Non-vegans would probably not believe how excellent plant-based cooking is. But for vegans, almost all dishes can have a vegan version.
Are you craving a sumptuous salmon dish?
Or have you seen the viral vegan salmon meal on Tiktok?
Well, you can always cook one at home as there’s a long list of vegan salmon recipe dishes that are easy to make.
Whether you’re new to veganism or just want an easy-to-prepare vegan salmon dish, there’s no need to overcomplicate.
Preparing for a delicious vegan meal does not necessarily mean long hours of work and strange ingredients.
What is the Main Ingredient of Vegan Salmon?
Tofu is the base of vegan salmon.
It is the main ingredient or the alternative to real fish.
Hence, it is crucial to use the right one.
Most vegan salmon recipes use the firm, extra firm, super firm type of Tofu.
This is because they have the same consistency as real salmon.
However, it depends on the person which one is suitable to their taste.
However, note that some types of Tofu, such as silken, regular, seasoned, and smoked, are not ideal for vegan salmon recipes.
While you can use them, they are either too watery, soft, or thick for a vegan salmon dish.
Thus, using these types of Tofu would make it difficult for one to achieve the fishy taste.
Which Tofu is the Best for a Vegan Salmon?
Firm, extra firm, and super firm tofu are the best alternatives to salmon. They are easy to cook and replicate the taste of fish very well. If you want to veganize a salmon dish, you should buy the right Tofu for a specific recipe you want to make.
Here are the best Tofu for your vegan salmon recipes:
- Firm
Firm Tofu is widely available in the supermarket. You can easily find them compared to other types of Tofu. Firm Tofu is perfect for vegan salmon recipes because it is not too soft nor too hard to chop. After all, Tofu has to be sliced into a rectangular shape to replicate the salmon fillet.
Firm Tofu is also easy to cook and marinade. It can be deep-fried, stir-fried, or pan-fried. Take note that most vegan salmon recipes are cooked pan-fried. To absorb the marinade or sauce, make sure to dry the Tofu very well.
- Extra-firm
If you don’t want to go through the hassles of drying Tofu, go for extra-firm Tofu. They are less watery than firm tofu. The only downside is that it doesn’t absorb marinade or sauce perfectly. However, extra-firm Tofu is easy to pan-fry, deep-fry, or stir-fry.
- Super-firm
Most of the time, super-firm Tofu is used when the firm or extra-firm Tofu is unavailable. However, vegan recipes also require this type of Tofu as they are a good meat substitute. Super-firm Tofu can be used in vegan salmon recipes because they are easy to cook and marinade.
As the main ingredient for a vegan salmon recipe, super firm tofu may be too dense for someone to eat. The finished product may taste more like meat than fish unless you use a lot of fish sauce, nori, or seaweed.
Can a Carrot be Used as an Alternative to Salmon?
If you don’t like Tofu, you can make a vegan salmon dish with carrots. Carrots are not a popular alternative, but you will be surprised how they can go well with marinade or fish sauce. Carrots as a vegan salmon dish are used as a substitute for traditional lox or smoked salmon.
You can make carrots taste like salmon through the smoky marinade, sauce, or smoked paprika. Combined with a lot of salt, the carrot lox will taste like smoked salmon. The dish is a bit oily and tender with a savory flavor.
Is It Possible for a Vegan Salmon to Taste or Look Like a Real Salmon?
Yes, you can make a vegan ingredient taste and resemble fish. In fact, you can make a perfect salmon texture out of it. To do this, make sure to follow these easy tips and tricks.
- Slice or Cut the Tofu
Imitate the veins of a salmon when chopping the Tofu. You should make diagonal cuts in a way that you will not wholly slice the Tofu.
- Marinade
Marinade also plays an essential role in making the tofu look and taste like salmon. The marinade will give a delicious flavor and create a crispy fillet.
- Nori or Seaweed
Some vegan salmon recipes require seaweed or nori, as these ingredients already have a fishy flavor. Add the seaweed on top or bottom of the Tofu and sprinkles a bit of it between the cuts. Most recipes only require 1 to 3 sheets of seaweed or nori. Remove or add these ingredients if they taste too little or too fishy.
- Coating
Generally, fried salmon is crispy and delicious. But how can you make Tofu as flaky or crusty as salmon? Well, you can achieve this by coating the Tofu with cornstarch. The marinade will help the Tofu soak in the starch. Once fried, a similar result of crispy vegan salmon is achieved.
However, if cornstarch is unavailable, you can use baking flour instead. While the result is not as crispy as using the starch, the result is similarly delicious.
- Frying
The frying method can also affect the appearance and taste of vegan salmon. To make sure you can replicate a real salmon, fry the marinated Tofu with vegetable oil. You can cook them using an oven or air fryer.
5 Best Vegan Salmon Recipe Dish for 2022
So now that you know some tricks to prepare a tasty vegan salmon dish, let’s go to the exciting part. Here are easy vegan salmon recipe dishes you can make at home.
1. Vegan Salmon Fillet
Tofu may have a natural taste, but for this recipe, it will be as delicious as real fish. Thanks to its soft texture, it quickly absorbs marinade flavors, making the dish more flavorful.
For this dish, use more oil when frying because a natural salmon fillet is fatty, and we want our finished product to be just as delicious.
Serving: 8 Fillets
Ingredients:
- 2 Extra Firm Tofu
- 1 sheet Nori leaf
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar (or vinegar)
- Beetroot juice
- Soy sauce or Tamari
- Flaxseed oil
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch
- Liquid smoke (optional)
Instructions:
- Cut the Tofu into fillets.
Cut or slice the Tofu into a rectangular shape like a salmon fillet. Then score the sides and top diagonally to look like a real salmon. Set aside the cut Tofu in a freezer bag or sealable container.
- Marinate the Tofu.
Cut the nori sheet into four slices for “salmon skin,” then set aside. Chop the remaining nori leaf as thin as possible and mix it with the rest of the ingredients (beetroot juice, soy sauce or tamari, garlic powder, and vinegar) for the marinade. Put the marinade over the tofu fillet and refrigerate it for at least 8 hours.
- Coat and Fry
The following day, dip the “salmon skin” or nori strip in the marinade and put it on the bottom of the tofu fillet. Roll the fillet in the cornstarch and fry it using the flaxseed oil. Wait until the tofu fillet is golden brown or crispy enough for eating.
- Serve
It’s time to eat and satisfy your tummy with this delicious vegan salmon meal. If you want to boost your appetite, serve with side dishes such as asparagus or potatoes. You can also pour your vegan hollandaise sauce over the dish or garnish it with lemon slices, parsley, and dill.
2. Vegan Salmon Tofu and Seaweed
You might suddenly crave a fishy taste if you have just started the vegan lifestyle. Of course, you don’t want to ruin all the hard work you put through to be certified vegan; thus, you try a plant-based alternative.
The vegan salmon tofu and seaweed recipe is delicious, easy to prepare, and healthy. This is the perfect meal for those who want to eat vegan salmon in a heartbeat.
Serving: 8 fillets
Ingredients:
- 900 g or two extra firm tofu blocks
- 1/2 cup veggie broth
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon miso paste
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 sheet of nori seaweed
- 3 nori sheets to be used as salmon skin
- 15 g raw beets
- 1/2 small garlic clove
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch
- Olive oil
Instructions:
- Make a Sauce or Marinade
Mix the nori seaweed, veggie broth, apple cider vinegar, miso, turmeric powder, beets, garlic, and salt. Set aside.
- Slice the Tofu Blocks
After you pat-dry the Tofu:
- Cut the blocks lengthwise into four equal parts.
- Make sure that it will look like slices of salmon.
- Repeat this process with the rest of the tofu blocks.
- Marinate the Tofu
Put the Tofu in the marinade sauce for 24 hours or overnight. Check the marinated Tofu and shake it a couple of times so the Tofu will absorb the sauce well.
- Put the seaweed in the Tofu
Take the flavored or marinated Tofu and place some seaweed strips on its uncut side. You can soak the seaweed the marinate as well so its taste will stick to the Tofu better.
- Fry
If you want the Tofu to be flaky, just sprinkle a bit of cornstarch. Heat the frying pan with olive oil and start frying the Tofu.
- Serve
Your vegan salmon tofu and seaweed are ready to serve. Enjoy your meal!
3. Vegan Salmon Pan-Seared Fillet
The vegan salmon pan-seared fillet is tasty, tender, crispy, and flaky inside. It has a mild flavor but tastes like fish with hints of nuts and butter. They are better served with a squeeze of lemon to experience the delicious fishy taste with every bite.
Serving: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 block (350 g) firm tofu
- 1 sheet nori
- 1 cup veggie broth
- 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon miso paste
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 small raw beet (20 g)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Tofu
Press and drain the tofu for about 15 to 30 minutes. It is crucial to remove the excess water to absorb the marinate well.
- Cut the Tofu lengthwise
Cut the Tofu into four slabs lengthwise. Make sure to cut them into long strips as thin as possible to achieve a flaky texture
- Marinate
Make a marinade with ingredients such as veggie broth, apple cider vinegar, miso paste, salt, turmeric powder, and beet. Use a blender to mix these ingredients thoroughly. Place the Tofu in a sealable container, then pour the marinade over it. Leave the marinated Tofu for 30 minutes or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Coat the Tofu with cornstarch
Put the corn starch in a wide bowl. Then cut the nori strips and stick them on the bottom of the marinated Tofu. Dip or cover the Tofu with cornstarch. Repeat this process with the remaining marinade tofu.
- Cook the vegan salmon
Heat the olive oil in a large pan or skillet. When hot, put the Tofu covered with cornstarch. Wait until the Tofu is slightly golden brown.
- Serve
Once the tofu or vegan salmon is cooked, serve it with a wedge of lemon on the side.
4. Vegan Smoked Salmon
Vegan smoked salmon is tasty and easy to make. It is excellent for breakfast, holiday parties, vegan parties with friends, or any time of the year. This recipe is the perfect alternative for those craving the traditional lox or smoked salmon. It complements well with bagel, vegan crackers, or can be used as a healthy vegan appetizer.
Serving: 4 with bagels
Ingredients:
- A bunch of carrots
- Olive oil
- Lemon juice
- Smoked paprika
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Maple syrup
- Black pepper
Instructions:
- Pre-heat the oven while preparing other ingredients
Pre-heat the oven for about 350 F OR 180 C. Place the baking paper into the baking sheet. While heating the oven, peel the carrots and put some salt. Set aside.
- Bake the carrots
To bake, place the carrots in the oven and wait for 30 minutes until the carrots become soft. Set aside and allow the carrots to cool. Once cooled, rub some salt into the carrots. Use a peeler to slice the carrots into strips. Make sure that the carrots are sliced thinly.
- Marinate
To make a marinade:
- Combine all remaining ingredients such as lemon juice, garlic powder, smoked paprika maple syrup, and black pepper.
- In a medium bowl, marinate the carrot strips - the longer, the better.
- Refrigerate the marinated carrot strips for 30 minutes or overnight.
- Serve
Serve the carrot strips with a bagel. Top it with a vegan cream cheese to add flavor. You can also add dill as a garnish.
5. Vegan Salmon Rice Bowl
The Vegan Salmon Rice bowl is one of the most popular veganized salmon recipes in 2022. Thanks to Emily Mariko’s viral TikTok video, both vegan and non-vegans have tried and liked the recipe so far. This vegan meal hits the right spot. It is delicious and simple to make.
Serving: 1 bowl
Ingredients:
- 2 blocks of Super firm or firm Tofu
- 1 sheet Nori
- 1 cup of rice (brown or Jasmine Rice)
- 3 Tablespoon Vegan Mayo
- 1 Tablespoon Sriracha or Chili Sauce
- Soy sauce
- Mirin
- Hot water
- 1/4 teaspoon Kelp Powder
- Kelp water
- Sugar
- Maple Syrup
- Vegan Cheese (Optional)
- Olive Oil
Instructions:
- Drain the Tofu and slice them into slabs
First, you must drain the tofu water. You can use a towel to pat dry the Tofu. Cut the tofu blocks into 3 or 4 equal slabs around 1.5cm thick.
- Marinate the Tofu
Place the kelp powder and soy sauce in the pan. Marinate the Tofu by rubbing the sauce (kelp powder and soy sauce combined) on all sides for about 15 minutes.
- Make the sauce
Place the mirin, soy sauce, hot water with kelp water, maple syrup, and sugar in a bowl. Make sure to stir the mixture thoroughly.
- Make a spicy mayo sauce
Combine one tablespoon of Sriracha (or chili sauce) and three tablespoons of vegan mayo. Cut the nori sheet into strips and reserve.
- Fry the Tofu
Heat the non-stick pan and slowly add the olive oil. Put the marinated tofu slabs unto the pan. Cook the Tofu in batches if needed. Fry the Tofu until thin crusts are formed on its sides.
Add the sauce, then move the Tofu in the pan so it will absorb the sauce well. Once the Tofu is crunchy or golden brown and when it has absorbed all the sauce, remove them from the pan.
- Wrap the Tofu and serve with rice
Place the Tofu on the nori strips you cut earlier. Wrap the Tofu around the strips.
- Serve
To serve, place 1 cup of rice into a bowl and add furikake on top. Place the Tofu on the rice and add the spicy mayo sauce. You can add vegan cheese for a more flavorful taste. You can also garnish the meal with chopped scallions. Serve warm.
Wrap Up
Indeed there’s almost no food that cannot be veganize. Whether you’re craving a fish or meat dish, there’s always a vegan ingredient that is perfect as a substitute. For vegan salmon dishes, though, you can use Tofu, carrots, and even tomatoes!
Vegan salmon dishes can also be served in a variety of ways. You can pair them with baked vegetables, steamed potatoes, or boiled rice. Overall, vegan salmon is nutritious, tender, and tasty. Serve them with a grilled veggie or squeezed lemon, and you’ll have a scrumptious vegan meal to look forward to.
Have you already tried cooking any of these recipes? How was the experience so far? Let us know in the comments!