This recipe for Vegan Smoked Salmon is a great alternative to traditional lox. Thin strips of carrot are marinated in sauces and spices to make the perfect complement to a bagel or served as a healthy vegan appetizer with crackers. Perfect for a Christmas breakfast or party food, or any time of year.
Vegan Lox? Yes, really!
This Vegan Smoked Salmon is made with strips of baked carrot that are seasoned in a delicious marinade.
The carrot gets a lovely texture that's reminiscent of smoked salmon and it's full of smokey flavor.
It's a delicious alternative to lox and it's perfect on a bagel with a schmear of dairy free cream cheese.
One of the best ways for vegans to enjoy all types of foods and flavors is to make meat and vegan fish alternatives that taste just like the real thing!
Smoked salmon is very versatile and popular in many countries (in Scandinavia it's gravadlax) and can be served for any meal or can be served as a party appetizer.
If you’re vegan or vegetarian you don't have to miss out on the flavor of smoked salmon with this easy recipe for carrot salmon lox.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
The main ingredient is shaved carrots which can be found anywhere.
Completely vegan and vegetarian.
Makes an impressive finger food for a vegan brunch.
You'll get a great smoky flavor by using smoked paprika.
Ingredients & Tools
Carrots - Thin carrots will make for thinner strips of vegan salmon and larger carrots make larger strips. Use whatever you have as they all work well.
Soy sauce - this helps to give the ‘salmon’ a rich flavor. If you’re gluten-free, then go for tamari instead.
Olive oil - I use extra virgin, but any mild oil will work. Avoid coconut, avocado etc.. as they’ll be too strong for the finished dish.
Lemon juice - use freshly squeezed or bottled.
Smoked paprika - this gives a lovely smokey flavor without using liquid smoke (which isn’t very healthy).
Garlic powder - this gives a nice flavor, but is optional if you don’t like garlic.
Maple syrup - for a vegan sweetener. You can substitute agave.
Black pepper - for a little extra flavor.
To serve
Bagels
Or try it on crackers as an appetizer.
Step By Step Tutorial
This vegetarian salmon recipe is really easy.
Just follow these step by step photos for perfect results.
Then, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full ingredients list and method.
Preheat the oven to 350f (180c) and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Peel the carrots and roll them in lots of salt, then place on the baking tray.
Bake the carrots for 30 minutes, turning occasionally, until soft. Allow them to cool.
Rub the salt off the cooled carrots.
Use a vegetable peeler to cut the carrots into ribbons.
In a medium bowl, combine all the carrot smoked salmon marinade ingredients.
Add the carrot lox strips to the bowl of marinade and refrigerate overnight or a minimum of 30 minutes.
TIP: The longer the better as it gives more time for the flavors to infuse the carrots. You can also prep it up to 5 days ahead and leave it in the marinade in the fridge until ready to serve.
Serve on a bagel with vegan cream cheese and top with a sprig of dill.
Tips
For a fishier flavor, add 1 tablespoon finely chopped nori (from a sheet) to the vegan smoked salmon marinade.
For a smokier flavor, add 1 tablespoon liquid smoke to the marinade.
The longer the carrot strips are marinated, the deeper the flavor will be.
Make sure your carrot strips are thin. Try cutting with a mandolin, veg peeler or very sharp knife - just be careful!
Instead of baking the carrot strips, you could also boil them until they are gently cooked.
Serving Suggestions
Serve on a vegan bagel with delicious Vegan Cream Cheese.
Add it to your breakfast along with these Vegan Fluffy Waffles.
Top your Vegan Lox topped with some pickled onions and cucumber.
Serve on crackers as an appetizer with these Garlic and Herb Stuffed Mushrooms.
Make your own Vegan Crackers to serve with the Carrot Lox.
Add some sun dried tomatoes and garlic on top.
Variations
Top with a few salty capers.
Try out this recipe using different color rainbow carrots.
Add some red pepper flake for a spicy smoked salmon.
Marinate with some Vegan Teriyaki Sauce for an Asian twist.
Add in fresh herbs and spices to your cream cheese for an additional boost of flavor.
For a typical dish of bagels with lox, serve the carrot lox on a bagel with cream cheese, topped with sliced red onion, tomatoes, cucumber and capers.
Special diets
Make it gluten-free: To make this recipe gluten free, make sure you are using a gluten free soy sauce such as Tamari.
Storage and Freezing
Freezing: It is not recommended that you freeze vegan smoked salmon as the texture will change once it is defrosted.
Storage: Carrot lox will keep fresh in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge.
FAQs
Can this recipe be made ahead of time?
Absolutely! Since the carrot lox benefits from being marinated as long as possible, this recipe can be made ahead of time. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, in the marinade.
Can Vegans Eat Salmon? Since vegans are strict with not eating any animal products, they cannot eat salmon or any other types of fish. Luckily there are plenty of alternatives. Vegetarians don't eat fish, but pescatarians do.
What's The Difference Between Smoked Salmon and Lox?
Lox is salmon that has been cured in salt and smoked salmon has been smoked until it is cured and cooked through.
Can I Use Another Vegetable To Make Vegan Lox?
You could also use thin sliced tomato in place of carrots to make vegan smoked salmon.
Vegan Carrot Recipes
If you still have carrots to use up after making vegan salmon, be sure to try these tasty vegan carrot recipes:
Carrot Jam - you only need 3 ingredients for this tasty vegetable jam, based on a Victorian recipe.
Easy Vegan Carrot Cake - the classic cake, veganized.
Carrot Hummus - thick, creamy and full of carrot flavor.
Sweet Potato Carrot Soup - a warming and nourishing bowl.
Carrot Pizza - there's carrot in the crust and the sauce!
Carrot Lentil Hotdogs - a nutritious veggie dog.
Vegan Fish Recipes
You can totally make vegan versions of many fish and seafood recipes. All you need is the right texture and the right seasonings. It helps if you get the color right too.
You'll love these creative and exciting vegan fish recipes.
Vegan Tuna Salad Sandwich - instead of tuna, this sandwich filling is full of chickpeas, vegan mayo and seasonings.
Vegan Lobster Roll - the texture of lobster is replicated in this vegan recipe with hearts of palm. The canned palm is found in many major grocery stores and health food stores. Perfect with a dairy free mayo dressing in a toasted bun.
Be sure to check out my epic list of the BEST vegan fish and seafood recipes.
Get the recipe
Check out the Veggie Desserts + Cakes cookbook on Amazon
📖 Recipe
Vegan Smoked Salmon (Carrot Lox)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 large carrots 220g
- Sea salt
For the Carrot Lox Marinade
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce ( or tamari)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
To serve (optional)
- Bagels
- Vegan Cream Cheese
- Fresh Dill
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350f (175c) and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
- Peel the carrots and roll them in lots of salt, then place on the baking tray and bake for 30 minutes, turning occasionally, until soft. Allow them to cool.
- Rub the salt off the cooled carrots, then use a vegetable peeler to cut the carrots into ribbons.
- In a medium bowl, combine the carrot smoked salmon marinade ingredients.
- Add the carrot lox strips to the bowl of marinade and refrigerate overnight or a minimum of 30 minutes (the longer the better as it gives more time for the flavors to infuse the carrots).
- Serve on a bagel with vegan cream cheese and top with a sprig of dill.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Lee Kaplan
I’ve made vegan lox from carrots, but it involved burying (literally) the carrots in a ton of kosher salt, and baking the whole mess. Your method sounds MUCH simpler, and less time-consuming.
I’m Jewish, and grew up on cream cheese and lox on bagels. The first time I tried carrot lox (this is the same marinade) with cream cheese, tomato and onion on a bagel, I was kvelling (swooning)!
Kathleen
I made it a couple of years ago and was amazed at how good it was. I’m not vegan and never will be but I do like smoked salmon and this was incredibly good. I would never have guessed it was made with carrots.and don’t know where people get their inspiration from. Well done. Going to make it as a starter for the vegans in the family for a Burns Night starter.
Irv
Sounds good and I’m going to try it. But for crying out loud, it’s NOT “vegan salmon” it’s smoked carrots!!
Lee Kaplan
Close your eyes when you first taste it. The baking and marinade completely change the texture of the carrot slices.
Alex
Such a great recipe for those craving that smoky salmon taste without having to eat seafood. So much cheaper too!
Linda
You could have fooled me with this one! I really thought it was smoked salmon on that bagel. I will definitely be making this for my next get-together for all my vegan friends. It was easy to make and kept well in the refrigerator for a couple days.
Laura
WHat an interesting alternative. I will make it when my vegan friends come around
Natalie
This is such an interesting recipe. I never knew there is such thing as vegan smoked salmon. I need to make this. I'm curious to find out how this taste. Looks delicious, that's for sure.
Beth
These look so delicious! My daughter and I are going to love this!
veenaazmanov
This is such an interesting recipe. Best Topping option for so many recipes. Looks perfect . Yum