Eating on a Vegan Diet: Crab Cakes

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Reminiscent of Maryland summers, crab cakes have earned a devoted following. But, despite the name, you don’t have to eat crab to eat the light, crisp, spiced cakes. You can even enjoy them if you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. 

This is thanks to a combination of high-fiber chickpeas and mineral-rich hearts of palm. The two ingredients, when fried with jalapeño, veganaise, corn, and gluten-free panko, create a dish that’s moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Add in Old Bay — the spicy, salty, East coast seasoning — and you have an appetizer people will drool for.

As a bonus, these vegan crab cakes are gluten free, making them a great treat for those with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

Ingredients

• 1 can chickpeas

• 1 can hearts of palm

• ¾ c corn (fresh or frozen)

• 1 jalapeño, minced

• ¼ c vegenaise (vegan mayonnaise)

• 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning

• 1 tsp umeboshi

• 1 tsp mustard

• 1 c panko (gluten-free panko is fine) + ½ c for coating

Instructions

1. Place the chickpeas, hearts of palm, and corn into a food processor, and pulse to combine and mash. Don’t over process it, though; you still want some texture. 

   

2. Add the veganaise, jalapeño, Old Bay, mustard, panko, and umeboshi. Pulse again. Season with sea salt to taste. 

   

3. Heat an oil-coated skillet. Form the mixture into small patties‚ making sure to pack the mixture tightly.

   

4. Place the remaining ½ c of panko in a shallow dish. Coat your formed cake in the panko. 

   

5. Pan fry for 3 minutes on each side. Do this with the remaining batter. 

   

6. When they are cooked, transfer them to a plate covered with a paper towel. 

   

7. Serve with a dollop of veganaise and fresh greens. Makes 6 to 8 patties.

   

Nutrition

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Written by:

Kelsey Abkin

Kelsey Abkin has been working as a journalist since 2016. She has held many titles throughout her career, including editor, content strategist, digital strategist, and writer.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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