The best shrimp substitutes

Whether you’re allergic to shellfish, don’t like shrimp, or are vegan, there’s no reason to miss out on delicious shrimp recipes. You can make the same dish using one of the many shrimp substitutes.

What are the best shrimp substitutes ? The best shrimp substitutes are shrimp, lobster tails, scallops, langoustines, and surimi. Those who are allergic to shellfish can substitute chicken or white fish for the shrimp. Vegan substitutes are mock shrimp, tofu, oyster mushrooms, and sweet potatoes. 

Read on to find out more about shrimp substitutes and how to choose the one that best suits your favorite recipe.

Is there a substitute for the prawns?

Prawn, along with crab, Norway lobster and lobster, belongs to the crustacean family and is probably one of its most popular members.

The popularity of prawns has to do not only with the fact that they are widely available, but also that they are such a versatile ingredient.

You can find shrimp at your local supermarket. Depending on where you live, you may have access to fresh shrimp when they are in season. However, now you can also buy pre-cooked or frozen prawns to make them last longer.

As versatile as shrimp is, sometimes you can’t find fresh shrimp at your local market and need to find a substitute that brings a similar texture, flavor, and overall feel to the dish.

Shellfish allergies are another reason one may want to omit the shrimp from the dish and add another ingredient instead.

Or maybe you don’t like shrimp, but want to try popular shrimp dishes without sacrificing the flavor and aroma of the dish.

Luckily, there are numerous shrimp substitutes to choose from, both vegan and non-vegan.

The 7 Best Shrimp Substitutes

Here are seven shrimp substitutes to choose from. Even if you have a shellfish allergy or want to do without shellfish entirely, you’ll find an option that works for you.

1. Prawn

Shrimp tails are one of the best shrimp substitutes. Langistino is a Spanish word used to refer to lobster meat. It is a long-tailed crustacean that looks like a cross between a lobster and a crab.

The flavor and texture of shrimp tails are similar to those of prawns. They even resemble prawns, making them a perfect shrimp substitute for non-vegans who don’t have a shellfish allergy.

2. Lobster tails

Thanks to its sweetness and classic seafood flavor, lobster meat is a good alternative to shrimp. We recommend using lobster tails for best results.

Although lobsters are more expensive, they work well in many shrimp recipes.

3. Scallops

Since scallops have a springy texture when well done, a hint of fishy flavor, and are slightly buttery and sweet, they make a great substitute for shrimp.

Use the scallops in dishes where you won’t be cooking them so long as to spoil their texture. Pan-fry the scallops, sear them, or cook them in the popular lemon-butter sauce often made for the prawns.

4. Crayfish

Crayfish is a great shrimp substitute for those without a shellfish allergy. It is sweet and salty, with a texture similar to that of shrimp. You can use Norway lobster as a substitute for prawns in prawn cocktails.

5.Surimi

Surimi is an ingredient widely used in Asian cuisine. It is essentially fish paste that comes in different forms.

Surimi is often referred to as imitation crab because of its taste, which resembles that of crustaceans, including crab and shrimp. The texture is similar to shrimp as well, but more like crab.

If you are allergic to shellfish, check the ingredients to make sure there is no crustacean meat in the surimi you have purchased.

6. Chicken

If you are allergic to shellfish, chicken is one of the best options that works as a substitute for shrimp.

Although the taste is different, the texture of the chicken resembles that of the prawns.

We recommend using chicken breast, as it’s easy to infuse with whatever flavors you like. Cook the chicken breast until tender when using it in place of the shrimp.

7. White fish

White fish is another great shrimp substitution option for people with shellfish allergies.

You can use any variety of firm white fish you like, from halibut to cod. However, keep in mind that the flavor profiles of these fish are different. Keep this in mind when using them.

Vegan shrimp substitutes

While there are plenty of non-vegan substitutes for shrimp, there are some great options for non-meat and seafood eaters.

1. Fake prawns

Fake shrimp is one of the best shrimp substitutes, not just for vegans, but for everyone, as its texture, taste, and appearance are very similar to real shrimp.

It is made from algae (aquatic plant-like organisms) and other aquatic plants to achieve a shellfish-like flavor.

2. Oyster mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms are a great vegan substitute for shrimp. They have a similar soft and crunchy texture and an even higher nutritional value than shrimp.

Cut oyster mushrooms into prawn-like pieces and use them in stir-fry recipes.

3. Tofu

Tofu works well as a shrimp substitute for vegetarians as it has a shrimp-like texture and can be used successfully in many recipes.

When substituting tofu for shrimp, make sure it’s smooth in texture. Firm tofu will not work well for this purpose. Drain the tofu and dice it if you plan to use it in a recipe in place of the shrimp.

4. Sweet potato

Another vegan shrimp substitute is sweet potatoes. However, you will have to work a little to make the sweet potatoes resemble shrimp. This is what you should do.

Firstly, puree some sweet potato and combine it with a small amount of oil, garlic powder and paprika to taste.

Next, add gluten flour to the mash so that it becomes a dough-like consistency. The mixture should be kneadable and smooth. However, the longer you knead it, the harder it will become.

What you should do next is flatten the dough and cut it into strips half a centimeter thick and two centimeters long. Do not make the strips larger, as they will swell up a bit when you cook them.

To give these vegan prawns a touch of real seafood flavor, make a stock by combining water, salt, and seaweed. To cook these vegan sweet potato prawns, place the strips in the cold broth and bring to a boil.

Let the vegan prawns cook in the broth over medium heat for about half an hour. When the prawns are cooked, they will float.

Serve your vegan shrimp with cocktail sauce, garlic butter, or any other way you like to eat real shrimp.

How to choose a shrimp substitute?

Choose a shrimp substitute based on your needs and preferences. The reason why you want to substitute another ingredient for the shrimp will help you decide which option to choose.

If you have a shellfish allergy and therefore want to exclude shrimp from the recipe, choose an option that won’t cause health problems, such as firm white fish.

If you don’t have enough prep time, choose something that doesn’t require any prep work, like another variety of canned seafood.

You may also need to find a shrimp substitute if fresh seafood is not available where you live, if you are a vegan, or if shrimp seems too expensive.

In any case, replacing the prawns with another product without sacrificing the flavor of the dish is possible.

If you want to see for yourself, we recommend that you try our delicious creamy prawn pasta with mozzarella recipe and replace the prawns with a food of your choice.

Options are limited, but still available for those looking for a vegetarian or vegan shrimp substitute.

When choosing a vegan shrimp substitute, consider how it will fit into the particular dish you are preparing and whether it will blend well with the rest of the dish’s ingredients.

What can you replace the prawns in the prawns?

The prawns with an appetizing sauce made with garlic, lemon and butter taste heavenly.

However, not everyone can or wants to eat shrimp. Luckily, you can substitute other ingredients for the prawns and the dish will turn out just as delicious.

Since prawns are a dish that involves serving prawns with garlic butter, wine and cheese, on a bed of pasta or with bread, substituting another protein for the main ingredient won’t destroy it.

You can make your version of scampi by substituting clams or scallops for the shrimp. As a non-seafood option, chicken breast will work great.

Vegans also have multiple shrimp substitutes in prawns, such as oyster mushrooms and imitation prawns.

Why don’t you try one of them with our prawns without wine recipe?

Why can you substitute prawns in paella?

Although seafood paella is a favorite for many people, it is not necessary that it always contain seafood.

In fact, you can totally do without seafood. As long as you get the paella rice right, your dish will be as traditional as you want.

But here you have what you can substitute for prawns in the paella. If you want to continue with seafood, you can use clams or mussels.

A winning combination would be mussels with calamari and rabbit. Chicken and chorizo are a great combination if you want to do without seafood for now.