Seafood
Vegan alternative to prawns: the best substitutes
Everything you need to replace prawns with a plant-based substitute — which one to use, the exact ratio, and the mistakes that ruin the result.
Short answer
Key takeaways
- Best all-round swap: King oyster mushroom stems, scored and seared (garlic prawns, paella).
- Ratio: 1:1 by piece.
- Pro tip: Score the mushroom in a cross-hatch and marinate with old bay, garlic and a pinch of kelp powder.
- 3 tested vegan alternatives to prawns in total.
Why prawns isn't vegan
Farmed or trawled shellfish.
Best vegan substitutes
| Substitute | Best for |
|---|---|
| King oyster mushroom stems, scored and seared | Garlic prawns, paella |
| Konjac vegan prawns | Closest bite |
| Hearts of palm | Cold salads |
How to substitute prawns, step by step
- 1
Pick the right substitute for the job
For most recipes use King oyster mushroom stems, scored and seared — garlic prawns, paella. If you need a different texture, Konjac vegan prawns works for closest bite.
- 2
Measure using the correct ratio
1:1 by piece. Weigh rather than eyeball it — small errors show up much faster when replacing prawns.
- 3
Adjust the method
Score the mushroom in a cross-hatch and marinate with old bay, garlic and a pinch of kelp powder.
- 4
Taste and correct
Plant swaps are usually a little less salty and less rich than prawns. Season at the end and add acid (lemon, vinegar) or umami (miso, nutritional yeast) if the dish tastes flat.
Mistakes to avoid
- Swapping by volume when the recipe measures prawns by weight — check the ratio above first.
- Using a sweetened or flavoured version in a savoury recipe.
- Ignoring the method change: Score the mushroom in a cross-hatch and marinate with old bay, garlic and a pinch of kelp powder.
- Assuming every packaged product labelled "plant-based" is vegan — some still contain milk powder, honey or egg. Scan the barcode to be sure.
Conversion ratio
1:1 by piece.
Pro tip
Score the mushroom in a cross-hatch and marinate with old bay, garlic and a pinch of kelp powder.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best vegan alternative to prawns?
- King oyster mushroom stems, scored and seared is the closest all-round swap — garlic prawns, paella. 1:1 by piece.
- Why isn't prawns vegan?
- Farmed or trawled shellfish.
- How much do I use instead of prawns?
- 1:1 by piece.
- Any tips for getting it right?
- Score the mushroom in a cross-hatch and marinate with old bay, garlic and a pinch of kelp powder.
Not sure if a product contains prawns?
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