From The Exclusive Collection of FREE Plant-Based Recipes

By Plant-Based Nutrition Professional Chef Susy • Designed For Effortless Weight Loss & Weight Maintenance

Best Vegan Smoked Salmon Bistro Breakfast | Plant-Based Recipe

Name: Best Vegan Smoked Salmon Bistro Breakfast | Plant-Based Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 8 h 25 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Worldwide, English, French, American
Ingredients: 3 tbsp caper brine; 1 tbsp wakame (dried seaweed); 2 1/2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari; 2 tsp miso paste; 4 tsp rice wine vinegar; 4 tsp agave syrup; 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp cold pressed sesame oil; 3 medium carrots, sliced long ways on a mandolin or with a potato peeler; 21 ounces (600 g) medium/firm tofu; 1/4 ounce (7 g) black salt; 1/4 ounce (7 g) nutritional yeast; 1/2 tsp (1.5 g) white pepper; 1/2 tsp (1.5 g) turmeric; 9 ounces (250 g) silken tofu / medium tofu; 1 tsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed, and some zest; 1 tbsp Vegg seasoning - See Recipe; 2 tsp Dijon mustard; 1 tsp white wine vinegar; 1/4 tsp dried tarragon; 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper; 1/4 tsp xanthan gum - if needed for thickening; 3 1/2 ounces (100 g) baby spinach; Drizzle balsamic vinegar; 4 seeded bagels or toasted muffins; Fresh or dried dill to garnish.; Pinch salt & pepper to taste

Craving a classic smoked salmon breakfast but plant-based? 🌱 This vegan smoked salmon bistro breakfast is the ultimate game-changer 🥕 Packed with flavour and protein, it’s the perfect way to start your day.

Prep Time: 15 Mins | Cook Time: 10 Mins

Inactive Time: 8 Hours | Total Time: 8 Hours & 25 Mins

Servings: Adjustable

Let's Be Friends!

Hi, I'm Susy

Here at

LEAN💚Plant-Based

we share whole food plant-based recipes, inspired by cuisines from all around the world: Reimagined for optimum health, and redesigned for sustainable weight loss and control.

Get My FREE eBook:

The Sustainable Weight Loss Companion

👇🏼

If you think following a vegan-friendly diet means you can’t enjoy some good smoked salmon… you’re mistaken there! Folks craving for this classic simply need a plant-based recipe. And while typical salmon recipes can take up to 3 days to make, this recipe can be done within a day (preferably overnight).

My vegan smoked salmon takes an active prep time of 15 minutes, and an inactive time of 8 hours. So it’s great to make on the weekend. Perfect for your Sunday brunch. Or perhaps as a food prep for the rest of the week. Keep reading to see how humble carrots can make some smoky salmon. One that perfectly mimics the taste of traditional lox, minus the mercury and micro-plastics!

Why This Recipe Works

Carrots Work as Salmon

This recipe comes together so wonderfully because carrots work as a convincing smoked salmon substitute. Marinating them overnight in spices, liquid smoke, and acidic elements creates a tender and smoky (and slightly tangy!) result. This beautifully mimics the taste as well as texture of real salmon.

Flavours are Amazingly Balanced

This recipe expertly balances three different flavours: sweet, salty, and smoky. And the tofu scramble and hollandaise sauce make it super creamy.

Visually Appealing

The colours of the spinach, carrots, and dill make for a visually stunning dish! It’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the palate 😉

A Complete Breakfast/Brunch

When you have this vegan smoked salmon bistro breakfast, you can expect to feel full — and energised — throughout the morning. This is because it has a good amount of protein (27 g) and fibre (10 g), so it's also perfect for folks on a ~~weight loss~~ mission. Plus, the moderate healthy fat content provides essential fatty acids. And, finally, the controlled sugar levels mean no blood sugar spikes early in the morning.

Plant Based Smoked Salmon Bistro Breakfast

Recipe Ingredient Notes

Now that you know all the amazing benefits, let’s talk about the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe, along with quick notes about each.

Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil. This is a foundation of many healthy dishes — and offers them a fruity flavour. Plus, it’s rich in antioxidants. For the best quality, you may want to look for cold-pressed and preferably organic extra virgin.

Caper brine. This is a briny liquid. It adds salty tanginess to the marinade. If you don’t have caper brine on hand, you can always substitute with a splash of white wine vinegar (and a pinch of salt).

Wakame (dried seaweed) or seaweed of your choice. This ingredient adds a unique umami flavour to our marinade. Alternatives? Nori, kelp, or dulse.

Soy sauce or tamari. Both add a salty and savoury component to the marinade. (Remember, tamari is a gluten-free alternative to soy sauce).

Miso paste. This fermented soybean paste adds depth to the marinade. You want to keep in mind that white miso has a milder flavour. On the other hand, red miso is stronger.

Wine vinegar. The acidity of wine vinegar will help break down the carrots — and balance the sweetness of the marinade. I love using white wine vinegar, which is a classic choice. But apple cider vinegar can also work.

Agave syrup or maple syrup. We use this for the sweetness it adds to the (otherwise savoury) flavours. Agave syrup has a lower glycemic index than maple syrup, so keep that in mind if you’re watching your sugar intake.

Garlic powder. A staple in many cuisines, garlic powder adds a pungent taste.

Smoked paprika. This spice will incorporate a smoky flavour to the carrots. Something like the taste you’d enjoy with smoked salmon.

Liquid smoke. This concentrated smoky flavour enhances the ultimate “smoked salmon” effect. A little will go a long way, so use sparingly.

Carrots. These are the star of the show! Carrots have so many benefits; they are good for your vision and improve your immunity. Plus, these veggies can also help with weight loss. You can slice these long ways on a mandoline — or with a potato peeler.

To Serve

Baby spinach. I love to use this in my breakfast. So I’ll definitely recommend serving it with your vegan smoked salmon. Baby spinach can make for a nutrient-packed base for your breakfast. In terms of health benefits… it can help prevent cancer and lower your blood sugar levels. Plus, it adds freshness.

Balsamic vinegar. This will add a tangy sweetness to the serving.

Seeded bagels or toasted muffins. The perfect base for your vegan smoked salmon breakfast! I’ve tried it with both bagels and muffins, and loved them equally. You can choose your favorite type of bread.

Fresh or dried dill. We’ll be using this to decorate the dish.

Salt and pepper, to taste. These are essential seasonings for any dish.

How To Make The Recipe

Ingredients? Check ✅ Let’s whip them up into vegan smoked salmon bistro breakfast!

You want to begin by putting together the marinade. In a bowl, add all the ingredients we mentioned for the marinade — minus the carrots. Stir it until it’s well-blended, and set it aside.

Next, peel the carrots followed by tailing them. You can use a mandoline to create long strips of carrots; a vegetable peeler will also work. When cut, steam these strips over a pot of boiling water. Around four minutes of steaming should do. At this point, the carrots should become tender but retain their firmness.

Once steamed, you want to promptly transfer the hot carrot strips to the prepared marinade. Gently mixing this will make sure the carrots are evenly coated. Now that the mix is ready — you can cover and refrigerate it overnight. This will let the flavours develop.

While the vegan salmon marinates, prepare the tofu scramble according to the recipe. This doesn’t take too long, so you can do it in the morning, too.

When ready to serve, arrange fresh spinach on a plate. Drizzle a modest amount of balsamic vinegar over the spinach. Next, place open bagels or toasted muffins on the spinach. Generously layer the scrambled tofu (what I like to call scrambled Vegg) onto the bagels or muffins. Crown this with the marinated vegan salmon and a dollop of hollandaise sauce for richness. Garnish with fresh or dried dill — and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Your vegan smoked salmon bistro breakfast is now ready... Enjoy! 😋 💚

Variations, Ideas & Notes

Make it spicier with cayenne pepper. You can also use some red pepper flakes.
If you want some more texture — try grilling the marinated carrots.
Looking to go light? Serve the vegan smoked salmon on toasted wholemeal bread.
Something more fulfilling? Have your salmon with roasted potatoes. I love to have mine with a fruit salad, too.
For a Tex-Mex twist, try swapping scrambled tofu for some cheeky vegan huevos a la Mexicana, and serve with smashed avocado or fresh guac for some healthy fats.
To add a nutty flavour, serve with toasted sourdough bread.
For a gluten-free option, lay it on corn tortillas, rice cakes, etc.
If you prefer a sweeter breakfast, add as much maple syrup as you wish 😁
And if you’re trying to balance the sweetness, add a little bit of lemon juice.

Pro Tips For This Recipe

Before I wind up, I’d like to share some pro tips that can help you master this recipe for vegan smoked salmon bistro breakfast.

If you’re looking to prep in advance for convenience, here’s what to keep in mind—

Marinate the vegan salmon the night before, and make extra for a lovely bagel with vegan cream cheese.
The scrambled tofu can also be prepped in advance and fried on the day. Again, if you make extra, it tastes amazing in a sandwich with vegan mayonnaise and fresh mustard cress. Mmm!
The hollandaise sauce can also be made in advance, but it’s quick and easy to make. Freshly made Hollandaise sauce will stay in the fridge for up to a week.

For the recipe, here’s what can give you amazing flavours—

Marinate the carrots for at least 6 hours, or even overnight.
If you like a creamy tofu scramble, you want to use extra-firm tofu. Also, be sure to press out as much liquid as possible before cooking it.
If you’re serving for breakfast or brunch, you may also want to add creamy mango lassi as the drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you meal prep this recipe?

Yep, you sure can. When I’m meal prepping, I marinate the vegan salmon overnight and prepare the tofu scramble in advance.

How to store vegan smoked salmon bistro breakfast?

Got leftovers? Add them to an airtight container and toss them into the fridge. You want to add some water as you reheat; this prevents the dish from drying out.

Is there a substitute for caper brine?

The best substitute would be white wine vinegar + a pinch of salt.

Can you use fresh garlic?

I like to use garlic powder because it’s super convenient. If you prefer, you can use fresh garlic instead; make sure to mince it beforehand.

When to stop cooking the carrots?

That would be approximately 4 minutes after you begin. I test my carrots with a fork before stopping; if they’re tender but firm, I know they’re done.

How to make this recipe low-carb or lower-cal?

Instead of bagels/muffins, use low-carb bread as you serve your dish — or, while making it, use more spinach, less bread, inline with our More Plants💚Less Pounds method for sustainable weight loss and long-term weight control. 🤗

If you made the recipe, make sure to tag me on Instagram @vegan.susy

More Free Resources

Plant-Based Meal Prep: The Ultimate Guide to a Successful Vegan Diet

The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Meal Prep for Vegan Weight Los

Ready to revolutionise your meals and your health? Look no further than a vegan diet! Discover the ease and benefits of meal planning and preparation with simple strategies and my tasty make...

Top 15 Plant-Based Protein Sources for a Vegan Diet

As a vegan health coach and plant-based nutritionist, I often get asked about plant-based protein sources. After all, protein is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in the function and structure of our...

How Much Exercise Do You Really Need on a Plant-Based Diet?

Are you wondering how much exercise you need to get in shape and boost your energy on a plant-based diet? Look no further! In this post, we’ll dive into the optimal amount of exercise for optimal…