Ubah Hassan’s bowl, fish-free scallops, and more vegan food news of the week

It seems like every week the news in the vegan food world is more exciting than the last and this week is no exception. New banana-topped vegan bowl created in partnership with Ubah Hassan The Real Housewives of New York Hit the menu at Beatnic in NYC. Mochidoki’s chewy mochi — with dairy-free options — has launched on Amazon And shelf-stable, fish-free scallops are swimming our way thanks to Mind Blown. Read on for more.

1Real Housewife Ubah Hasan’s New Vegan Bowl

Ubah Hassan, Somali-Canadian model and actress, has teamed up with New York City-based eatery Beatnik to create a new vegan bowl option inspired by her East African heritage. The new Ubah Bowl is a reimagining of the classic rice and beans and features coconut rice, red beans, pico de gallo, banana and cilantro.

Beatnik

According to Hasan, partnering with Beatnik was a natural fit, as he is passionate about healthy, plant-based eating and Beatnik was the perfect partner for his vision.

“It’s no secret that rice and beans are among the most beloved foods worldwide,” Hassan said in a statement. “Every culture has its version and this is mine. It’s a meal that brings us all together.”

The new Ubah bowls are available now through April 23rd at all Beatnic locations in NYC and Boston, MA.

2Shelf-stable vegan sea scallops

This week, The Plant Based Seafood Co. Launched a new version of his Mind Blown Vegan Scallop While the company—which evolved from Van Cleve Seafood Co.—previously offered powdered plant-based scallops, the new vegan scallops are shelf-stable. This means consumers can enjoy fish-free meals without the need for freezing or refrigeration – another big plus for sustainability.

Plant Based Seafood Co.

Restaurant-grade vegan scallops are made from a unique blend of plant-based protein and konjac, resulting in a texture and flavor that closely resembles traditional scallops.

“Our new plant-based, shelf-stable innovation eliminates the need for coolers, dry ice and overnight shipping that is often shipped on an airplane,” Monica Talbert, co-founder and CEO of the plant-based seafood company, told VegNews. “Because the cold chain is eliminated, we can now ship via standard mail and the customer puts it in their pantry, not in the freezer.”

“Emissions are saved, making it better overall for the planet,” Talbert said. “This innovation is exciting for us because we are impact-driven above and below water.”

The company has partnered with celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn top boss Fame—a popular seafood destination in Virginia (and headquarters for a vegetarian seafood company) to showcase fresh scallops in a cooking show filmed on the Chesapeake Bay. “It’s amazing to me that this is even possible,” Mendelssohn said during the demonstration. “It blows my mind.”

Plant Based Seafood Co.

top bossIts Tom Cholicho is also a big fan of the woman-owned vegan seafood company and invested in The Plant Based Seafood Co.—which also offers other plant-based seafood—last year to support its growth. “Their plant-based scallops taste like scallops,” Colicchio previously said in a statement. “The prawns were delicious. The texture was spot on.”

The new shelf-stable vegan scallops can be ordered directly through the company’s website.

3Baskin’s new non-dairy smoothie

With warmer weather around the corner, we’re already thinking about refreshing foods to cool us down. And this week Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, expanded its non-dairy options with the release of new smoothies in three flavors: mixed berries (blueberry, raspberry and blackberry), strawberry and mango.

Baskin Robbins

In addition to new non-dairy smoothies, Baskin-Robbins returned to dairy-free ice cream in 2019 with the launch of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Chocolate Extreme flavors made with coconut oil and almond butter.

The chain introduced its first oat milk-based vegan ice cream options in 2021 with the national launch of a non-dairy salted fudge bar flavor made with a creamy salted dark chocolate oat milk base swirled with smooth fudge ribbons and dotted with fudge pieces.

4Mochidoki’s Vegan Mochi Hits Amazon

On Monday, mochi fans can rejoice as Mochidoki is expanding its selection of delectable frozen treats to 40 additional Amazon Fresh regions.

Mochidoki is a New York City-based company that specializes in artisanal mochi ice cream. It offers a wide range of flavors including several vegetarian options. Mochidoki’s vegan mochi ice cream is made with oat milk and coconut cream, among other plant-based ingredients.

Mochidoki

Each mochi ball is wrapped around a vegan ice cream filling and is available in a variety of flavors, including mango and passion fruit, expanding into new Amazon Fresh territory.

“As demand for premium, high-quality desserts continues to grow, we’re excited to bring Mochidoki to an even wider audience and inspire imaginations with every bite through our flavor lineup,” Mochidoki CEO and President Claudio Locascio said in a statement.

“Our goal has always been to bring Mochi to as many people as possible, and through our partnership with Amazon, we’ve been able to do that,” he said.

What sets Mochidoki’s Vegan Mochi apart from other plant-based ice cream options is its unique texture. Mochi is a Japanese sweet rice cake that is chewy and soft, providing a unique mouthfeel that differs from traditional ice cream.

Mochidoki

In addition to being vegan, Mochidoki’s mochi are gluten-free, made with non-GMO ingredients and use eco-friendly packaging.

5Dairy-free white chocolate creamer

Nutpods is a brand best known for its range of high-quality, non-dairy creamers made with simple, clean ingredients. Their latest addition to the lineup is the New White Chocolate Creamer.

The Nutpods New White Chocolate Creamer is a perfect blend of sweet and creamy flavors that will enhance your morning coffee or afternoon latte. It is made with a combination of almond milk and coconut cream, which gives it a rich and velvety texture.

Nutpod

“White Chocolate Mocha is a fan favorite drink in coffee shops across the country and has been on our radar for some time,” Nutpods Chief Marketing Officer Patrick Coyle said in a statement. “Creating a zero-sugar version was challenging, however, because sugary cocoa butter is a defining flavor of white chocolate.”

Nutpods launches Creamy Cold Brew in new White Chocolate Creamer Classic and Vanilla Caramel flavors. This new product is available at Sprouts Market and will hit Amazon – alongside the new White Chocolate Creamer – this summer.