So, “is imitation crab vegan?” and what you can try to satisfy your craving for this kind of product. If these problems annoyed you in the past, I’m here to help you ease all your unnecessary worries related to imitation crab.
Walking through this post, your clear answer about whether or not imitation crab is suitable for vegans is not everything. You will know more about some substitutes for this product and some recipes that you can try for better family meals. Here’s the deal!
Is Imitation Crab A Good Choice For Vegans?
Vegan people prefer all products except animal products. Because of these strict requirements, you have to carefully check all the ingredients in your diet, not eat them randomly. How about imitation crab? Is it good for you? Check it out!
As imitation crab makes for many yummy dishes, you might be tempted to add it to your vegan diet. But can you? Unfortunately, the answer is “no”. Imitation crab is not vegan. It is a product made from surimi created by mixing white-fleshed fish and other ingredients.
You must be surprised and unbelievable. Right? You will have the answer after reading the following parts. Don’t miss them!
What Is This Fake Shellfish Foodstuff Made Of?
By buying this stuff, you expect to enjoy some vegan dishes to refresh your daily menu because you know exactly that it’s not real crab. Explore some secrets about imitation crab before making an unnecessary mistake!
Imitation crab is one of the perfect options to replace real crab for your meals. However, sometimes you still wonder about what this kind of product is made of. Keep on following this article to discover more about this product.
Imitation crab is a product of surimi, also known as a mashed fish, often barracuda, mackerel, or cod. Moreover, some other ingredients included in this product are wheat starch, sugar, salt, egg whites, etc.
To make it have the same taste and texture as real crab, manufacturers will add some artificial flavorings and other additives to imitation crab.
With the above ingredients, you might be asking if it’s possible to eat imitation crab raw. Well, this food isn’t 100% raw, meaning that you can eat it out of the box.
Another common question that people have is whether imitation crab is ketogenic. Since the food is yummy and convenient, it’s easy to understand why people love to have it on their menus. However, imitation crab contains sugar and carb, meaning that it isn’t the best choice for your keto diet.
If you have trouble consuming gluten, you might also want to know if imitation crab is free of gluten. Sadly, people with gluten sensitivity should not eat this food since it often contains wheat.
Interesting Secrets About Imitation Crab’s History
It’s unknown when this type of imitation crab appeared. And since then, for what reasons are they so popular in the market? If you are a fan of California roll or sushi, you must be very interested in this issue.
Imitation crab meat is an invention of “the Land of the Rising Sun” – Japan in the 1970s. The main purpose of creating this product is to replace real crab meat with a less prohibitive cost but still bring the taste of the sea.
After a year of receiving good results and feedback in Japan, imitation crab has become more and more popular worldwide.
Nutritions
Because of the differences between this imitation crab stuff with the real ones, its nutrition values are also distinguished. This is the truth about this artificial product.
As you know, imitation crab is just a product that mimics the texture and the flavor of real crab. They are made from surimi, also called ground meat, with some other preservatives and seasonings.
Comparing a little bit the differences in nutrients between authentic crab meat and imitation crab meat, sure enough, the authentic one is more highly appreciated than the imitation one.
Real crab is very rich in proteins which are considered 3 times that of imitation crab. The mineral and vitamin content included in real crab meat is also higher than in imitation crab meat. (1)
Here is the concentration of nutrients that 3 ounces (85 grams) of imitation crab meat contain:
| Calories | 81 |
| Total Fat | 0.4g |
| Cholesterol | 17mg |
| Sodium | 450mg |
| Potassium | 77mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 13g |
| Protein | 6.5g |
| Vitamin A | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0% |
| Calcium | 0.8% |
| Iron | 1.8% (2) |
This video will give you a more comprehensive view of imitation crab nutrition.
Why Is Imitation Crab Unhealthy?
Before choosing this kind of product for your family, you should consider some defined drawbacks of this item. Keep on reading to check it out!
First of all, imitation crab consists of some additives and preservatives to expand the shelf life of this product, so it may cause some allergies, including shellfish allergies.
Imitation crab contains less protein, sodium, Omega-3 fats, and other vitamins and minerals than the real thing, which are essential for your health.
Except for the above disadvantages, you can consider this product for your family meals.
Plenty Of Vegan Alternatives For Imitation Crab
Although imitation crab meat that you prefer is not safe for vegans. Don’t worry; the following information will help you solve this problem. Keep reading to find more substitutes for imitation crab that you can store in your kitchen.
1. Jackfruit
In recent years, jackfruits are becoming more and more popular for vegan diets. They are utilized to replace a lot of kinds of meat, and imitation crab meat is not an exception.
Jackfruit is a tropical fruit characterized by a thick and bumpy rind. Beneath the thorny and ugly appearance is a layer of nutritious flesh. Best of all, you can eat them when they’re ripe or still unripe.
Luckily, this delicious kind of fruit also brings a lot of significant health benefits. It is a good source of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients good for your health. That said, this is the best choice for imitation crab meat replacement.
Thanks to its stringy properties and flaky texture, young jackfruit is an ideal substitute for imitation crab meat. You can also use them for cooking crab meat salad, crab rangoon dip, or even vegan curries instead of tofu or chickpeas.
2. Tofu
Tofu is a vegan product made from condensed soy milk. For vegan people, it’s not strange because it’s one of the best options for vegan diets.
Despite being a vegan product, the nutrients contained in tofu are not low. It’s rich in proteins, minerals, and vitamins which are very suitable for a vegan diet but maintain your good health.
Both being rich in nutrients and versatile in food processing, tofu is worth being an excellent option for making imitation crab, especially vegan California rolls or sushi rolls.
3. Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion’s Mane mushroom is a large mushroom that is widely used in the cuisine of some Asian countries. As reflected in the name, they are white, slightly shaggy like a lion’s mane.
Their taste is likened to that of seafood, especially crab. Moreover, their meat is naturally juicy, so it is not surprising that it has been substituted for imitation crab.
The way to apply this special edible mushroom in the culinary world is highly diverse. You can eat them raw, cook them to enjoy, or steep them as tea. It is also a good ingredient for vegan crab cakes, soups, or vegan seafood pasta.
4. Artichoke Hearts
The artichoke heart is the fleshy part in the center covered by rough leaves. They are highly nutritious, low in calories and fat. So, they are an excellent source for providing nutrients for your body.
Like young jackfruits, its texture is also flaky, and this makes it become an excellent medium for substituting imitation crab meat in your daily vegan meals.
You can apply them to a variety of dishes such as crab cakes, dips, and sushi.
5. Hearts Of Palm
Similar to the artichoke heart, the hearts of the palm have a very mild flavor, creating a feeling of comfort.
The hearts themselves have several columns running along the tree that are held together by a large ring around them, creating an extremely solid and crunchy texture, not inferior to jackfruits.
They contain zinc, magnesium, and other nutrients, which are very good for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. (3) So, if you have a headache looking for vegan imitation crab, hearts of palm are a wise choice.
They have a variety of applications in making stews, salads, chowders, etc.
6. Tempeh
Tempeh is also a result of soybeans but is pressed and fermented soybeans. Because of that, their texture is firmer and “meatier”; their taste is also more flavorsome if you are not a fan of tofu.
In terms of nutrition ingredients, tempeh is well-known for its high protein content, together with a lot of vitamins and minerals. That said, the health benefits it can offer won’t disappoint you.
When cooked, tempeh becomes softer like meat. That’s why it’s a perfect option to help you forget imitation crab meat which is unsafe for a vegan diet.
7. Chickpeas
Chickpeas or Garbanzo beans are a popular type of bean on the menu of Eastern countries. With their nutty taste and grainy texture, they are an ideal replacement for imitation crab meat in many vegan dishes.
Moreover, this legume also offers a variety of health benefits such as improving digestion, managing weight, reducing the risk of some diseases, etc.
Some simple recipes using chickpeas as a replacement for imitation crab you can try are vegan chickpea pasta salad or chickpea crab cakes.
8. Vegan “Fish”
Vegan “fish” is made from wheat protein and thickened by a natural thickener. After that, some other additives and seasonings are added to this mixture to make vegan “fish”’s flavor savory like seafood.
Although it’s quite unbelievable, this kind of product is sold on the market and plays a part role as a good alternative for a lot of seafood products, including imitation crab meat.
9. Store-Bought Alternative Brands
People tend to maintain a vegan diet; that’s also the reason why plant-based products are more and more popular. You can buy imitation crab alternatives at any grocery store near you. Here are some brands suitable for you to try:
- May Wah Vegetarian Market
- Gardein Mini Crispy Crabless Cakes
- Sophie’s Kitchen
- Match Meets
Vegan Imitation Crab Recipes To Try
If you are struggling to find recipes for vegan imitation crab meat, stop worrying. You have come to the right place. I’m not here not only to introduce to you some alternatives for imitation crab meat but also to suggest to you some simple recipes for them.
1. Vegan Crab Cakes
If imitation crab cakes are a necessary dish in your diet, it’s great when you are here to follow this recipe. Vegan crab cakes are more special than any other vegan dishes because you can use chickpeas, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, or even a mixture of them as the main ingredients for better taste.
These vegan crab cakes are flaky and moist inside but crispy on the outside. You can enjoy them as a main course, side dish, or appetizer.
Enjoying vegan crab cakes after dinner is not a bad choice.
2. Vegan Jackfruit Salad Sandwich
Vegan jackfruit salad sandwich is suitable for relieving your imitation crab cravings. The chewy texture of young jackfruit makes it a perfect choice for sandwich filling.
You just need to add mayo and some seasonings often used with seafood to jackfruit, you will have a wonderful vegan crab salad sandwich. The taste of this dish is extremely delicious, not inferior to any sandwich made from imitation crab you have ever tried before.
3. Vegan Crab Salad Rolls
One of the most important ingredients contributing to the specialty is tofu. Just adding some regular spices that you often use in cooking, you will have vegan crab salad rolls.
These vegan crab salad rolls are full of the soft, delicious seafood flavor inherent in other conventional seafood dishes.
4. Hearts Of Palm Crab Dip
If you’re looking for a 100% vegan, quick, easy, and versatile dish, that is super simple yet fancy, this recipe is for you.
This seafood-inspired dish is a combination of hearts of palm, olives, onions, a creamy dressing for salad, and some other seasonings, which make it an excellent substitute for imitation crab salad.
5. Hearts Of Palm Crab Rangoon
Hearts of palm crab rangoon is a great appetizer that you need to add to your vegan menu right after you completely read this post.
Not only the eye-catching color is not inferior to the real cakes you have ever enjoyed, but its taste makes you want to try it more.
With the crispy, puffy appearance and juicy, meaty flavor inside, thanks to the perfect combination of hearts of palm and vegan cheese, this wonderful creation will satisfy your taste.
Let’s add hearts of palm Crab Rangoon to your vegan menu if you don’t miss this wonderful dish.
Sushi Eaters Should Avoid These Products
Sushi is a dish that uses rice as the main ingredient, together with fish or different types of seafood eaten raw, sometimes cooked. This interesting dish originated from Japan and then is widely spread all over the world.
If you are a sushi connoisseur, you should figure out which types of sushi include imitation crab meat to avoid, especially if you are vegan. This doesn’t have a chance to pose a problem for you because I have helped you list them here.
After going through the following list, maybe you will be a little bit disappointed. However, try your best to remember these brands: California Roll, Kani Roll, Dragon Roll, Alaska Roll, and Kani Salad. Avoid them for a vegan diet!
FAQs
The answer to the question “Is imitation crab vegan?” has been clarified. However, I know that many problems are still causing struggles in your mind. Here are some frequently asked questions that you can be interested in.
Maintaining The Vegan Diet Without Imitation Crab
Imitation crab meat is the minimal choice for quick family meals. You sometimes hesitate to use them for a vegan diet. Now I think you have your answer. Right?
If my experience is useful for you, please share them with others so that they can make some appropriate changes in their vegan diets like you. I hope to see your comments about this post. I always appreciate your contribution. Thank you!
References:
- Joseph, M., 2022. Crab Meat: A Guide To Its Nutrition Facts and Health Effects.
- Nutritionix.com. 2022. {{MetaTags.title || ‘Nutritionix’}}.
- Healthline. 2022. Heart of Palm: Nutrition, Benefits, and Uses.
