Vegan Scallops Recipe (2024)

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Vegan Scallops – really dive into the cruelty-free pool, leave those bivalves alone, and make this vegan recipe instead! Plump king oyster mushroom stems, flawlessly cooked in plant-based butter, spices, and herbs create the perfect replacement for scallops. Plenty of flavor, but lax on the effort, makes for one irresistible recipe.

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Vegan Scallops

This is my classic recipe for scallops that I recreated using mushrooms and could not tell the difference between looks and also flavor. I photographed this in the same skillet using the same recipe for my sea scallops and they literally look identical. It’s absolutely mind blowing and I hope you give it a try.

If you’re looking for vegan recipes that don’t use faux meat, but have ingredients that have similar textures to meat, check out my entrees list! You’ll adore my Vegan Bolognese, Watermelon Tuna, and this Vegan Chicken with Broccoli!

What Are Vegan Scallops Made Of?

Outside of the processed alternatives available on the market, the stem of a very specific mushroom is used to slice up scallops. The King Oyster Mushroom to be specific. It has larger sized stems. When cut correctly, they look, taste, and feel exactly like scallops. If you weren’t the one cooking them with the knowledge that they were mushroom stems, you would have a difficult time realizing they weren’t scallops. It’s crazy!

How to Make Vegan Scallops

  1. Prep – Preheat a cast iron skillet. Slice the mushroom stems into 1-inch medallions and pat dry.
  2. Season – Spray the mushroom medallions with olive oil and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt, black pepper, and sweet paprika. Spread all.
  3. Cook – Place the scallops in the hot pan and cook on each side for 2 minutes. Season the side that wasn’t seasoned and flip it back over for 2 more minutes. Set aside.
  4. Saute – Melt the vegan butter (or olive oil) in the skillet and add the garlic. Cook until fragrant. Add in the parsley and lemon. Add the scallops back to the pan with the sauce.
  5. Serve – Add to this favorite tomato basil pasta, cacio e pepe or garlic spicy noodles and enjoy!

Recipe Tips & Variations

  • Storage – Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them by storing them in an airtight container. They should keep for 2-3 months.
  • Reheating – Reheat using a skillet over the stove or the microwave, if need be.
  • Add a seafood flavor – To give your plant based scallops an extra seafood flavor, make sure to crumble some seaweed and sprinkle it over the top before serving.
  • Do king oyster mushrooms look like scallops? – That’s a big YES! More specifically speaking, it’s their stem that looks like scallops. If sliced appropriately, it will be hard to tell the difference.
  • Do half oil – When melting the butter for the sauce, you can always swap out half or all of the vegan butter for olive oil. I prefer the vegan butter because the flavor is so much richer, but to tame down the sauce a bit, oil is the perfect addition.

FAQs

  • Are Scallops Vegan? Scallops belong to the bivalves family (sea creatures with a hinged valve). The day I witnessed a clam propel itself on the ocean floor to escape a predator (basically run for its life) I knew it was over for me. I was done consuming these clearly intelligent creatures. Some will argue that scallops are not really animals, and so therefore, justify their consumption. However, due to lack of conclusive evidence on whether or not they feel pain, I prefer to avoid causing suffering, especially as there is absolutely no need for us to consume them. Not to worry, King Oyster mushrooms, perfectly seasoned and pan seared in a cast iron skillet, will yield a perfect scallop-like texture and deliver nutrition like a boss.
  • What to Serve with mushroom scallops? Whatever you would normally serve your scallops with, you can serve these ones with as well! I have even added them to the top of a delicious salad. Some of my favorite options for serving these scallops is over this Spaghetti Aglio e Olio recipe, Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes, pea puree, risotto, creamy polenta, this mashed potato salad or go all out with some ginger caviar. Of course, you could always eat them by themselves as a snack as well with a piece of crusty bread!

Plant-Based Dinners

  • Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon
  • Vegan Steak
  • Kelp Noodle Salad
  • Cherry Tomato Basil Pasta
  • Tofu Parmesan
  • Best Vegan Fish for Tacos.

Vegan Scallops Recipe (9)

5 from 5 votes

Vegan Scallops (King Oyster Mushroom Scallops)

Vegan Scallops - really dive into the kindness pool, leave those bivalves alone, and make this vegan recipe instead! Plump king oyster mushroom stems, flawlessly cooked in vegan butter or olive oil, spices, and herbs create the perfect replacement for scallops. Plenty of flavor, but lax on the effort, makes for one incredibly delicious recipe.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:10 minutes mins

Total Time:20 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 1 lb King Oyster Mushrooms
  • 4 Tbsp vegan butter (or olive oil) I used Miyoko’s European
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 3-4 cloves garlic grated
  • 1 pinch sweet paprika
  • 1/4 cup Italian parsley chopped
  • 1/2 lemon + extra wedges for serving
  • S & P to taste

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat a seasoned cast iron skillet over medium low heat. Coat it with a thin layer of olive oil if needed.

    1 tsp olive oil

  • Slice the king oyster mushroom stems into 1 inch thick rounds and pat dry. (Reserve the caps for another recipe or just use them here if you don’t mind the shape).

    1 lb King Oyster Mushrooms

  • Brush or spray one side of the oyster mushroom rounds with olive oil then season with a pinch of sea salt, black pepper and sweet paprika. Use your hand to spread the spices all over the top.

    1 pinch sweet paprika, S & P to taste

  • Add the vegan scallops to the hot skillet seasoned side down. You should hear it sizzle nicely when it hits that hot pan. Cook for approximately 2 minutes per side until a nice golden brown color is achieved (stay close by, don't overcook).

  • Meanwhile season the other side with salt, pepper and a tiny pinch of paprika. Flip and cook another 2 minutes or so. Transfer to a bowl and keep warm.

  • Add the vegan butter (or a mix of vegan butter ad olive oil) to the skillet you cooked the vegan scallops in. Mix in the grated garlic and cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds or so taking care not to burn it, you just want to tame it down a bit.

    4 Tbsp vegan butter (or olive oil), 3-4 cloves garlic

  • Squeeze in the lemon and add the parsley then transfer the "vegan scallops” back into the sauce. Adjust seasonings with salt and pepper and serve hot over mashed potatoes, Aglio e olio pasta or a slice of bruschetta.

    1/2 lemon, 1/4 cup Italian parsley

Video

Notes

  • Storage - Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them by storing them in an airtight container. They should keep for 2-3 months.
  • Reheating - Reheat using a skillet over the stove or the microwave, if need be.
  • Add a seafood flavor - To give your vegan scallops an extra seafood flavor, make sure to crumble some seaweed and sprinkle it over the top before serving.
  • Do king oyster mushrooms look like scallops? - That’s a big YES! More specifically speaking, it’s their stem that resembles scallops. If sliced appropriately, it will be hard to tell the difference, just look at the photos!

Nutrition

Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 525mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1028IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: plant based, vegan recipes, vegan scallops

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 138kcal

Author: Florentina

Mushroom Recipes

Vegan Scallops Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What are vegan scallops made of? ›

These vegan scallops are made with King Oyster mushrooms and have the PERFECT texture. Cooked in a vegan lemon garlic butter sauce with fresh parsley they are out-of-this-world delicious!

What is the vegetarian equivalent of scallops? ›

King oyster mushrooms have a dense, firm texture and incredible flavor. They are also available in mini-sized. Mini king oyster mushrooms work well as an alternative to bay scallops. If you cannot locate king oyster mushrooms in your local grocery store, most Asian markets have them in stock.

Why do vegans eat scallops? ›

Simply put, no – scallops aren't suitable for vegans as they're a living part of the animal kingdom. Although there might be some arguments that their lack of a central nervous system stops them from feeling pain in the same way as mammals, this still doesn't mean that they're suitable for vegans.

What does soaking scallops in milk do? ›

When scallops are soaked in milk, lactic acid tenderizes the meat, resulting in a more delicate and succulent texture. The milk helps to break down the muscle fibers, making the scallops more tender and enjoyable to eat. This tenderizing effect is particularly beneficial if you cook larger and thicker scallops.

What do they use to make fake scallops? ›

The Rusty Spoon explains that fake scallops can be made from another type of fish (like skate or shark) cut and flavored to taste like the bivalve. Or, they can be made from surimi, which Healthline describes as a seafood paste made from mashed pollack that's also used to make imitation crab meat.

What is a good substitute for scallops? ›

A king oyster mushroom stem sliced looks like a scallop, and so all you really need to do is whip up my tasty marinade that the mushrooms can absorb and then fry it to become a vegan scallop! You can serve as an appetizer or add to one of my easy vegan pasta dishes.

Are scallops healthier than shrimp? ›

Although shrimp is relatively high in cholesterol, it can still be a part of a heart-healthy diet. This is because it contains a high amount of 'good' cholesterol. Scallops are low in cholesterol and therefore do not pose a risk of raising your cholesterol levels. They are also low in saturated fats.

Why don't we eat the whole scallop? ›

“In this process they can bio-accumulate and concentrate human pathogens in their gut. Any bivalve shellfish consumed whole may present a health risk.” And although oysters, clams and mussels are consumed whole, most people eat only a scallop's adductor muscle, the part that opens and closes the scallop shell.

What seafood has no nervous system? ›

Oysters are bivalves, which is the name for a number of marine and freshwater mollusks that have long, flat bodies made up of a shell consisting of two hinged parts. Oysters use their gills and cilia to process water and feed. Oysters have a small heart and internal organs, but no central nervous system.

Why is shellfish not vegan? ›

Recently, research has proven that oysters and mussels do, in fact, have a nervous system. Still, it is not as advanced as that of most other animals. Scientists currently aren't 100% certain about whether they can feel pain, but since they may have sentience, after all, they should not be consumed by strict vegans.

What is a vegan who only eats fish? ›

Most simply, a pescatarian is someone who doesn't eat red meat or poultry, but does eat fish and other seafood. The term pescatarian was coined in the early 1990s and is a combination of the Italian word for fish, “pesce,” and the word “vegetarian.” Sometimes it's spelled “pescetarian,” but this means the same thing.

Why can't you eat scallop roe? ›

Even if the roe is often removed from scallops, it's actually edible. Whether you want to eat it or not is just matter of taste.

Do you rinse milk off scallops before cooking? ›

What does soaking scallops in milk do? Some say it tenderizes the scallops and removes the fishy taste and smell. But there's no need for all of that if you rinse them well in cold water and then pat them dry.

Why do you have to wash scallops for 10 minutes? ›

Make sure you wash in free running water for at least 10 minutes after shucking, rinsing & trimming to ensure all toxins are effectively removed.

Why did my scallops turn out rubbery? ›

A surefire sign that your scallops are undercooked is the color. They tend to look milky white in hue if you haven't successfully seared them off. Another sign is that they are difficult to cut through (via Answer Pantry). Overcooking scallops makes them difficult to eat, becoming rubbery and difficult to chew.

What is vegan seafood made of? ›

What is plant based seafood made of? Plant-based seafood can be found in the form of tuna, salmon, caviar, scallops, squid, crab and shrimp – all these products have already entered the market. The most common ingredients in these products are soy, seaweed, yeast, legumes and various vegetable oils and starches.

What is vegan scallops natures charm? ›

Nature's Charm vegan scallop is a new vegan meat substitute with great texture just like real scallop.
  • Very lightly seasoned for your own creations.
  • Gluten free.
  • Compassionate food.
  • Minimally processed.
  • This great vegan fish substitute that is already marinated and ready to use.

What is vegan calamari made of? ›

This Vegan Calamari is made using oyster mushrooms breaded in a simple, savory batter, then fried until golden. It's equally as crispy and delicious as the classic appetizer and perfect for serving on game days, holidays, or as a crowd-pleasing vegan appetizer ahead of your favorite pasta.

What is scallops made of? ›

Scallops are a type of bivalve mollusk, meaning the interior muscle is surrounded by two shells similarly to oysters, mussels, and clams. Inside the shell, scallops have a white adductor muscle (the part we eat) that opens and closes the shell, as well as a bright orange section called the coral.

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