The best plant based fish.
As two former seafood lovers, this category makes us a bit sad. We feel like the plant based world hasn’t quite managed to take on fish in the mainstream. We’ve had some fish and shellfish replacements in restaurants that have really rocked our socks (shout out to The No Catch Co. on the Brighton seafront!), but in terms of one you can make yourself, the PB world is really lacking.
Despite our disappointment in the lack of variety, the breaded fish has made quite a showing. It just makes us feel a bit childish to eat fish fingers while the rest of our family is eating some whole fish delicacy.
This is a list of the best plant based fish available. We have ranked them, as always, on taste, texture, value for money and our PBFG Feel-Good Factor!
1.) Quorn, Vegan fishless fingers
What's not to like? They taste good (not great). The packaging is the perfect recyclable cardboard box. They are cheap. They are family and carnivore friendly. They are made by one of the biggest and most established plant based brands. They are only let down by the fact that fish fingers are an inherently less-than-healthy option and that the taste isn't perfect, but it is as good as almost any other breaded fish substitute we have had. Certainly recommend these above the Green Cuisine ones as Green Cuisine is owned by Birdseye.
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Taste: 6
Texture: 10
Value for money: 10
Packaging: 10
Feel Good Factor: 6
2.) Plant Pioneers, battered fishless fillets
Make sure you bake or fry these fillets for quite a long time, as they are best when crispy. They made us rethink jackfruit to some extent. Often, jackfruit tastes too fruity, but Plant Pioneers have managed to mask the taste well.
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Taste: 6
Texture: 10
Value for money: 10
Packaging: 10
Feel Good Factor: 6
3.) Green Cuisine, Fishless fingers
These were pretty good! There is a recognisable flavour that seems to permeate all fish substitutes (which we're not 100% fond of), but overall this is a very good fish finger substitute. As versatile as any fish finger, sure. The texture was perfect. Cripsy and moreish. I don't think anyone could tell they weren't 'real' fish fingers from texture alone.
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Taste: 6
Texture: 10
Value for money: 10
Packaging: 10
Feel Good Factor: 2
4.) Tuno, Spring water
Not bad. We certainly love the can and the brand, but the product could be better. The smell is a little cat-foody, which is off-putting. However, it certainly does a good enough job if you are really missing tinned tuna.
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Taste: 5
Texture: 6
Value for money: 6
Packaging: 10
Feel Good Factor: 8
5.) Zalmon
If you're missing smoked salmon, Zalmon will do the trick. It looks and tastes fantastic. It’s a really feed-good food, good for a light snack or to pack into a tasty pasta. It really is great, until you read the ingredients. They truly are glorified carrots. And, glorious as they are, and innovative as this small business is, they are far too expensive when a carrot costs about 10p.
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Taste: 10
Texture: 8
Value for money: 1
Packaging: 9
Feel Good Factor: 6
6.) Future Farm, Future tvna
Future Tuna is certainly a good enough base for a tasty tuna melt or tuna salad sandwich. You couldn’t say that it tastes much like tuna in all honesty, but we have enjoyed spicing it up recently. That said, the texture is pretty on the nose. Overall, there is room to improve. On its own, due to the silver pouch that it is packaged in, the product is a bit too reminiscent of cat-food — paired with the smell, it could use some work.
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Taste: 6
Texture: 8
Value for money: 4
Packaging: 4
Feel Good Factor: 6