Fish-friendly ‘seafood’: Tasty plant-based recipes for ‘calamari’, ‘scallops’ and more!

Looking for delicious ‘seafood’ recipes that don’t harm animals? Let’s dive in! These easy plant-based dishes deliver all the same flavours you love – without any fishy business.

The most powerful thing we can do in the race to protect our vulnerable ocean ecosystems is leave fish and crustaceans off our plates! Satisfy your seafood cravings with these fish-friendly alternatives instead.

‘Seafood’ might seem like a lighter food choice, but the truth beneath the surface is a little murkier …

Experts warn that if we continue to pull fish from their ocean homes at the current rate, more and more species will face extinction, putting entire ecosystems at risk of collapse. And as science sheds more light on the remarkable inner lives of marine animals, the clearer it becomes that there’s a sensitive side beneath those scales and outer shells.

Not only do fish and crustaceans feel pain – research has found that fish have unique personalities, crustaceans show signs of empathy, and octopuses can use tools and even solve puzzles!

If the hidden cruelty and environmental cost of fishing and fish farming gives you pause, you’re not alone. And the good news is that with versatile plant-based ingredients like banana blossom, tofu, chickpeas, tempeh, and mushrooms, it’s easy to recreate all your favourite seafood dishes at home, without the suffering.

Whether you’re opting for meat and ‘seafood’ alternatives for the planet, for animals, or just to try something new, these tasty recipes are a great place to start. They’re every bit as satisfying as the seafood classics you know – just a whole lot kinder to the ocean and everyone in it.

What’s the catch? There isn’t one!

This flavour-packed plant-based alternative to fish and chips will have you hooked! Made with deceptively ‘meaty’ banana blossom and coated in a crispy golden batter, it’s a new and improved seaside favourite that doesn’t harm a single fin.

Richly marinated tofu and nutty black rice harmonise beautifully in these vibrant, ocean-friendly sushi rolls. Fresh, nourishing, and full of satisfying umami flavour, they’re proof you don’t need animal-based seafood to make sushi sing.

This clever twist on salt and pepper calamari swaps sea creatures for mushrooms, and the result is uncanny. King trumpet mushrooms perfectly replicate the taste and tender chewiness of calamari – you truly would not know the difference!

Crunchy on the outside and delightfully flaky within, these simple tempeh-based ‘fish’ sticks are packed with protein and perfect for dipping. The sea-inspired nostalgia of this classic finger food makes it an easy win with kids and grown-ups alike.

Sink your teeth into these chickpea and potato ‘fish’ cakes – they’re crispy, comforting, and just as nutritious as they are delicious. The key to that subtle, sea-inspired taste?  Flaky chickpeas, fresh dill, and a hint of salty miso. It’s a tastebud-tricking trifecta!

Bubbly beer-battered tofu meets tangy tartare sauce in this plant-based twist on a pub classic. Best made using medium-firm tofu for that succulent ‘fried fish’ bite, it’s equally as salty and moreish as the original while leaving fish in the sea where they belong.

Chickpeas are famously versatile, and one of their many talents is that they can mimic the flaky texture of tuna! Just mash them up and mix in your sea-mimicking seasonings. The oceanic addition of dried seaweed turns this protein-rich chickpea ‘tuna’ into a fresh and flavoursome sandwich-filler.

With their delicate smokiness and silky texture, marinated tomatoes make a brilliant stand-in for salmon in this luxurious ‘lox’. Layer them with velvety dill cashew cream, punchy red onion, and briny capers, and you’ve got yourself a truly brunch-worthy bagel.

When it comes to reinventing the taste of the sea without harming animals, this recipe proves that seasonings are your secret weapon! These delectable banana blossom crab cakes are ‘meaty’, mouthwatering, and made to be devoured.

Who knew sliced and seasoned mushroom stems could make such melt-in-your-mouth scallops? Marinated in dashi, minced garlic, miso paste, and olive oil, these seriously satisfying morsels pair beautifully with lemon-infused pasta or a side of grilled veggies.

Fried tofu becomes the fillet in this fish-friendly burger! Sandwiched between zingy tartare, melty dairy-free cheese, and a bed of fresh lettuce, it’s every bit as stacked and saucy as a classic drive-through burger, and guaranteed to hit the spot.

Don’t feel like cooking from scratch? There’s also a whole treasure trove of convenient heat-and-eat plant-based ‘seafood’ products to dip your toe into.

You can find a steadily growing range of ocean-inspired options at major Aussie supermarkets – or order them straight to your door from vegan-friendly online retailers like Lamyong.

Top tip: Have a look in the freezers at your local Asian grocer, too! They’re often packed with hidden plant-based gems.

From scallops, shrimp, and calamari to oven-ready fish fillets and crab cakes – all entirely made from plants – these fish-friendly swaps make it even easier to make seafood dishes animal-friendly.

Although our seemingly small food choices can sometimes feel like a drop in the ocean, together they create a tidal wave of positive change – one that can help save our precious marine ecosystems and the incredible animals who call them home.

For even more sustainable eating tips, animal-friendly recipes, product recommendations, and more, we’d love to send you a FREE Veg Starter Kit.