Vegan Fish Fillets

I’m so excited to share this recipe! Introducing vegan fish fillets!

These fish, or should I say feesh fillets, have super tender and flaky “flesh” and crispy skin! It’s high-protein (26g per serving!) and takes just 15 minutes to prepare! It’s one of the closest fish alternatives I have ever tried!

HOW TO MAKE FISH FILLETS

The base of this recipe is TVP. If you have never heard of TVP, it means Textured Vegetable Protein. It is a dry product that comes in many different shapes, like cutlets, chunks, etc. It first needs to be rehydrated before being used as a meat substitute.

You need TVP slices for this recipe, preferably the large ones (if you can only find small ones, check the metric measurements in the recipe to ensure you are using the correct amount). You can see below two of the brands I usually use.

Be aware there are many different names for it, from “Pork slices” to “Chicken slices” or “TVP slices.” Just try to get the ones that are similar to the photo above. All of them are basically the same thing. I found two products online that seem to be similar to the ones I use. You can check this one or this one. Otherwise, it can sometimes be found in the dry section of Asian stores.

Note: Do not substitute with soy curls, chunks, or beef TVP, as you won’t get the same texture. This one has fibrous layers you would not get with the other kinds.

Soak your TVP slices in hot water for 30 minutes or until soft. Depending on the brand, some slices can take longer to rehydrate. Then, drain, rinse, and squeeze to remove the excess water. I usually soak it with a few pieces of nori overnight. Soaking the TVP with the seaweed won’t affect the flavor much, but it does add a little extra “sea” flavor.

Next, drain and squeeze the TVP slices to remove the excess water. Add to a food processor and add the flavorings:

• Vegan Fish Sauce: While it doesn’t add a fish flavor, it brings umami, saltiness, and a much deeper flavor. Vegan fish sauce can be found in Asian stores, or you can get it here. If you do not have fish sauce on hand, you could try using soy sauce. It’s not the best substitute, but it should work.
• Garlic, onion powder, and black pepper: I went with basic aromatics here, but feel free to add your favorite spices.
• Dill: As dill is often associated with fish, it helps create the illusion of a fish flavor.
• Sugar: To balance with the saltiness.
• Dulse: Add a teaspoon or two of rehydrated dulse flakes if you are looking for extra ocean flavor. This is optional, though.

Another optional ingredient is mushroom seasoning. It’s a healthier alternative to MSG and helps enhance the flavors. Simply omit it if you don’t have it on hand.

Add all the ingredients to a food processor and process until it almost forms a paste. Do not over-process, or you might lose the flaky texture. It should hold together when you squeeze the mixture between your hands but still have a flaked tuna texture. Once you have reached the texture below, process a bit more.

When it comes to shape, there are two ways. You can either:

• Make fillets: This one will look more like a real fish fillet. It’s best to serve it with a sauce on top (garlic butter or lemon parsley sauce, for example). To make fillets, press down the mixture on a sheet of nori. You can make a simple rectangle shape or cut your sheet of nori in the shape of a fish!
• Make rolls: Rolls are great for braised dishes as they hold up better than a fillet (recipe coming soon!). To make rolls, cut rectangles of about 2.5×4-inch, place about 2 tablespoons of the mixture on the bottom, and roll it out into a roll. Mix a tablespoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of water and slightly wet the end of the nori sheet before closing it. This way, the nori sheet will stick, and your rolls won’t “unroll” during cooking.

Finally, pan-fry your fish fillets on both sides until golden brown! The nori sheet will crisp up while the flesh will stay tender.

Note: Do not expect this to taste exactly like a fish fillet. It does, however, have a very nice flaky texture, and it’s amazing when served with a sauce or braised! To compare, I would say the texture is quite similar to flaked tuna. If you have made “tofu fish fillets” before, these are far superior in texture!

HOW TO COOK THESE FILLETS

Once your fillets are pan-fried, you can serve them as is and top them with your favorite sauce or braise them.

One of my favorite ways to cook these vegan fish fillets is to sauté garlic and shallots until golden brown, then deglaze with a couple of tablespoons of soy sauce, a tablespoon of sugar, and plenty of black pepper. Pour a few tablespoons of water to dilute the sauce and add your fillets. Cook for a few minutes and serve with rice or veggies. The fillets will soak up the sauce and become so juicy!

I hope you will love these vegan fish fillets! They are tender and flaky and have a delicate texture and super crispy nori skin!

Looking for more meat alternatives? Check out this Vegan Roast Pork, Vegan Chick’n, or these High-Protein Vegan Burgers!

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!