🐟 Oil Packed #13
A divine plant-based tin
Seed to Surf Celery Root Whitefish
Price: $12.50
Weight: 95g
Texture: Crunchy
Taste: Savory / Smoky
Pair with: Cream cheese as a spread
I really could have used this tin when I was vegan. I was vegetarian for about five years, vegan for two of those years, and I was never a huge fan of food that was pretending to be meat. This tin does a great job of spotlighting a wonderful vegetable that happens to make a great replacement for smoked whitefish.
Seed to Surf Celery Root Whitefish is a nicely spiced, richly flavored tin. Inside, we have a handful of diced, smoked celery root (also known as celeriac), packed in sunflower oil with seaweed, spices, and salt. The celery root has a peppery flavor, and it’s spiced with a little warmth which gives it a mature, complex flavor. The celery root feels fresh with a nice crunch when you bite into it, yet still feels juicy from the sunflower oil. I’ll be upfront - by itself, this doesn’t taste like whitefish at all. But it’s delicious in its own regard, and the smokiness is on par with most smoked fish.
Now, this fish is nice on a club cracker (which are vegan!), but it’s perfect for a dip. Drain the oil and dump the can into your blender with some vegan cream cheese1 (I love Tofutti), a couple tablespoons of chopped scallions, and blend it up! No need for any additional salt or seasoning, this spread is good to go. Try it with your favorite potato chips, and of course, club crackers, and you’ll polish off this dip in one sitting - I certainly did. When mixed into a dip or spread, this is a near 1:1 substitute for smoked whitefish. Whether you eat meat or not, you’ll enjoy this smoked celery root.
The vegans win with this tin, and as a fish-eater, I’d eat this any day of the week. The only negative here is the steep price - but it’s absolutely worth it. You can get this tin from Seed to Surf’s website, or from your favorite internet tin retailer, like Rainbow Tomatoes Garden.
Thanks to Alex for the suggestion!
Rating: ★★★★★
photos by Aaron Barton
You can, of course, use dairy-based cream cheese instead.