Carrot Lox (Vegan Smoked Salmon)
Say whaaat? Lox made from carrots? Oh yes, sweet reader. Vegan carrot lox is all the rage in the plant-based world. And even omnivores can jump on this bandwagon!
It’s salty. It’s smoky. This lox is incredibly flavorful. And it’s perfect on a vegan bagel sandwich with your favorite vegan cream cheese (or homemade cashew cream cheese). Top it off with tomato, finely shredded red onion, cucumber sliced, and capers, and you’re ready for the perfect breakfast.
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What is Lox?
Lox is a bright pinky-orange salmon filet that’s been preserved through a process of brining. It’s typically served on bagels with cream cheese and other accouterments.
Bagels with lox has become a traditional staple of Jewish cuisine and you’ll often find it at Jewish brunches, after-Temple gatherings, Jewish diners, and beyond.
Speaking of which, fun fact. Did you know the word “lox” comes from the Yiddish word for “salmon?” (Yiddish: לאַקס). Okay, okay, I’m done with my spiel. Get in the kitchen and whip this up with chutzpah, you mentsh!
The Perfect Carrot Lox — That Even Your Bubbe Would Approve Of!
This recipe is perfect for an easy buffet-style brunch or for breakfast for overnight guests (if you want to be the world’s greatest host). Growing up in a Jewish household, bagels with shmear and carrot lox was the norm for my family brunch occasions.
- If you have family is in town for a long weekend, this is the perfect recipe to whip up!
- Celebrating a vegan Bat Mitzvah or Bar Mitzvah? This carrot lox would be perfect served at an after-service buffet at your Temple.
- Have a caterer? Share this recipe with them an they can easily prepare a platter like the one below for your guests.
My family isn’t vegan, but they have been amazed by this recipe and are in awe of what carrots can do in place of salmon.
How We Discovered This Amazing Carrot Lox Recipe
I recently attended the Compassion In Action conference—a phenomenal event in Oakland with inspirational speakers and a room packed full of compassionate attendees who are working to make the world a kinder place. The event was catered by a new all-vegan meal delivery duo in Oakland called Planted Table. They served up vegan bagels with carrot lox and cashew cream cheese that were to die for.
I loaded up my plate and took about a trillion photos (because if it doesn’t go up on Instagram, did it really happen?) before devouring every last crumb. Before the event was even over I sent a message out to my new friends at Planted Table—co-founders Megan Scott and Chef Lauren Mahlke—asking if they’d like to share their amazing recipe on World of Vegan. To my gleeful surprise, they said yes! So here it is, my friends. The most incredible carrot lox recipe with homemade cashew cream cheese.
Key Ingredients in Carrot Lox
Carrots: The heart of this recipe, carrots are transformed into a smoky, savory alternative to traditional salmon. Their natural sweetness and firm texture make them an ideal canvas for soaking up the flavors of the marinade.
Soy Sauce or Tamari: Soy sauce or tamari provides the umami depth that mimics the traditional brininess of lox. It infuses the carrots with a rich, salty flavor while enhancing the overall savory profile.
Liquid Smoke: Liquid smoke adds the signature smokiness that characterizes traditional lox. It imparts a deep, smoldering aroma and flavor to the carrots, replicating the sensation of smoked fish.
Maple Syrup: Maple syrup contributes a delicate sweetness that balances the smoky and salty notes. It not only adds a touch of sweetness but also helps caramelize the carrots during baking, creating a beautiful glaze.
Dill: Dill’s bright, herbaceous aroma and flavor are a classic complement to lox. It infuses the carrots with a refreshing, slightly tangy herbal note, reminiscent of traditional lox’s dill garnish.
Nori Flakes: Nori flakes bring a sea-like brininess and umami depth to the dish, making it feel even more like authentic lox. These seaweed flakes add a hint of oceanic essence, enhancing the overall seafood illusion.
Lemon Juice and Zest: Lemon juice and zest provide a zesty, citrusy punch that brightens the flavors of the carrot lox. The acidity from the lemon balances the richness of the marinade and adds a refreshing contrast.
These star ingredients work in harmony to create a vegan-friendly carrot lox that captures the essence of traditional lox while offering a unique, plant-based twist.
Vegan Bagel and Cream Cheese Options
Okay, now you have your plant-based lox. But what about the bagels and the schmear? You can certainly make your own vegan bagels and cream cheese from scratch. But if you’re short on time or just can’t be bothered, explore our Vegan Bagel Guide and you can find store-bought vegan cream cheese brands at most grocery stores and natural foods stores. You can also visit our How to Order Vegan at Einstein Bros Bagels guide!
About the Carrot Lox Recipe Creators
Megan Scott and Lauren Mahlke are two vegan sisters rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area who want to help people transform their lives through the power of healing food. In wanting the healthiest diet for their families, they decided to take their health into their own hands and evaluate how the food they eat nourishes and empowers them every day.
After transitioning to plant-based eating, their skin cleared up, they shed pounds, and they felt a new level of energy and wellness. If you’re in the Oakland area, you can look forward to dining on Planted Table‘s chef-prepared, delicious, healthy, vegan meals that can be delivered to your home or office.
They are the first zero-waste vegan meal delivery option out there, which is groundbreaking as most meal delivery services leave lots of plastic containers and packaging behind that end up in our landfills. Planted Table takes waste out of the equation by using reusable glass containers that they pick up at the end of each week, wash, and reuse. They’re awesome and ready to help you take the stress out of your family’s meal time.
More Deliciously Vegan Jewish Recipes to Try
- Matzo Ball Soup (perfect for celebrating a vegan Passover)
- Aquafaba Latkes (a must for any vegan Hanukkah dinner)
- Vegan Noodle Kugel (a popular Jewish sweet noodle casserole that’s great any time of year!)
- Matzah Tater Tots
- Mushroom Chopped Liver
- Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
- Coconut Raisin Rum Tapioca Pudding
- Vegan Salmon Guide
Carrot Lox (Vegan Smoked Salmon)
Ingredients
- 1 pound carrots, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons dill, fresh or dried
- 2 tablespoons nori flakes
- ¼ cup lemon juice and zest of lemon
Instructions
- In a shallow pan or ziplock bag marinate raw carrot slices for 1-3 days.
- Preheat oven to 300*
- In a roasting pan with at least 2 inch sides, place carrots and marinade in pan and roast for 90 minutes until carrots are smooth and cooked through.
- Remove from liquid and serve. Reserve liquid for another marinade (it’s great for tofu or tempeh).
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe by superstar sisters Megan Scott and Lauren Mahlke. Photo of Megan Scoot and Lauren Mahlke by UltraSpective Photography. Recipe shared with permission from The Planted Table.
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Leave a Comment
Followed the recipe and ended up with black burnt carrots. Really disappointed
So sorry to hear that! The usual reason for burning is that the carrot slices were too thin or the temperature was too high. We hope you’ll give it another try with thicker slices or a lower than 300 degree F temp.
Bagels are one of the foods I miss most being vegan, but this tastes just like how I remember them! Love this recipe!
great idea and still so tasty. So easy to put together
I’m originally from New York, and have missed cream cheese and lox bagels. And now you’ve veganized it! Thank you for this recipe!
What a great idea! And not hard at all, which I love. Thanks for the recipe.
I love this so much! I have been missing my cream cheese and lox and this was so good!
Yum! I made this carrot lox the other day and everyone loved it! Thank you so much for sharing! It is perfect!
Love this carrot lox recipe! So easy to make and delicious!
Thats a super delicious looking lox bagel! Lox bagels used to be my favourite 🙂
This is such an awesome recipe!! Would love to whip this up for breakfast!
Oh, this is such creative recipe. Bagel with cream cheese and this vegan lox is an awesome breakfast idea
Carrots are so versatile! This recipe is so good bagels, my mouth is watering, and need to make it again 🙂
Though I’ve never tried non-vegan lox, I love this one! Bagels with plant-based cream cheese is one of my guilty pleasures and this recipe just takes it up a notch. Or two notches! This savory carrot lox not only looks lovely, but has the best flavor. You must give it a try!
Oh this is incredible! I grew up enjoying bagels and lox and never thought the lox could be veganized. Truly a game changer as this vegan lox is fantastic. Way to vastly improve Sunday brunch!!
I was never a fan of fish or lox, but this vegan lox made from carrots? I’m ALL about it! So good! I can finally embrace my Jewish breakfast roots 🙂
I love carrots and these carrot lox on a bagel is such a fantastic way to enjoy them!