Vegan Oyster Po' Boy with Spicy Garlic Sauce

A vegan oyster po' boy with spicy garlic sauce has crispy bites of oyster mushrooms seasoned with a special ingredient for flavors of the sea. Piled high on a crusty roll with lettuce and spicy sauce, yum!

recipe originally published July 6, 2015

Vegan po' boy sandwich

This vegan oyster mushroom sandwich was originally called a soyster po' boy, because I thought I was clever. This sandwich uses tofu, hence the soyster. The literal oyster comes from oyster mushrooms. 

These vegan oyster mushrooms are coated in a gluten free panko, giving them a great crunch! 

My favorite way to replicate that flavor of the sea is arame. I generally see it as small strands, so I like to crush it with a mortar and pestle or a rolling pin and baggie situation. If you try to chop it with a knife, it literally flies all over. The extra effort is worth it, because it imparts that fishy flavor! It's okay to leave a few longer strands, it's a neat look for this "oyster" sandwich. 

For another layer of flavor, this vegan fish sauce is a great addition.

Soy free version

If you are soy free, simply omit the tofu and increase the mushrooms. For some variety, you can also add other mushrooms like a spongy lion's mane, or add sliced hearts of palm for some tangy flavor.

Another option is to use cauliflower pieces, prepared similar to this orange cauliflower recipe, or just blanch the cauliflower slightly, so it is a bit chewy / less firm.

Did you make this vegan oyster po' boy? 

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Yield: 4 servings

Vegan oyster po' boy

Print

This mushroom sandwich is brimming with flavors of the sea!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

Spicy Garlic Sauce

• ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• ½ dill pickle (2-3 tablespoons), minced fine
• 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon paprika

Oyster Po Boy Sandwich

• 1 (12 ounce) package extra firm tofu
• 4 ounces oyster mushrooms
• juice of 1 lemon
• ¼ cup dairy free milk
• 1 teaspoon vegan fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• ¾ cup gluten free panko
• 3 tablespoons arame, crushed
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 ½ teaspoons celery salt
• 4 gluten free bread rolls / split top buns
• 8 leaves butter lettuce / leafy greens

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 °F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Spicy Garlic Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, garlic, pickle, hot sauce and paprika. Set aside.
3. Oyster Po' Boys: Clean mushrooms, remove stems. Chop into bite size pieces.
4. Drain and carefully squeeze tofu. Using hands, rip tofu into bite size pieces.
5. Using a mortar and pestle, crush the arame into an almost powder. Alternatively, place the arame in a plastic bag and roll / crush with rolling pin or back of spoon.
6. In small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, milk, fish sauce, and hot sauce. In another bowl, combine panko, arame, paprika, and celery salt.
7. Set up breading station left to right: baking sheet with parchment, then panko bowl, then wet bowl. Using one hand to dip and remove from the wet bowl and place into panko bowl, the other hand to coat with panko and place onto baking sheet. Dip each mushroom and tofu until all are coated, breaded and on baking sheet.
8. Bake at 375 °F for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, turn over, return to oven and continue baking for another 10 minutes.
9. Assemble sandwiches: spread a generous layer of Spicy Garlic Sauce on each roll, top with lettuce leaves. Top with warm mushrooms and tofu, drizzle with more sauce or hot sauce, enjoy immediately.

Notes

Soy free option

If you are soy free, simply omit the tofu and increase the mushrooms. For some variety, you can also add other mushrooms like a spongy lion's mane, or add sliced hearts of palm for some tangy flavor.

Another soy free or mushroom free option is to use cauliflower pieces, prepared similar to this orange cauliflower recipe, or just blanch the cauliflower slightly, so it is a bit chewy / less firm.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Vegan Fish Sauce
• 
  Arame Natural Seaweed
• 
  Organic Oyster Mushroom
• 
  Vegan Mayonnaise
• 
  Smoked Paprika
• 
  Kikkoman Panko Slyte Coating Gluten Free, 8 Oz
• 
  Crystal Hot Sauce

about Kristina:

Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food!  Read more...

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