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bird's eye view of vegetarian calamari

Vegan Calamari date night recipe

This Vegan Calamari date night recipe made with deep-fried king oyster mushrooms is the perfect dish to impress your date, especially if they’re vegetarian.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 2
Calories 335kcal

Ingredients

Mushrooms

  • 3 to 4 King oyster mushrooms
  • 2 Lemon wedges for garnish
  • 1.5 cups Kombu water for soaking
  • Finely chopped parsley (optional) for garnish
  • Vegetable oil for frying

Batter

  • 1 1/2 cup All purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp dry oregano
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Slice the king oyster mushroom stems into 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Set aside the mushroom tops for another use.
  • For each mushroom round, use a ½-inch round cookie cutter or the end of a metal piping tip to punch out the center of each slice. You'll batter and fry these inner circles as well.
  • Soak the mushroom slices (with the punched-out circles) in kombu water for at least 15-20 minutes to infuse them with a subtle sea-like flavor.
  • Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or a large pot with a thermometer to 350°F. If using a pot, ensure there’s at least 2 inches of oil on the bottom for proper frying.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon dry oregano, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
  • Add water gradually, whisking until you achieve a pancake-like batter. The batter should cling to the mushrooms without dripping off.
  • Working in batches, add half of the mushroom pieces to the batter, tossing to coat evenly. Tap off any excess batter and carefully add the pieces to the hot oil, a few at a time.
  • Use a wooden spoon or chopsticks to separate the pieces while frying, preventing them from sticking together.
  • Fry the mushroom pieces for about 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown, for a total of 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Remove the fried mushrooms using a slotted spoon and transfer them to a paper towel-lined baking sheet or platter to drain.
  • Repeat the frying process until all mushrooms are cooked.
  • Just before serving, squeeze fresh lemon juice over the vegan calamari. Serve with tzatziki sauce or your preferred dipping sauce, such as vegan cocktail sauce or a homemade ketchup and horseradish mixture.