Dreams really can come true!
On Friday, May 20th, I made my TV debut on the Today Show, cooking vegan crab cakes with Al Roker. It was so much fun!! Until the rehearsal the evening before, I was afraid to tell anyone about my upcoming appearance. What if they changed their minds and didn’t want me on? This opportunity was major, and I couldn’t risk jinxing myself. For 6 weeks I told only my closest family members and friends about the show.
The night before I could barely sleep for all the rehearsing I was doing in my head. I barely had time to get nervous before they put me on set, and I kept it cool the whole segment. Even finished my recipe on time. Yeah, I was a pro 😉
…and the Today Show team: INCREDIBLE! They all made me feel at home. Al Roker, Tamron Hall and Natalie Morales were so charming and kind. Everyone from the production team was a rockstar. Of course they were professional, but they were also super friendly and fun to be around. Shoutout to the whole crew!!
Fingers crossed I will be on the show again. Tamron said, “If all vegan food tastes like this, I would become vegan tomorrow. Well, dang girl. I will show you the way and the light!!
My now famous 😏 vegan crab cake recipe is reposted below. Buen provecho, my friends!
Vegan Crab Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 14- oz can chickpeas unsalted beans
- 1 14- oz can hearts of palm chopped into large pieces
- 1 jalapeño seeded and minced
- ¼ cup vegan mayonnaise I prefer Just Mayo
- 2 tbsp Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tsp umeboshi plum vinegar
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs + ½ cup for coating
- Red Pepper Aioli
- ½ cup vegan mayo
- 4 roasted red peppers from jar, and dried off
- 1/4 cup dill fresh
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Place the chickpeas, hearts of palm, and jalepeño into a food processor and pulse to combine and mash. Don’t over process it though, you still want some crabby texture.
- Scoop the chickpea mixture into a large bowl and add the other ingredients. Stir well to combine.
- Place the remaining ½ cup of panko in a shallow dish.
- Heat an oil coated skillet on medium-high heat.
- Form the “crab” mixture into small patties–making sure to pack the mixture tightly, and then coat in the panko in the shallow dish.
- Pan fry for 3 minutes on each side.
- Do this with the remaining batter. I usually fit 4-5 patties on the skillet at a time. When they are cooked, transfer them to a plate covered with paper towel.
- To make the red pepper aioli, blend the ingredients in blender until smooth.
- Serve with a dollop of the red pepper aioli and fresh greens.
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / October 15, 2017 at 6:58 pm /
Thank you so much, Laura!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / August 14, 2017 at 5:15 am /
Nice!! I’m very glad to hear that 🙂
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / August 3, 2017 at 4:29 am /
Hey Matt! Try it with rice wine vinegar 🙂 Really, I think either would be fine. Or lemon juice. Enjoy!
Jill Katsoulis / August 7, 2016 at 3:31 pm /
Hello! So I’m going be making the “crab” cakes this afternoon and had one question. The recipe from the today show calls for 2 cans of HOP but on your site it only says 1 can. Also your site doesn’t have the dill in the sauce as the Today show recipe does. Could you please clarify for me? Thank you!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / August 8, 2016 at 3:11 pm /
Hi Jill! I would follow my recipe as listed here. You can add dill if you like, or not.
Enjoy!
dasha / July 18, 2016 at 6:48 am /
Yayyyyy I am so proud of you! How good is God? I can’t wait to see which show you will take by storm, next! Thanks so much for going out there and proving that vegans are not without tongues!!! lol
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / July 27, 2016 at 3:34 pm /
Thank you so much! 🙂 xoxo
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / June 23, 2016 at 1:07 pm /
Hi Mandy! They’re different, but I would give them a try. If you can find jackfruit, that might work too. Or bamboo shoots, maybe 🙂 Let me know how they turn out!
Jill / September 30, 2016 at 2:54 pm /
Shredded zucchini works also
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / June 5, 2016 at 1:01 pm /
Thank you, Lauren!! xo
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / May 30, 2016 at 2:53 am /
Thank you so much, Sam!! It was so fun 🙂
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / May 30, 2016 at 2:53 am /
Thank you, Lysette!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / May 30, 2016 at 2:53 am /
Thank you so much!!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / May 30, 2016 at 2:53 am /
Thank you so much!! I know, right?! Hopefully vegan food will become more and more mainstream, and normalized 🙂
sweetonnh / May 25, 2016 at 4:51 pm /
So proud of you Jenne!!!! Thank you for replaying it as I missed it live.
BTW: If Tamron went vegan, that would be amazing!!
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / May 30, 2016 at 2:52 am /
Thank you!! Oh yes, wouldn’t that be amazing if she goes vegan. Fingers crossed!! xo
Antoinette / May 25, 2016 at 3:04 pm /
Congratulations Jenne! So Proud
Jenné @ Sweet Potato Soul / May 30, 2016 at 2:52 am /
Thank you so much!!