16 vegan fish and seafood recipes that taste like the real thing

Fish are friends, not food! Leave them off your plate and tuck into one of these convincing ocean-friendly vegan fish recipes instead

One of the scariest statistics we’ve heard in recent years is the prediction that we may have fishless oceans by 2048¹ due to overfishing, pollution and loss of biodiversity.

With 90 per cent of the world’s wild ‘fish stocks’ fully-exploited²  due to overfishing, it’s time we turned the tide and stopped looking at fish as an unlimited source of food and leave them where they belong – in the ocean.

However, leaving our fishy friends alone doesn’t mean we have to miss out on meals we enjoy as there are plenty of creative ways to replace fish and seafood with plant-based ingredients which are better for you and the planet too.

From fish and chips and fish cakes to salmon bagels and scallops, here are some of our favourite vegan seafood and fish recipes that look and taste like the real thing.

1. Battered Banana Blossom ‘Fish’ & Chips

Banana blossom is the fleshy, purple tear-shaped flower which grows at the end of a banana fruit cluster and is traditionally used in Southeast Asian and Indian cooking.

This plant-based ingredient has a flaky texture when cooked which makes it a brilliant substitute for fish in vegan fish recipes. Give it a try in this Friday-night favourite – vegan banana blossom ‘fish’ and chips!

2. Vegan Salt and Pepper ‘Prawns’

With their realistic appearance it’s hard to believe these prawns are vegan, but they 100% fish-free. They’re made from seitan so they have the same meaty texture as prawns and a crispy battered coating.

Serve them up with a chilli dipping sauce at a party – your friends will be so amazed and will hardly believe they’ve vegan.

3. Carrot ‘Salmon’ & Cream Cheese Bagel

Capers and dill give this vegan smoked ‘salmon’ bagel the taste of the sea without the cruelty whilst the creamy cheese adds a delicious creaminess. This vegan salmon-style bagel is ultimate lunch for when you’re feeling fancy.

4. Vegan Fish Pie

This comforting classic is a British favourite that’s ideal for a warming winter meal. In this tasty recipe, jackfruit replaces fish to mimic the texture of white fish whilst nori and capers add a deliciously salty, seaside flavour.

Topped with fluffy mash, it’s packed with protein and perfect for a cosy, comforting vegan dinner.

5. Banana Blossom ‘Fish’ Cakes

Banana blossom might not sound very fish, but its flaky texture gives these fish-free vegan-friendly ‘crab fish’ cakes a deliciously authentic fish-like texture whilst dill and shallots add flavour.

Serve with a squeeze of lemon and hand-cut chips for a tasty and simple evening meal.

6. Tofish & Chips

Fish and chips is a classic British takeaway that many enjoy on a Friday night. Going vegan doesn’t have to mean breaking with tradition as tofu makes a great replacement for fish, whilst nori sheets add a realistic fishy flavour to this tofish and chips supper.

7. Jackfruit ‘Crab Cakes’ with Tartare Sauce

These pulled vegan jackfruit ‘crab cake’ patties are made with a delicious mix of Creole spices, smoked paprika, dulse flakes for a ‘fishy’ taste, and are coated in polenta for a crispy golden crumb.

Pile your plate high with sweet potato fries and a side salad for a healthy, ocean-friendly dinner.

8. Mushroom Scallops with Apple & Parsnip Mash

You’d never believe how easy it is to recreate that “fishy” seafood flavour of scallops using trumpet or oyster mushrooms. This is a great dish to serve when impressing dinner party guests!

9. Vegan Tempeh Paella

Paella de marisco (seafood Paella) is a traditional Spanish dish made from rice cooked in a wide, shallow pan with vegetables and fresh seafood such as prawns and mussels.

This highly-customisable dish is designed to make use of fresh produce, so it’s easy to make vegan by swapping out the seafood elements for vegan equivalents. Here, we’ve used tempeh to add protein and texture.

This vegan paella also features hearts of palm to replicate the texture of seafood. Some paella dishes feature muscles, prawns, squid or white fish and hearts of palm have a soft, fleshy texture which replace this element of the dish perfrectly.

10. Vegan Jamaican Saltfish and Ackee

When you’re in the mood for some Jamaican cuisine, this vegan version of the national dish is a great option. Instead of using salted codfish, this creative recipe uses Jamaica’s national fruit, ackee.

This pear-shaped fruit has a spongy and soft flesh inside, making it the perfect replacement for white fish.

11. Easy Vegan Sushi

While many sushi traditionally features raw seafood, there are many types that use vegetables or even fruit instead, so it’s simple to make vegan sushi at home.

Here, we’ve used a simple mix of vegetables such as avocado, cucumber and pepper to make healthy vegan sushi, but you could get creative with tempura tofu or marinated tempeh to add more protein.

12. Chickpea Tuna Melt

You might be used to enjoying chickpeas in curries and smashed up as hummus, but they’re also a great high-protein replacement for fish in recipes such as vegan chickpea tuna melts.

This tasty vegan chickpea tuna melt sandwich is even more delicious than the original with chives, mustard and celery giving the chickpea tuna and irresistible flavour. For an added health boost, top your chickpea tuna melt with sprouts.

13. Vegan Jackfruit Tuna Mayo

While you might be used to using it to create vegan pulled ‘pork’, jackfruit cunningly replicates the texture of tuna in this midweek recipe.

It is perfectly complemented by the tangy flavours of the lemon and gherkin combined with salty nori give it a fresh, seaside flavour.

14. Vegan King Oyster Mushroom ‘Scallops’ with Pea Purée and Caper Beurre Noisette

This stylish vegan scallop recipe is a fantastic starter for a dinner party that sure to get your guests talking, especially with a elegant swirl of pea purée.

The ‘meaty’ texture and umami taste of the king oyster mushrooms make them an excellent alternative to scallops, while capers give the dish a piquancy that’s reminiscent of the original.

15. Smoked Vegan Mackerel and Horseradish Pâté

16. Jackfruit Vegan ‘Tuna’ and Sweetcorn Pasta Salad

The texture of jackfruit makes it a great alternative to tuna. Stir through pasta with crunchy sweetcorn and red onion and a dollop of homemade mayo for an irresistible vegan tuna pasta salad.

Got a can of jackfruit in your cupboard that you need to use?

We’ve got you covered with our favourite vegan jackfruit recipes.

Featured photo © Anya Why via Getty Images