This vegan lemon garlic scallops recipe is so tasty and so easy to make! Everyone will think you're a professional chef but you don't need to be a professional chef to make this recipe!
With the help of king oyster mushrooms, it's so easy to make vegan scallops!

Why I Made Vegan Lemon Garlic Scallops
It's interesting that I made this recipe because even before going vegan I was never a huge seafood fan. I had maybe made fish once in my entire life. My dad was however quite fond of scallops (especially with his steak). I've recently helped both my parents go vegan and in a bid to help my dad still enjoy some of his favorite foods I created this vegan scallop recipe.
I LOVE mushrooms. I eat them almost every single day. They're so versatile and come in so many different varieties it amazes me what we can do with them! Not to mention they are crucial for our ecosystems. I watched a documentary on them recently called "Fantastic Fungi" because I'm that obsessed with mushrooms that I watch documentaries on them. I actually didn't know it was about "magic" mushrooms until about halfway through but it was still very interesting.
Conversely, my dad hates mushrooms so this vegan lemon garlic scallops recipe is the real test of my culinary ability. I hope you enjoy it as much as me!
How To Make Vegan Lemon Garlic Scallops
This vegan lemon garlic scallops recipe is super easy to make and doesn't require any special equipment or skills. All you need is a sharp knife, a cutting board, and a frying pan.
Ingredients for Vegan Lemon Garlic Scallops
- King Oyster Mushrooms
- Lemons/Lemon Juice
- Vegan Butter
- White Wine
- Garlic
- Parsley
- Linguini (optional)
- Vegan Parmesan (optional)
Kitchen Equipment I used for recipe:
- Great Non Stick Cast Iron Skillet - This non stick cast iron skillet is perfect for this recipe beause it has deep edges and retains/distributes heat really well!
- World's Best 15 Piece Knife Set - This is completely just my opinion but this knife set is extremely affordable and it is easily one of the best knife sets I've used in my entire life. I used to buy new cutlery from the grocery store everytime I moved (which was a lot) but now I'll never go with another knife set again!
Instructions for Vegan Lemon Garlic Scallops
- If you're pairing these with a pasta like us, start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil and cooking the pasta according to the instructions on the box.
- While your pasta cooks, take your king oyster mushrooms out of the package and cut the tops and bottoms off of them. (the tops are still usable but the bottoms aren't). Cut the king oyster mushrooms in one inch blocks. Score one side of mushroom with a criss-cross pattern (see pictures for a visual).
- Heat 2 tablespoon of vegan butter in a large nonstick pan on medium-high heat. When the butter is melted and sizzling add your king oyster mushrooms. If your pan is small you may have to work in batches, you don't want them to overlap you want them to all lay flat on the pan. Fry the mushrooms until they start to get a nice golden brown crisp on the bottom being careful not to burn them, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and fry again for another 4-5 minutes until a golden crisp layer is formed on both sides. Remove the mushrooms from the pan.
- Melt the remaining butter into the pan. Once melted add your minced garlic and cook for 1 minute stirring frequently. Next add ¼ cup of white wine and bring to a simmer. Cook for 4 minutes, your sauce should reduce by about half at this point. Remove your pan from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.
- Add your mushrooms back to the pan and stir making sure to coat all the mushrooms with sauce. If you made pasta you can stir your pasta into the pan at this point as well.
- Serve and top with parsley and vegan parmesan (optional).
Commonly Asked Questions About Vegan Scallops
Can you make vegan lemon-garlic scallops ahead of time?
You can make this recipe ahead however it is best enjoyed fresh. The mix of the ingredients makes it so that it begins to break down the foods. If you prep it a day or two before that might be alright but any longer would ruin the recipe. If you are making it ahead reheat it with a bit of vegan butter, white wine, and lemon juice in a pan.
How to store vegan scallops?
If you do choose to store this recipe, use an air-tight container and store it in the fridge for a maximum of 2 days.
What to serve with scallops?
Scallops pair well with many things, especially vegetables. Here are some items you can pair with your scallops to bring it to the next level:
- Brussel Sprouts
- Asparagus
- Lentil Salad
- Tabouleh
- Broccoli
- Chickpea Salad
Full Measurements & Instructions Below!
Vegan Lemon Garlic Scallops
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound King Oyster Mushrooms
- 3 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- 4 Garlic Cloves minced
- 5 tablespoon Vegan Butter
- ¼ cup White Wine
- 1 tablespoon Parsley
- 1 tablespoon Vegan Parmesan optional
Instructions
- If you're pairing these with pasta like us, start by bringing a pot of salted water to a boil and cooking the pasta according to the instructions on the box.
- While your pasta cooks, take your king oyster mushrooms out of the package and cut the tops and bottoms off of them. (the tops are still usable but the bottoms aren't). Cut the king oyster mushrooms into one-inch blocks. Score one side of the mushroom with a criss-cross pattern (see pictures for a visual).
- Heat 2 tablespoon of vegan butter in a large nonstick pan on medium-high heat. When the butter is melted and sizzling, add your king oyster mushrooms. If your pan is small you may have to work in batches, you don't want them to overlap you want them to all lay flat on the pan. Fry the mushrooms until they start to get a nice golden brown crisp on the bottom being careful not to burn them, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and fry again for another 4-5 minutes until a golden crisp layer is formed on both sides. Remove the mushrooms from the pan.
- Melt the remaining butter into the pan. Once melted add your minced garlic and cook for 1-minute stirring frequently. Next, add ¼ cup of white wine and bring to a simmer. Cook for 4 minutes, your sauce should reduce by about half at this point. Remove your pan from heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.
- Add your mushrooms back to the pan and stir making sure to coat all the mushrooms with sauce. If you made pasta you can stir your pasta into the pan at this point as well.
- Serve and top with parsley and vegan parmesan (optional).
Nutrition
If you try this recipe, please leave a 5-star review in the comments section below! I’d love to hear from you! You can rate it, comment about it, send us pictures about it on Instagram @RescueDogKitchen.
Nutrition Facts for Vegan Lemon Garlic Scallops
The nutrition facts for this recipe are simply for the "scallops" and we did not include any pasta in the calculation. We did this because likely many people either won't pair this with pasta or will choose a different pasta than the one we chose (4-bean Linguine). So take that into account if you're looking at the numbers and plan on adding pasta or another grain as well.
This vegan lemon-garlic scallop recipe doesn't have a ton to it. It's mostly just mushrooms and vegan butter. You can clearly see that reflected in the nutrition facts and this recipe should be paired with something like a protein/whole-grain pasta, and a side of vegetables to ensure you're getting maximum nutrition.
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Jyllian Green
I never thought a mushroom could be used as an alternate to something as unique as a scallop but here we have it! Going vegan, I knew it would be tough to say goodbye to the delicious seafood I was accustomed to, living on the East Coast. It's so refreshing to know that I can still have some of my favorite meals and flavors, while still remaining true to being vegan. This dish is so lemony and full of flavor - if I could give it more than 5 stars, I would!
John
Yay, we're so glad you love it Jyllian!