Vegan Crab Cakes

Vegan Crab Cakes

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 a main dish.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15minutes minutes

Cook Time 20minutes minutes

Total Time 35minutes minutes

Servings 4 people

Calories 441kcal

Equipment

  • Large Skillet

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
  • ¼ cup vegan mayo
  • 1 teaspoon vegan worcestershire sauce (*see note)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice , more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • ½ cup sliced green onion
  • 2 teaspoons kelp granules (*see note for sub)
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Old Bay Seasoning (or any seafood seasoning)
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt , more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular) + more for breaded coating
  • ¼ cup preferred oil for pan-frying (divided)

Instructions

  • In a food processor add the garbanzo beans and hearts of palm together. Pulse just a few times to break everything up. Don’t pulse too many times or it will turn to mush. It should have a crab-like consistency. You can also do this manually, just use a fork to shred everything up. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the reserved bean liquid well until it’s foamy. Then add the vegan mayonnaise, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and all the dry seasonings. Whisk to combine well.
  • Now add the bread crumbs, green onion, and hearts of palm and garbanzo bean mixture. Gently fold to combine. Taste for seasoning, add more if needed. Pop the mixture in the freezer for 20 minutes. This helps the mixture stay together a bit better.
  • Place enough breadcrumbs onto a shallow plate that will coat patties evenly. Take mixture out of freezer. Place about ¼ cup of mixture into your hands to form a ball. Then gently flatten to form it into a patty shape. Coat patty in the bread crumbs on each side. Place aside and continue until the mixture is gone.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat (about 2-3 minutes). Add about 2 tablespoons of oil and wait until it gets hot and shimmery before adding the patties. If you place the patty in the pan, and you hear it sizzle, it’s ready. 
  • Place about 4-5 patties on your pan at one time, but make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan or they won’t cook properly. Pan-fry them about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Try to only flip each patty once. When done, transfer the patties to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. Wipe out pan before the uncooked patties are added. Add fresh oil and continue until all patties are complete.
  • Serve hot with vegan tartar sauce, a lemon wedge and top with chopped green onions. Enjoy!

Notes

  • This recipe yields 10-12 patties, using about ¼ cup of mixture for each one.
  • If you can’t find kelp granules, you can use dulse flakes, dulse granules, or break up a small piece of nori. If you don’t want the ocean-like flavor, you can omit the seaweed altogether. It will still be delicious! 
  • If the mixture is too wet for your taste, AFTER it comes out of the freezer, you can add a ¼ cup of breadcrumbs into it. Combine well.
  • The prep time doesn’t include the 15-20 minute freezing time.
  • 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 about 10-15 minutes on each side. Make sure to lightly grease your baking sheet too.
  • If you can’t find vegan Worcestershire sauce, you can use low-sodium tamari or soy sauce.
  • This will work with store-bought vegan mayo or my oil-free vegan mayo recipe. You can also use vegan sour cream. 

*Note: the video above shows the hearts of palm sliced before going into the food processor. I prefer to just cut them in half lengthwise to keep larger pieces in the mixture for a flakier texture. 

Nutrition

Serving: 3patties | Calories: 441kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 949mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 2g