Fish and chips have a special cultural place in the UK. Although veg*ns don’t eat fish, they don’t want to miss out on the social aspect it brings. Creating a vegan alternative to the traditional battered fish is relatively easy and can be achieved with various fish replacements, such as tofu or banana blossom (available tinned from some supermarkets and wholesalers). Ready-made vegan fish alternatives are also available.
If you have not used banana blossom before a practice run is recommended. Each 400g tin (drained weight 250g) contains around 5 sections of blossom.
The nori adds a ‘fish’ skin and flavour. Some people prefer this with nori, others without.
Serves: 2
Time to prepare: hr 15 mins
Time to cook: hr 05 mins
Dietary requirements: Dairy-free, Egg-free, Halal, Kosher, Vegan
Serving suggestion: Chips and peas, naturally! You could also go the extra mile by providing vegan tartar sauce. Combine ready-made vegan mayo with a small amount of chopped gherkin, tarragon, capers, and onion. Job done.
Chef’s tip: Not all vegetarians or vegans want foods that resemble meat or fish in texture or flavour. It is always prudent to ask them what their preference is before spending time, effort, and money creating mock dishes.