Vegan crab cakes made with avocado, quinoa and hearts of palm. The hearts of palm perfectly imitates a crab like texture while being vegan! Served topped with an avocado crema. A perfect healthy vegan appetizer. 
Vegan crab cakes? Vegan + crab cakes all in one? How could it be? I know, sounds like a bit of a confusing title.
Well quite simply, actually, thanks to one fantastic little ingredient, also known as hearts of palm. I only recently started cooking with hearts of palm (after spotting it as the cheapest thing in Costa Rican grocery stores, during a 2 month house sitting gig there), but I love it.
Hearts of palm are great in salads (vegan hearts of palm and avocado salad), dips (vegan hearts of palm and artichoke dip), burgers (salmon cakes with hearts of palm), or just eaten straight from the jar, raw.
They are super low in calories and healthy, while being quite tasty. A win win if you ask me.
Better yet, once chopped/shredded they perfectly mimic that crab like texture. Fine strands of the tender hearts of palm mixed with other ingredients can create a copy cat classic crab cake turned vegan.
Along with hearts of palm these vegan crab cakes are also made with cooked quinoa, chopped red onions, red pepper and mashed avocado. To help these vegan crab cakes firm up and hold together a bit of quinoa flour (or any other gluten free flour) is added to the mix. To really firm them up I molded them into crab cake shapes and then popped them in the freezer for a bit.
Pan fry or bake these vegan crab cakes and then serve with a light tomato salad and a big dollop of avocado crema.
The hearts of palm here perfectly mimic that crab like texture, so even if you’re vegan you can still enjoy that tender flaky mix.
These vegan crab cakes are perfect as an appetizer or a light lunch.
And now for a bit of a rant.
Patience. They say patience is a virtue. And I know it, yet somehow along the line, of the last few years I have simply run out of it. I envy those calm mannered, soft spoken people whose feathers can’t be ruffled and who portray themselves in neutral manner at all times. I would love to have more patience. More patience with everything. But my patience tank seems to be running on empty. Any kind of lack of understanding, aka when I ask D to do any number of things, and instantly gets confused, needing a whole lot of guidance, seems to completely deplete my patience levels instantly.
It’s a problem I know. Anyone else other there suffer from avocado addiction and lack of patience? How do you deal with it? Or for those of you out there with a never ending supply of patience – what’s your secret? Share your tips!
I could certainly use them!
Either that or I’m going to have to go on a solo wilderness retreat — isn’t nature supposed to make us all more grounded and calm?
Maybe that’s what I need, along with a picnic basket full of these vegan crab cakes with avocado.
Doesn’t sound too bad to me right now, at all.
These vegan crab cakes will be delicious when served with my Chickpea Tomato Onion Salad with Cucumbers and Herbs. Other cake/fritter recipe ideas include:
- Chickpea and Hearts of Palm Asian Tuna Cakes with Kimchi Mayo Aioli {GF, DF}
- Easy Crab Cakes with Asian Flavors and Chili Garlic Aioli {GF, DF}
- Gluten Free Fish Cakes – Thai Fish Cakes {GF, DF}
How to make vegan crab cakes
Vegan crab cakes made with avocado, quinoa and hearts of palm. The hearts of palm perfectly imitates a crab like texture while being vegan! Served topped with an avocado crema. A perfect healthy vegan appetizer.
- 1 can hearts of palm diced
- 1/2 avocado mashed
- 1/4 cup diced red pepper
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 2 teaspoon old bay seasoning
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1/4 cup quinoa flour
- salt to taste
- For the sauce:
- 1/4 avocado
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt to taste
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In a bowl combine the crab cake ingredients, hearts of palm, 1/2 mashed avocado, red pepper, red onion, old bay, cook quinoa and salt to taste. Mix. Add quinoa flour. Mix. Form into 6-8 round crab cakes and freeze for 15-20 minutes.
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In a blender combine the sauce ingredients, 1/4 avocado, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and salt to taste.
-
Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a pan. Pan fry the patties until browned on each side.
Cathy Thelen says
Can I make quinoa flour with quinoa in Blendtec?
Vicky says
I think you could try! I have never made quinoa flour before and am not sure how powerful the blendtec is, but seems like this article says that you can: http://www.blendtec.com/blog/4-gluten-free-flours-you-can-make-in-your-blendtec-blender/
Shelby says
Oh my goodness, I LOVE your blog! Found you through the Pinterest follow group on FBC. I grew up with a vegetarian mom and non veg dad (who both are now vegetarian). I will be sure to share your site with them and I’ll be a new follower too! I crave vegan foods and your recipes look awesome! While I can get hubby to eat some vegan/vegetarian, he is a meat eater all the way and it’s hard to get away from it because of that reason, however I would live this way daily if it were just me I was cooking for! I’m going to try this recipe and see if it fools him! 😉
Vicky says
Thanks so much Shelby!!! Haha it can be tough when you’ve got a meat eater to feed! Let me know if he is fooled by this one : ))
Amanda says
This looks fantastic! I’ve never even heard of heart of palm! So going to look into this! Thanks for the recipe!!
Vicky says
You’ve got to get your hands on hearts of palm! They’re the best!
Jennifer @ Delicious Everyday says
I’ve yet to come across hearts of palm here in Australia. I’ll have to track them down. And I had no idea they mimic the texture of crab! How amazing! There are so many great amazing ingredients about that prove you really don’t need meat 🙂
Vicky says
Exactly! That would be so sad if you couldn’t get your hands on them in Australia : (( I hope you can find them somewhere – they are usually in the canned veggie section in the US
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
The magic we can do with hearts of palm! The new jackfruit in my opinion 😉
Vicky says
YES! Exactly how I feel!
safira says
These look so good and healthy and love how low the calories are too!
Vicky says
Thanks! Another reason I love them : )
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
Yum….what a prefect lite and tasty meal. I could eat these any day of the week.
Vicky says
Haha my thoughts exactly : ))
Lane & Holly @ With Two Spoons says
This sounds awesome! I’ll be sure to share this with my vegan friends!
Vicky says
Thanks! Hope they get a chance to make it!
Claire says
Looking forward to trying this! How many does it serve? Didn’t see that. I loved your roasted veggies with the avo sauce. Oh, how delicious!!!
Claire
Vicky says
Thanks! Hope you enjoy these – the recipe as is serves 2.
Kristen says
I am so doing this!! I love the idea of crab cakes, but hate crab. I always have hearts of palm on hand too!
Vicky says
Then these are perfect for you!
Rachel @ {i love} my disorganized life says
Hearts of palm, who would have guessed? Looks delish!
Vicky says
Thanks!
Christie says
Avocado and quinoa, so creative – I bet these are great!
Vicky says
Thanks! I sure think they are : ))
Megan @ MegUnprocessed.com says
I want these ASAP!! YUMMMM!! Sharing now!
Vicky says
Thanks for sharing!
Nicole says
I never would have guessed what you used instead of crab. clever
Vicky says
I thought so too : ))
DessertForTwo says
SO interesting! I love hearts of palm in salad, but I never thought to use it like this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Vicky says
Aren’t hearts of palm the best? I love them
Jeannie says
I happen to have a recipe to make some vegan crab cakes on my kitchen island. I think I may try yours instead. When I saw my Costco was discontinuing hearts of palm I did some hoarding. If you are serious about a suggestion for calming your frayed nerves, have you ever tried essential oils. They work wonders for me.
Vicky says
Haha love that you stocked up on hearts of palm — that’s the way to go! I am not too familiar with essential oils so I’ll have to do some research — thanks for the tip!
Mary says
Looks healthy and delicious!
Joanna keahi says
How can I get a copy of This vegan cookbook?
Vicky says
Just sign up for the newsletter.