Name: Vegan Fish Fillets
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 pieces TVP slices; 1 tbsp vegan nuoc mam; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp onion powder; 1/4 tsp ground black pepper; 1/4 tsp dried dill; 2 cloves of garlic; 1/4 tsp white vinegar; 2 tsp dulse flakes (rehydrated, optional); 1/4 tsp mushroom seasoning (optional); 1/4 cup cornstarch; 1 nori sheet

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4.34 from 3 votes

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

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

Ingredients to make vegan fish, nori, garlic, and tvp.

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 absolutely 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 make sure 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 a lot, but it does add a little bit of 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, I find that vegan fish sauce 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, I do find 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 an healthier alternative to MSG, and it helps enhance the flavors. Simply omit if you don't have it on hand.

Ingredients to make vegan fish in a food processor.

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 shaping, there are two ways. You can either:

Make fillets: Obviously this one will look more like a real fish fillet, it's best if you want to serve it with a sauce on top (a garlic butter or lemon parsley sauce for example). To make fillets, simply press down the mixture on a sheet of nori. You can make a simple rectangle shape or cut your sheet of nori in 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 2.5x4-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.

Pressing down vegan fish on a sheet of nori.

Finally, pan fry your fish fillets on both side 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 on its own, 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 term of texture!

Vegan Fish Fillet sautéed in oil in a skillet.

HOW TO COOK VEGAN FISH FILLETS

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

One of my favorite ways to cook these 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 in 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!