Vegan ‘Cod’ Fillet (Flaky, Savory, & Fish-Free!)

vegan beer battered fish and chips

Beer-battered ‘fish’ and chips, School Night Vegan

Atlantic cod populations have now plummeted, due to decades of severe overfishing, often due to the popular meal of ‘fish and chips’ in chip ships. So much so, that some now sell ‘dogfish’ (shark) instead.

This has led to strict fishing quotas and collapsed ecosystems in many places. So choosing plant-based cod helps for wild fish stocks and vulnerable marine habitats to recover. And there is no risk of absorbing ocean pollutants like mercury or industrial chemicals like PCBs.

Keep vegan cod away from pets due to salt and other unsafe ingredients.

For recipes, unless you have a food waste bin (turned into biogas), just bin allium scraps (onion, leeks, garlic, shallot, chives), as acids could harm compost creatures. 

Another fish at risk is Atlantic pollock, which is so widely used that one expert said ‘if you don’t know what the fish is’, it’s likely this. It’s the ingredient in McDonald’s Filet-o-Fish (Trump’s favourite meal apparently, which says a lot).

Many people also boycott cod and other seafood (haddock, halibut, shrimp and lobster) from Canada’s Pacific Coast, as a protest to the government in not ending the annual commercial seal hunt, where young seals are clubbed to death. This practice earns only a tiny income for (most comes from fish). The market is now near collapse for seal fur exports, thanks to a ban on EU imports.

Moving Mountains Codless Fish Fillets 

Moving Mountains vegan fish fillet

Moving Mountains Fish Fillets are made from high-protein plant ingredients (plus fishless fingers  that are as good as the captain’s!), sold in the frozen aisle of most supermarkets. This brand was founded by a vegetarian entrepreneur who was told by his GP to give up animal foods for his health. He got better and his products are now sold nationwide, including for food service. All packaging is easily recycled.

Moving Mountains fishless fingers

For children and swallowing difficulties, cut fish fingers into small pieces and supervise, as they are choking hazards.

vegan cod

Look in stores for The Vegetarian Butcher’s vegan cod almighty!

England’s chip shops (alternative options)

vegan fish and chips

Of course, the English chippy is an institution. Aside from the fact that most chip shops now use palm oil (over rapeseed oil that is more orangutan-friendly and supports local farmers), chip shops could be offering alternatives to cod, as mentioned above is now a vulnerable species.

London’s Sutton & Sons offers vegan fish and chips (Hackney, Stoke Newington and Islington – it also serves vegan pie and mash!)

As well as plant-based cod fillets, why not add Moving Mountains (sausages, burgers, nuggets) and Magpyes (vegan meat pies from Northumberland?)

Chips are no longer wrapped in newspaper, due to food regulations. It’s not good to ‘fish leftovers for cats’, as most are too fatty with hidden bones.

Plastic forks are now banned in the UK. You could go further and avoid serving chips in plastic bags too (bad for the planet and makes chips go soggy).

The No Catch Co: a vegan fish and chippy!

no catch vegan fish and chips

The No Catch Co (Brighton) is England’s first vegan fish and chip shop! Set up by animal welfare campaigners, it uses algae protein to help prevent the 2.3 trillion fish killed each year for food). Everything is sold in zero waste packaging:

Diners are blown away by wonderful alternatives::

  • Vegan Cod or Smoked Haddock & Chips
  • Jumbo Battered Saveloy & Chips
  • Jumbo Lemom Shrimp
  • Calamari Sides & Chips
  • No-Cow Desserts!

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