Vegan Crab Cakes

Name: Vegan Crab Cakes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 15 oz canned garbanzo beans (, rinsed. *Save liquid); 2 - 14 oz cans hearts of palm (, rinsed, drained and cut in half lengthwise); 4 tablespoons reserved garbanzo bean liquid; 1/4 cup vegan mayo; 1 teaspoon vegan worcestershire sauce ((*see note)); 1 teaspoon lemon juice (, more to taste); 1 teaspoon dijon mustard; 1/2 cup sliced green onion; 2 teaspoons kelp granules ((*see note for sub)); 1 tablespoon dried parsley; 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning ((or any seafood seasoning)); 1/2 teaspoon sea salt (, more to taste); 1 teaspoon granulated garlic; 1 cup breadcrumbs ((panko or regular) + more for breaded coating); 1/4 cup preferred oil (for pan-frying (divided))

August 7, 2016 By Melissa Huggins / 252 Comments

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These Vegan Crab Cakes are crispy on the outside, yet moist and flaky on the inside. They can be enjoyed as an appetizer, side, or main dish.

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Vegan Crab Cakes without crab? Why not call them something else?

That's the burning question!

I know the title could be a little confusing or even annoying to some people (that's not my intention). However, since it's a mock version of the original recipe, the title helps people find it easier online.

I've had people suggest that I call them Hearts of Palm Cakes or Bean Cakes, but there's a reason that I don't. As a blogger, I have to title my recipes so they are easily searchable online. Otherwise, there will be crickets around here and nobody will see my recipes.

So, I have to do my own research first before selecting a title and it's not an easy task. Believe it or not, MANY people are searching for Vegan Crab Cakes and just a handful are searching for Hearts of Palm Cakes.

And NOBODY is searching for Bean cakes!! So, that's one of my reasons for my title choice for anyone who might be wondering.

I also have an Un-Tuna Salad Sandwich on the blog. It's just a tasty as the original version. You've gotta try it!

Why do vegans eat food that looks like meat?

Many of us grew up consuming meat in a variety of dishes. Lots of memories are attached to them and that's what we are familiar with. It's not the meat itself we are missing, It's the textures, flavors, and seasonings that our palate is used to.

We just don't want to hurt animals for our taste buds anymore. So, if we can recreate that experience without harming non-human friends, why wouldn't we do that?

Lots of people who say they love the taste of meat, have never tasted it plain, without seasoning. I used to say the same thing, but after going vegan, I realized my "cravings" were coming from the smells and flavors of the herbs and spices.

Also, recipes like this make it easier for some people to transition from meat-eating to vegan. It surely helped me! So basically, you can still have an enjoyable dish from your past, and leave your friends in the ocean...where they belong. Sounds like a good deal to me.

Some vegans don't want to eat anything that reminds them of meat and that's perfectly normal too. We are all different and have separate journeys, but the one thing we share in common is that we don't want to harm animals.

The original version

I'm from Long Island and I grew up eating many seafood dishes, but my favorite thing to order was crab cakes. They were very popular on the East Coast and especially in Maryland where they are known for the best crab cakes.

It was a bit of a drive to get there from Long Island, so I settled for the crab cakes near home. However, I did make it out to Maryland a few times and ordered those famous cakes each time. Yes, they really were THAT good!

Being vegan now, I don't see any reason to miss out on those wonderful flavors, textures, and seasonings since I can enjoy them in a cruelty-free way now.

The solution...VEGAN Crab Cakes!

I can't claim that these taste exactly like a traditional Maryland Crab Cake. Those chefs have a way of making the recipe with as little breading as possible but still manage to get it to your plate in one piece. I did try to make them this way, but the method was frustrating and took much longer.

So, I wanted to make them taste as traditional as possible, but also make them easy to prepare. Keeping it simple is good.

What's in a Vegan Crab Cake?

I use hearts of palm and garbanzo beans which have a flaky-like texture when broken up.
For the seasoning, I kept things as traditional as possible. I used Old Bay Seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. If you can’t find Old Bay Seasoning, you can use any basic seafood seasoning.
For the ocean-like flavor, I use Kelp Granules or Dulse Flakes. If you can't find those, you can break up a sheet of Nori or use any type of seaweed. You can also skip it if you don't like it.
For the rest of the ingredients, I used vegan mayonnaise, mustard, Vegan Worcestershire Sauce, lemon juice, breadcrumbs, and some fresh green onion. You can also add some celery, corn, or bell pepper to change it up a bit.

Cooking Method

I prefer to pan-fry these in a non-stick pan using minimal oil that has a high smoke point like avocado, sunflower, or grapeseed oil. If you want to make a healthier version of this dish, you can definitely bake these. Just set your oven to 400 degrees F. and bake them on a large baking sheet for about 10-15 minutes on each side. I would lightly spray them with oil or use a silicone baking mat so they get crispy

More vegan seafood recipes to enjoy

- Vegan Fish Tacos
- Vegan Clam Chowder
- Crabless Stuffed Mushrooms

I love to hear from you

If you make these Vegan Crab Cakes, I’d love to hear what you think in the comment section below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.

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