Shrimp is one of the most popular seafoods, beloved for its briny sweetness and crunchy texture. From shrimp po boys to shrimp scampi to shrimp tacos, it's hard to go wrong with this tasty sea creature. For any seafood-loving vegans, this is one of the foods that feels most irreplaceable. However, vegan shrimp is a thing, and it's not as bad as it sounds.
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Because shrimp is so popular, the demand for it has put pressure on its supply, causing harm to the environments that shrimp reside in. As reporter Jill Richardson explains, farming shrimp is damaging in many ways. To name a few, the farmers clear acres of mangrove forests in the process, and hazardous chemicals are added to the water. Not to mention, 20 lbs of sea creatures are destroyed to farm 1 lb of shrimp.
These environmental impacts have led many to question their consumption of shrimp and look for alternatives, which is what led to the creation of vegan shrimp. This plant-based seafood product is good for the environment and delicious.
Is Vegan Shrimp Good for You?
Along with being good for the environment, this delicious vegan seafood has plenty of nutritional benefits. Although the exact ingredient list depends on the brand, there are few key ingredients found in many options. Two that make it taste especially like real shrimp are konjac and fenugreek.
Konjac is often used as a substitute for animal gelatins in vegan food, and is shown to lower cholesterol and reduce gut inflammation. Fenugreek is also packed full of health benefits, protecting against heart conditions, high blood pressure, cancer and obesity. These two ingredients have many nutrients, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, and B vitamins.
How to Enjoy Vegan Shrimp
There are a few popular brands out there for this yummy vegan option. Sophie's Kitchen sells breaded vegan shrimp that is non-GMO, gluten-free, and soy free. The Loving Hut is another option when searching for seafood alternatives. This tasty product can be enjoyed in many vegan recipes, as an appetizer or a main dish. Here are 4 tasty recipes to try it out!
1. Vegan Shrimp Stir Fry
A stir fry with veggies is a tasty, healthy option for cooking vegan shrimp. Add garlic powder, paprika and sea salt for extra flavor.
Get the recipe at Good House Keeping.
2. Vegan Shrimp With Cocktail Sauce
To keep it simple, you can cook the shrimp just like you would real shrimp and serve with cocktail sauce for a fancy appetizer. For crispy shrimp, use an air fryer.
Get the dipping sauce recipe at Food.
3. Vegan Shrimp Scampi
Another delicious vegan shrimp recipe is vegan shrimp scampi, a buttery, lemony combo of noodles, shrimp and veggies.
Get the recipe at The Vegan Atlas.
4. Crispy Vegan Shrimp Tacos
You can never go wrong with shrimp tacos. This recipe features crispy shrimp, shredded cabbage and avocado, along with cilantro, lime and sriracha sauce for flavor.
Get the recipe at Peta.
