This soft, buttery vegan lobster will blow your mind! You can buy fake lobster meat at specialty stores, but my fake lobster made from king oyster mushrooms tastes and feels the best.
You could buy a fake lobster, but it would cost a lot and not taste as good as my vegan lobster recipe with king oyster mushrooms. However, it is a fun and different treat if you dont want to make your own.
As a long-time pescatarian and lover of all things from the sea lobster has always been one of my absolute favorite indulgences. That rich, sweet meat dipped in melted butter is the stuff summer dreams are made of! However, in recent years as I’ve tried to shift to a more plant-based diet I’ve found myself missing those special lobster dinners. Unwilling to give them up completely, I started exploring vegan alternatives that could satisfy my craving in a cruelty-free way. What I discovered is that you can absolutely create delicious vegan lobster right at home with a few simple ingredients. Keep reading to learn all about the plant-based version of this decadent seafood favorite!
What Exactly is Vegan Lobster?
Vegan lobster is a plant-based alternative to regular lobster that mimics the flavor, texture and experience of eating the real thing. It allows vegetarians, vegans, and flexitarians to enjoy “lobster” dishes, rolls, and more without harming any actual lobsters.
There are a few different ways to make vegan lobster, but most recipes utilize hearts of palm as the star ingredient. Hearts of palm are harvested from palm trees and have a neutral flavor with a texture similar to artichokes. When marinated in seasonings like Old Bay and cooked properly hearts of palm do an incredible job of imitating the flesh of real lobster.
The plant-based lobster is then paired with other flavors you would find in lobster dishes like lemon, garlic, butter, and parsley. So while it may not completely fool a longtime lobster lover, it comes surprisingly close! The overall experience is spot on.
The Benefits of Choosing Vegan Lobster
Transitioning to vegan seafood alternatives like lobster delivers some great benefits:
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It’s cruelty-free. No lobsters were harmed in the making of vegan lobster dishes.
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It’s sustainable. Wild lobster populations are rapidly declining. Vegan versions put no pressure on lobster numbers.
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It’s affordable. Vegan lobster is a fraction of the cost of real lobster. The ingredients are simple and budget-friendly.
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It’s accessible. You can make restaurant-quality vegan lobster at home with ingredients from your local grocer. No speciality stores required.
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It’s customizable. Tailor vegan lobster dishes to your own tastes by playing with seasoning and sauce options.
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It’s eco-friendly. Choosing plant-based foods over seafood reduces your environmental impact significantly.
As you can see, vegan lobster delivers on taste while also benefiting the planet and marine life. It’s a feel good meal all around!
How to Make Vegan Lobster at Home
The best part about vegan lobster is how easy it is to DIY at home! Here is an overview of the simple process:
Ingredients Needed
- Hearts of palm (2 cans, drained and rinsed)
- Vegan butter (5 tbsp)
- Garlic (2 cloves, minced)
- Lemon juice (1 tbsp)
- Old Bay seasoning (1-2 tsp)
- Salt & pepper
- Fresh parsley
Steps to Make It
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Drain and rinse hearts of palm. Slice into large chunks.
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Simmer chunks 5 minutes in a pan with vegan butter, garlic, Old Bay and seasoning.
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Toss with lemon juice and extra seasoning/herbs.
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Serve chunks warm with melted vegan butter for dipping and fresh parsley garnish.
And that’s it – incredibly easy vegan lobster ready in about 10 minutes! The hearts of palm absorb all the delicious flavors while taking on the stringy texture of lobster meat. It’s perfect served as-is with dipping sauce or can be used in all your favorite lobster dishes like rolls, salad, pasta and more.
Tips for Successful Vegan Lobster
After some trial and error, I’ve dialed in a vegan lobster recipe I’m really happy with. Here are some pro tips:
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Look for low-sodium hearts of palm. The flavor will be cleaner.
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Pat dry before cooking to help hearts of palm soak up flavors.
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Add Old Bay, garlic, salt and pepper to infuse flavor.
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Cook just until heated through. Don’t overcook or it gets mushy.
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Chunks should have some firmness like real lobster.
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Toss with lemon juice right before serving. This brightens up the flavor.
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Drizzle each serving with melted vegan butter. Takes it to the next level!
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Sprinkle with parsley and lemon wedges for beautiful presentation.
The beauty of vegan lobster is that you really can’t mess it up. Play with flavors and add other seasonings you enjoy. Use it anywhere you would use real lobster and impress your family and friends.
Creative Ways to Use Vegan Lobster
My favorite way to enjoy vegan lobster is in classic lobster rolls served on a toasted brioche bun. But that’s just the beginning! Here are some other delicious ways to use it:
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Vegan lobster ravioli – Dice lobster and mix into a creamy pasta filling
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Lobster tacos – Stuff in warmed corn tortillas with avocado crema
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Lobster risotto – Stir chunks into a creamy Arborio rice dish
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Cobb salad – Top a salad with “lobster” chunks for a protein punch
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Lobster mac and cheese – Mix with vegan cheese sauce and pasta
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Lobster bisque – Puree with coconut milk, onions, garlic and white wine
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Lobster linguine – Toss lobster with linguine, tomatoes, white wine and herbs
The possibilities are endless when it comes to enjoying plant-based lobster! It’s fantastic on its own but also shines when incorporated into all kinds of recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re new to the world of vegan seafood, chances are you have a few questions. Here I’ll tackle some of the common FAQs:
Does vegan lobster actually taste like real lobster?
It comes surprisingly close! When hearts of palm are seasoned correctly, the flavor profile is spot on. The texture is similar too but not quite identical. Overall it’s a great plant-based alternative.
What are the best brands of hearts of palm to use?
I like Freshway andSignature Select (from Safeway) hearts of palm. Choose cans with minimal added ingredients. You want the hearts of palm flavor to shine.
How long does vegan lobster keep in the fridge?
Made vegan lobster chunks will keep 5-7 days in an airtight container. I like to make a big batch at the start of the week to use in multiple recipes.
Is vegan lobster healthy?
Compared to actual lobster drenched in butter, vegan lobster is much lighter and lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol. Hearts of palm are packed with vitamins like A, C, and B6. It makes for a nutritious plant-based protein choice over seafood.
What else can I use instead of hearts of palm?
Good alternatives include artichoke hearts, king oyster mushrooms, or tomatoes. However, I find hearts of palm to be the closest match for the right lobster-like texture and neutral flavor.
Join the Vegan Lobster Craze
More and more people are discovering just how delicious vegan seafood can be these days. Cruelty-free “lobster” is no exception! Made from simple, affordable ingredients, you can enjoy this favorite indulgence without harming our oceans and marine life.
Whip up a batch of vegan lobster on your next meatless Monday or for an easy plant-based appetizer to impress guests. Trust me, no one will believe it’s 100% vegan until you tell them! Then sit back and peal, dip and devour your way through tender, briny-sweet hunks of guilt-free, underwater bliss. The only thing missing is the bib!
Storage and reheating
Refrigerate: Store leftover vegan lobster in the fridge for 3 – 5 days in an airtight container.
Freeze: The oyster mushroom lobster can be frozen for up to three months in a container that keeps air out. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating: Reheat the faux lobster in a frying pan with a little butter.
Ingredients and substitutions
- King Oyster Mushrooms: These will make your food taste and feel like lobster meat. The name for these mushrooms is also king trumpet mushrooms or king mushrooms. They have a big stalk with meat on it and a small brown cap. It’s always at the Asian market near me, but sometimes it’s at Whole Foods or a big grocery store. Even though you can use other mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms will make it taste and feel the most like the real thing.
- Sea Salt – for flavor.
- Old Bay Seasoning—for a red color and a seafood taste
- Kelp Flakes – for a seafood flavor.
- Paprika – for a red color.
- Vegan Butter—to cook your vegan lobster and dip lobster pieces in
- Lemon – (optional) a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Parsley – (optional) for garnish.
- A small sauce pan—to cook the mushrooms slowly in the seafood broth
- Frying Pan – to saute the plant-based lobster chunks.