Vegan Calamari

Vegan Calamari offers a delightful and crispy alternative to traditional seafood, featuring tender, marinated mushrooms that are seasoned and fried to perfection. This dish captures the essence of Greek cuisine with its zesty lemon and herb flavors, making it a perfect appetizer or light meal.

Ingredients

• King oyster mushrooms - 200 grams
• All-purpose flour - 1/2 cup
• Cornstarch - 2 tablespoons
• Plant-based milk - 1/2 cup
• Nutritional yeast - 2 tablespoons
• Smoked paprika - 1 teaspoon
• Garlic powder - 1 teaspoon
• Salt - 1/2 teaspoon
• Black pepper - 1/4 teaspoon
• Lemon juice - 2 tablespoons
• Olive oil - for frying
• Fresh parsley - for garnish

Steps

1. Clean the king oyster mushrooms and slice them into rings, resembling calamari.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, nutritional yeast, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
3. In another bowl, pour in the plant-based milk and add the lemon juice, stirring to combine.
4. Dip each mushroom ring into the wet mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then coat them in the dry flour mixture.
5. Heat olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat, ensuring there is enough oil to shallow fry the mushroom rings.
6. Once the oil is hot, carefully add the coated mushroom rings in batches, frying until golden brown and crispy, about 3-4 minutes on each side.
7. Remove the fried calamari from the pan and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.
8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately with a wedge of lemon.

Nutrition

• Calories: 250
• Protein: 5 g
• Carbs: 35 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Total Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Water: 0.3 L

Health Benefits

• Rich in antioxidants from mushrooms, which may help improve immune function.
• Low in calories and cholesterol-free, making it a heart-healthy option.

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