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Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Vegan Crab Desserts


These crispy vegan crab truffles style remarkably satisfying! Serve them as a plant-based dinner or appetizer with tangy tartar sauce for a satisfying meal everybody will love.

Vegan Crab Cakes on a plate with lemon wedges and a side bowl of Vegan Tartar Sauce

On a visit a number of years in the past, I ordered some vegan crab truffles at a vegan restaurant in Philadelphia, interested in how they could style. These golden crispy orbs had been made with hearts of palm and artichokes, and from the primary chew, I used to be hooked!

Again dwelling, I experimented till I created my very own plant-based model of traditional crab truffles. I served them to my aunt (an avid seafood lover) with out mentioning they had been plant-based. She devoured three in a row, then requested for the recipe! My household loves them with tangy tartar sauce for as a enjoyable vegan dinner or appetizer.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Surprisingly satisfying taste: Hearts of palm and artichokes create a convincing texture that even seafood lovers respect
  • Protein-packed: Chickpeas present protein, making these substantial sufficient for a most important course
  • Fast and straightforward: Prepared in simply half-hour from begin to end

5 Star Reader Opinions

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Made these immediately and can’t cease snacking on them!” -Krista

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Straightforward and wonderful!” -L.B.

Substances for Vegan Crab Desserts

This recipe makes use of greens to imitate seafood texture and taste. As I discussed, I bought the thought from the checklist of elements on the menu of a vegan restaurant I visited, however what I’ve created is my very own spin. Right here’s what you’ll want:

  • Chickpeas: These present construction, binding, and protein. I take advantage of canned chickpeas for the simplest technique, however you could possibly use 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas if desired.
  • Hearts of palm: The star ingredient that creates that particular crab-like texture. I might attempt to discover this if in any respect potential, but when not you may substitute one other can of artichoke hearts.
  • Artichoke hearts: These depth and tangy taste: they’re required!
  • Vegan mayonnaise: Binds every thing collectively
  • Panko breadcrumbs: Makes that important crispy coating
  • All-purpose flour: Additionally helps to bind the combination
  • Inexperienced onion and contemporary parsley: These convey a contemporary, herby taste
  • Dijon mustard: Provides a delicate tang and in addition helps to bind
  • Previous Bay seasoning: Important for that genuine seafood taste! Ensure to search out Previous Bay when you can (or make home made Previous Bay)
  • Garlic powder, salt, and black pepper: Spherical out the seasoning
  • Olive oil: For pan-frying
Vegan Crab Cakes on a plate with lemon wedges and a side bowl of Vegan Tartar Sauce

The particular ingredient on this recipe is canned hearts of palm. It may be tough since some grocery shops don’t carry them, but it surely’s price holding out for the true factor. (It took me a number of tries to search out which grocery shops preserve them in inventory!)

What are hearts of palm? These ivory-colored cylinders are the tender interior bud of sure palm timber! They’ve a gentle, barely candy taste and a satisfyingly crisp texture. They’re key to the crab-like taste of those vegan crab truffles. Should you actually can’t discover them, substitute one other can of artichoke hearts.

Suggestions for Excellent Outcomes

These vegan crab truffles are made like fritters or different savory truffles, like tuna truffles or salmon truffles. Combine the batter, kind into patties, and pan fry till golden. Listed here are a number of notes for the method:

  • A meals processor is useful, however non-compulsory. It’s best to mix collectively the chickpeas, artichokes, and hearts of palm in a meals processor to get a pleasant even texture.
  • Observe: Should you don’t have a meals processor, you may mash the chickpeas with a fork (mashing them as a lot as potential), then finely chop the hearts of palm and artichoke hearts, and blend. Relying in your knife abilities, this takes longer and may need a chunkier texture, so the truffles may need hassle sticking collectively. Use a meals processor if in any respect potential!
  • Type into ¼ cup patties. Use your fingers to kind the patties. You may need to scrub your palms a number of instances if the batter turns into sticky.
  • Pan fry in a skinny layer of olive oil. Add a skinny layer of oil to the underside of a big skillet, then pan-fry the crab truffles about 3 minutes per aspect. Switch them to a baking rack to maintain the underside crispy. Then fry the remaining patties in batches. Use your largest skillet potential to have fewer batches!
Vegan Crab Cakes on a plate with lemon wedges next to a side bowl of Vegan Tartar Sauce, a tablespoon of seasoning, and green herbs

Methods to Serve

These vegan crab truffles are an ideal vegan dinner thought! Whereas additionally they work as an appetizer, I favor serving them as the principle dish if I’m going to the difficulty of frying them up. Due to the protein within the chickpeas, they’re an ideal filling choice as a most important course! Listed here are a number of methods to serve them:

Meal Prep and Storage Information

Need to prep these vegan crab truffles upfront? After forming them, you may refrigerate for as much as 24 hours earlier than cooking. If refrigerated, permit them to face at room temperature for quarter-hour earlier than cooking.

Retailer cooked crab truffles for as much as 3 days refrigerated. They make nice leftovers and might be gently reheated in a skillet.

Vegan Crab Cakes on a plate with lemon wedges and a side bowl of Vegan Tartar Sauce

Dietary Notes

This vegan crab cake recipe is vegetarian, plant-based, and dairy-free.

Regularly Requested Questions

Can I bake these as a substitute of frying?

Whereas pan-frying provides the very best crispy texture, it’s best to be capable to bake them at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes, flipping midway by means of (I’ve not tried this, however in concept it ought to work). Brush with oil for higher browning.

What if I don’t have a meals processor?

You may make them by hand! Mash the chickpeas totally with a fork, then finely chop the hearts of palm and artichokes. The feel could also be barely chunkier.

Can I freeze these?

I’ve not tried this, however for my part they might grow to be mushy after thawing. Please let me know when you do do that within the feedback beneath.

Are they gluten-free?

Not as written, however you should utilize gluten-free panko and a gluten-free flour mix for a gluten-free model.

Print

Vegan Crab Desserts

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 evaluations

These crispy vegan crab truffles style remarkably satisfying! Serve them as a plant-based dinner or appetizer with tangy tartar sauce for a satisfying meal everybody will love.

  • Writer: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: quarter-hour
  • Cook dinner Time: quarter-hour
  • Complete Time: half-hour
  • Yield: 12 crab truffles 1x
  • Class: Principal Dish or Appetizer
  • Technique: Stovetop
  • Delicacies: Vegan
  • Weight loss plan: Vegan

Substances

  • 15-ounce can chickpeas
  • 15-ounce can hearts of palm**
  • 15-ounce can artichoke hearts
  • 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
  • ¾ cup panko (plain)
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 inexperienced onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped contemporary parsley, plus extra to garnish
  • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon Previous Bay seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder 
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Recent floor black pepper, to style
  • Olive oil, for cooking
  • 1 recipe Vegan Tartar Sauce, for serving

Directions

  1. Drain the can of chickpeas, hearts of palm, and artichokes. Add them to the bowl of a meals processor and course of for a number of seconds till chopped however not pureed.*
  2. Take away the greens to a bowl. Stir within the vegan mayonnaise, panko, all-purpose flour, inexperienced onion, parsley, Dijon mustard, Previous Bay, garlic powder, kosher salt, and some grinds black pepper till a dough types. 
  3. Use a ¼ cup measure to divide and kind the dough into 12 patties, shaping them along with your palms. (You’ll be able to prepare dinner instantly or refrigerate for as much as 24 hours earlier than cooking. If refrigerated, permit them to face at room temperature for quarter-hour earlier than cooking.)
  4. Coat the underside of a big skillet with a skinny layer of olive oil and warmth over medium warmth. Add the truffles and prepare dinner till they’re golden brown, about 2 to three minutes per aspect. Take away to a baking rack (to maintain the underside crispy) and prepare dinner the following batch. Permit to chill for 3 minutes, then take pleasure in with vegan tartar sauce as a dinner or appetizer. Retailer cooked crab truffles for as much as 3 days refrigerated (they make nice leftovers; reheat gently in a skillet).

Notes

*Alternatively, you may mash the chickpeas with a fork in a bowl (mashing them as a lot as potential), then finely chop the hearts of palm and artichoke hearts and blend them collectively. This takes longer and may need a chunkier texture relying in your knife abilities, so the truffles may need hassle sticking collectively. Use a meals processor if in any respect potential!

**Canned hearts of palm are important to the crab-like taste in these truffles! They’re discovered canned, and they’re price looking for out for this recipe (even when it takes one other grocery journey). Should you can’t discover them, use one other can of artichoke hearts.

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