How to Make Vegan Shrimp

Vegan shrimp is the next big thing that’s entered the plant-based food space, and the recipe includes ingredients that might just shock most people.

Before we get into the recipe for vegan shrimp, let’s take a quick look into why it’s becoming popular in the first place.

Shrimp has been one of the most popular seafood enjoyed by people worldwide. The average American eats about 4 pounds of shrimp per capita per year. That might not seem like a lot, but that could amount to a total consumption of 650 thousand tons of shrimp per year considering the U.S. population has reached about 330 million.  The demand for shrimp puts a dent not only in the supply but also in the resources as a result of overfishing. 

But it’s not just the supply. Since the Covid-19 pandemic began, people have been more health-conscious and would want to maintain their weight in a manageable way. Many are now more aware of what’s healthy and what’s harmful to their bodies, as well as where food is sourced from. 

As for shrimps, although they are high in protein, they do contain high amounts of cholesterol too. They’re also a common allergen and can cause allergic reactions in many people. These issues make it hard for some people to consume them.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and animal-friendly alternative, that’s also healthy and nutritious, then you’re in the right place.

Learn about what vegan or plant-based shrimp is and how to make it at home.

What is Vegan Shrimp?

Vegan shrimp is a shrimp alternative made from plant-based ingredients like mushrooms, seaweeds and Konjac. It is made to look and taste like real shrimp without having any real animal meat in it.

Konjac root is a vegetable that grows in parts of Asia. Unlike plant-based chicken which uses ingredients leaning more on lentils and soy, konjac is a good material to use in shrimp as its texture replicates that of seafood. Konjac is also known as elephant yam and voodoo lily.

Mushrooms also make an excellent shrimp substitute because not only are they rich in protein and flavor but the texture of mushrooms mimics that of a meaty shrimp.

There are also recipes that include flours such as chickpea flour and glutinous rice flour which you will also see in the recipes below.

Including vegan shrimp in your diet and learning how to make it at home can help you naturally stay fit even while indulging in your favorite shrimp cravings – in moderation, of course.

How to Make Vegan Shrimp

If you’re vegetarian or you have a shrimp allergy, then you must have thought that seafood meals are never going to be a part of your dining experience, ever. Well, these recipes will have you biting into juicy shrimp without having to catch any crustaceans.

How to Make Vegan Shrimp Using Flour

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup chickpea flour 
• 1 cup glutinous rice flour 
• 3/4 cup vital wheat gluten 
• 1 ½  tbsp nutritional yeast 
• 1 ½ tsp white pepper 
• 1 ½ tsp salt 
• 1 ½ tsp onion powder 
• 1 ½ tsp garlic powder 
• 1 ½ tbsp Kombu Dashi 
• 3/4 cup Konjac root (or turnip if you don’t have Konjac)
• 3/4 cup grated carrots 
• 5-7 tbs water for the shrimp dough 
• Nori Sheet cut into pieces and boiled in 500ml water with the shrimp dough 
• Rice Paper Annatto powder

Directions:

1. Combine all the dry ingredients.
2. Add in the konjac root (or turnip) and the carrots. Mix well.
3. Slowly add the water in while kneading the dough.
4. Knead until the dough is stringy and let it rest for 15 minutes.
5. Fill a pot with 500 ml water, add in seaweed and bring to a boil.
6. Add your dough into the boiling water and simmer for 30 minutes.
7. Cut the dough into strips, of the length and thickness of a shrimp.
8. Dip rice paper in lukewarm water.
9. Wrap a piece of shrimp strip in rice paper.
10. Repeat.

You can now use this vegan shrimp in any dish you want. Add them into pasta dishes or make buttered shrimp if you like.

How to Make Vegan Shrimp Using Mushroom

Ingredients:

• King oyster mushrooms
• 1 cup unsweetened almond milk 
• 3/4 cup chickpea water
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp ground nori or kelp seasoning 
• 1/2 tsp sea salt 

Directions:

1. Cut the brown head of the mushroom as well as the bottom of the stem. You won’t be using these parts and will only be cooking the stem for this recipe.
2. Slice the mushroom stems in circles. You can go from ¼ or ½ inch thick. 
3. Once you have the flat circles, you can shape them like shrimp. You can carve the “Yin and Yang” shape to make it easier.
4. Heat up your pan and add in 1.3 cups water, ground nori, kelp flakes, soy sauce, and salt.
5. Once the mixture comes to a boil, pour it over the mushrooms and let it marinate for 20 minutes.
6. You can now use this in any recipe that would require shrimp.

Vegan Brunch with Vegan Shrimp

Brunch menus contain a variety of breakfast and lunch options that are sweet or savory. Vegan shrimp meals are excellent for brunch because they’re light and filling but savory enough to satisfy you for the rest of the day.

Though common lunch options include eggs, bread and pastries, we’re going to be preparing a unique but healthy vegan brunch made with plant-based shrimp.

Vegan Shrimp Breakfast Burrito Recipe: 

Breakfast burritos typically consist of a flour tortilla tightly wrapped around a filling of various ingredients. These ingredients often include eggs, bacon, ham, vegetables, chili, jalapeño, and salsa, but in this case, we’re going to be making it with all-vegan ingredients.

You can also substitute plant-based chicken if you’re not in the mood for shrimp. Just follow our plant-based chicken recipe and use it in place of the shrimp.

Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

• Vegetable oil
• ½ cup onions (chopped)
• ¾ cup white rice (you can use brown rice or long-grain rice)
• ¾ tsp cumin
• ¾ tsp garlic powder
• ¾ tsp garlic powder (for the bean mixture)
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp salt (for the bean mixture)
• 1 ½ cup mushroom broth (you can use mushroom bouillon cubes for the broth)
• ½ cups diced tomatoes
• 16 ounce fried beans
• ½ tsp ground pepper
• 12 ounces of vegan shrimp
• ½ cup plain yogurt
• ½ cup vegan mayonnaise (you can use vinegar and soy milk mixture)
• 2 tsp chipotle peppers (pureed)
• 6 pcs flour tortillas
• 3 cups vegan cheese
• ½ cup salsa

You can also make breakfast tacos by putting the ingredients of the breakfast burrito and switching the flour tortilla with a taco tortilla. Top breakfast burritos and breakfast tacos with sour cream, salsa or guacamole.

1. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and cook until tender stirring frequently throughout process.
2. Add rice along with spices (cumin, garlic and salt) letting it get lightly browned on all sides. Add in the mushroom broth and tomatoes. Cook in low heat for 10-20 minutes.
3. In another pan, add the beans, pepper, garlic and salt.
4. In a bowl, add shrimp and garlic. Then sauté in a heated pan until cooked.
5. In a small bowl, combine yogurt, vegan mayonnaise and chipotle peppers. Mix and refrigerate.
6. Warm a tortilla wrap, lay it flat on a plate and place cheese on it. Add in shrimp, beans and rice. Drizzle with chipotle sauce and salsa.
7. Serve with fruits and your favorite drink.

Nutritional Value of Vegan Shrimp

Store-bought vegan shrimp can get you 70 calories per 2.5 oz. Although it is technically healthy, the sodium content in it is something that you can’t control. So, if you can make it at home, we suggest that you take the time to cook them in batches so that you can freeze them up. This way, you can have vegan shrimp available whenever you feel like cooking some.

With vegan shrimp, you not only get protein but the soluble fiber from the ingredients can help lower cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood. You get a healthy gut as a diet high in fiber can help promote healthy bowel movements and prevent hemorrhoids.

Fiber is very filling so switching to plant-based meat can help promote healthy weight loss. Eating them regularly will help keep you fuller for longer. This means that you won’t have to worry about overeating or snacking uncontrollably.

The Future of Vegan Shrimp

As health, environmental and ethical concerns continue to drive peoples’ diets, there has been a rising awareness of how animal products impact the environment. 

The oceans lose up to 20lbs of sea creatures, and that’s while catching just 1lb of shrimp. There are also fisheries that are becoming known for unethical business practices when it comes to their labor. 

Through the availability of information online and investigative journalism, consumers are becoming more aware of the destructive effects of fishing on the natural resources. More peopl can now visualize the impact of these acts on the future and they’re choosing more sustainable food sources. 

Not only are plant-based seafood options excellent for people who want to incorporate vegetarianism into their lifestyle, but they provide an alternative to those consumers who are focused on making more ethical choices.

On the other hand, the opportunities for companies that focus on plant-based food have opened. Americans following a plant-based diet grew from 290,000 in 2004 to almost 10 million in 2020.

The success of plant-based companies like Beyond Meat are drawing attention and drawing in much bigger companies to participate in incorporating plant-based meat into their business. 

You can see brands like KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s including plant-based products in their menu. This trend will continue to rise and food like vegan shrimp will rise in demand.