan 'fish' alternatives as they come straight out the can.

  • Heat a generous amount of oil in a large frying pan, on medium-high heat.

  • Coat the chunks of 'fish' evenly and generously in the flour, water mix. Then immediately dip the 'fish' into breadcrumbs mix and ensure all the batter is covered. Add your ‘fish’ piece to the frying pan and repeat for 2-3 pieces per portion. Use tongs to turn every couple of minutes.

  • Carefully add the 'fish' to the frying pan, using some tongs, and fry each side of the 'fish' chunks for approx 15-20 mins or until golden brown. Remember to turn your fish every 5ish minutes to ensure they cook evenly and do not burn. You may need to add in extra oil halfway through frying.

Tried this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Mention @virtually_vegan so I can share your creation today

Notes

Serving Suggestions

My recommendation would be to serve the ‘fish’ with your favourite recipe for homemade chips.

I also recommend serving this with petit pois or a pea and mint purée. And, of course, it wouldn’t be ‘fish’ without a squeeze of lemon.

Another Vegan Fish Idea:

You could also experiment with a vegan ‘Tuna’ made with mashed chickpeas!

The ‘tuna’ is made from mashed chickpeas, fresh dill, lemon juice, spring onions, gherkins, vegan mayo, sweetcorn, salt and pepper.

Perfect served on toast (as below), as a ‘tuna’ melt or on top of a baked potato.

How to make CRISPY PLANT-BASED 'FISH' | VEGAN 'FISH' RECIPE - Virtually Vegan (5)
If you liked this post, you will love my other meat-free meat meal ideas!
  • VEGAN LASAGNE RECIPE– ReadHERE!
  • HOW TO: HOISIN DUCK SANDWICH– ReadHERE!
How to make CRISPY PLANT-BASED 'FISH' | VEGAN 'FISH' RECIPE - Virtually Vegan (6)
How to make CRISPY PLANT-BASED 'FISH' | VEGAN 'FISH' RECIPE - Virtually Vegan (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan fried fish made of? ›

Made from hearts of palm, Old Bay seasoning, and a rich beer batter, the tender fried “fish” is best served with tartar sauce and fries. Just like authentic fish and chips, but better! Vegans may not eat fish but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy beautifully fried and flaky “fish”.

What is the best vegan alternative for fish? ›

Seitan is a good basis for plant-based fish fillets and fish burgers. Due to its fibrous consistency, jackfruit is another ideal fish alternative. Depending on the seasoning, it can be used to prepare vegan fish cakes or fish fillets.

How fish is made vegan? ›

There are two types of fishless fish

Plant-based: Plant-based fish is imitation fish that's usually made from soy, gluten, or other plant-based ingredients. Cell-cultivated: There's also cell-cultivated seafood made in a lab. No ocean required—just science and a recipe.

How to make vegan fish taste like fish? ›

You can add seaweed, which really gives you the taste of the ocean, by adding kelp flakes, dulce flakes, or crumbled up pieces of seaweed. Lemon zest and juice, whether in the recipe or added at the end, is also reminiscent of many seafood dishes.

What is plant-based fish made of? ›

What is plant based seafood made of? Plant-based seafood can be found in the form of tuna, salmon, caviar, scallops, squid, crab and shrimp – all these products have already entered the market. The most common ingredients in these products are soy, seaweed, yeast, legumes and various vegetable oils and starches.

What is a vegan that eats fish called? ›

By that definition, a pescatarian is someone who chooses to eat a vegetarian diet, but who also eats fish and other seafood. It's a largely plant-based diet of whole grains, nuts, legumes, produce and healthy fats, with seafood playing a key role as a main protein source. Many pescatarians also eat dairy and eggs.

What is a vegan that still eat fish? ›

People who are vegan but eat fish are pescatarians. A vegan that eats fish might think of themselves as vegan, but any vegan diet with fish is best classified as pescatarian.

What makes vegan fish? ›

To create the flavour and texture of fish, manufacturers use a variety of different ingredients. Some common ingredients found in vegan fish are chickpeas, pea protein, soy, tofu and potatoes.

What do vegans eat instead of tuna? ›

Vegan tuna or chickpea tuna is an easy, fun, and tasty recipe that uses mashed chickpeas and a few other simple ingredients to recreate the texture and flavor of tuna salad. You can expect a savory umami-packed flavor with a touch of brininess and tanginess pleasantly reminiscent of the sea without being fishy.

What spice tastes like seafood? ›

If there was one spice that was synonymous with seafood, it's Old Bay. It's a must for any seafood boil and highlights the flavor in all shellfish. Shake it over the shells liberally and dig in.

What is vegan fish sauce made of? ›

You'll discover that many of the items that make up this vegan fish sauce are actually common ingredients (e.g., soy sauce, vinegar, mushrooms) that, when mixed together, create that complex flavor, the one you can't really put your finger on, but is so prevalent in your favorite Asian recipes.

What are vegan fish and chips made of? ›

Vegan fish and chips made from artichoke hearts and hearts of palm which is battered and then fried. I opted for sparkling water so this one doesn't have any beer in the batter but the batter is just as delicious and light!

Why do you soak fish in milk before cooking? ›

Before cooking, soak the fish in milk for 20 minutes

In this scenario, the protein in the milk binds with the compounds that cause that fishy odor, in essence extracting if from the fish. What's left behind is sweet-smelling, brighter flesh with clean flavor. (Just make sure you pour that milk down the drain.

How do vegans substitute fish sauce? ›

Dulse or Wakame: The seaweed is what will give you that “fish” taste you want in a vegan fish sauce substitute. Wakame is high-protein, high in calcium, and has iron and vitamin C in it. Dulse, another kind of seaweed, is a red sea plant and is also rich in iron as well as protein, and vitamin A.

Why does lemon juice cook fish? ›

As the pieces of fish sit in the marinade, the citric acid from the juice slowly causes the flesh's proteins to denature, in very much the same way that heating will. The result is raw fish with the opaque appearance and firmed texture of cooked fish.

What does vegan fish consist of? ›

There are almost as many ways to make vegan seafood as there are products on the market. Soy, seaweed, yeast, legumes, and various vegetable oils and starches are common.

What is vegan fish Flavour made of? ›

Seaweed and Kelp.

Wakame seaweed (or undaria) or dulse seaweed are both good options for this recipe (I use wakame). I also use dashima or dried kelp to intensify the fishy flavor of this vegan fish sauce.

Where does vegan fish oil come from? ›

Although those who do not like fish and choose not to eat it can take a fish oil supplement to improve their omega-3 intake, vegetarians and vegans do not have this option. Healthspan's Veg-Omega 3 range is derived from natural algae, which is the source of the beneficial fatty acids found in omega-3 fish oil.

What are vegan fish sticks made of? ›

What Goes Into This Recipe
  • Tofu: Use extra-firm tofu that's been drained and pressed for the sticks.
  • Nori sheets: Great for adding the fishy flavor of the sea to the tofu fish sticks.
  • All-purpose flour and panko bread crumbs: Use to coat the tofu fish sticks for maximum crunchiness!
Dec 20, 2022

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