These vegan crab cakes are the most epic combination of food science wizardry and easy recipe goodness. By combining heart of palm and artichoke hearts with a handful of ingredients, you can essentially trick your brain into thinking you’re eating the real thing, with the taste of the ocean in every bite!
Why you’ll love it
No oven or pan frying is required for these crab cakes since they are made in the air fryer! If you’ve ever tried pan frying cakes, then you know what a mess it can be! Flaky inside just like a great crab cake. This is due to the perfect combination of heart of palm and artichoke hearts. Quick to make, these cakes come together in just 20 minutes – including cook time!
Ingredients for vegetarian crab cakes
Making vegan seafood isn’t complicated, it just takes the right combination of ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need, but scroll to the recipe card for the full quantities and list.
The “crab”: To imitate crab, I’ve mixed heart of palm and artichoke hearts. These both have very similar meaty textures to crab. The flavor: These cakes use Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, Italian parsley (flat-leafed), vegan Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and lemon. This list might seem a bit long, but I promise each one serves a purpose to making these the best vegan crab cakes around! The ocean: For the salty air flavor, I use nori seaweed snacks which are easy to buy at Costco, Target, or other grocery store. The basics: To bind and cook the patties, you will need vegan mayonnaise, panko bread crumbs, and oil. You can use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed or make your own bread crumbs.
How to make crab cakes that are vegan
Making crab cakes with crab is oddly very similar to making vegan crab cakes. Here’s what you do:
Why this Recipe Works
Air frying the crab cakes gives them a crispy texture, keeps the inside moist, and keeps you from having to clean up after pan frying. Heart of palm and artichoke hearts really get to the “heart” of the problem with vegan crab cakes. But seriously, once pulsed in the food processor, they have the same flaky texture as crab. You only need a food processor to make these, not even a bowl to mix it all together! You can also use a high powered blender and just scrape down the sides a bit more.
what to eat with crab cakes
Obviously, you need a great sauce to enjoy with these crab cakes! Here are a few delicious options!
Vegan Tahini Caesar Dressing is tangy and creamy making the perfect compliment to crispy crab cakes. Lemon Tahini Dressing is very similar to a tartar sauce but vegan! 5-Minute Tzatziki Sauce is easy to make and you can use it for these cakes for bowls, for gyros, and so much more! Avocado Crema takes my favorite fruit and turns it into a fluffy dip.
