# Eggplant-Based Seafood Alternatives Ocean Hugger Foods' Unami is a Plant-Based Alternative to Eel By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2019-06-05 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unami References: [preparedfoods](https://www.preparedfoods.com/articles/122377-ocean-hugger-foods-debuts-unami) While there are a growing number of companies creating [plant-based alternatives to meat products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-seafood-options), [Ocean Hugger Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-based-smoked-salmon) has just debuted a new seafood alternative called 'Unami.' Unami is a plant-based product that is meant to serve as a vegan alternative to freshwater eel (unagi). The dish is made from eggplants and uses Ocean Hugger’s patent-pending process to mimic the texture of real eel. To give Unami its fishy flavor, the eggplant base is marinated in a combination of gluten-free soy sauce, mirin, and algae oil. The result is a ready-to-use [vegan seafood product](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-fish-product) that is a great option for Japanese dishes such as sushi and rice bowls. Not only is Unami a vegan-friendly, non-GMO, gluten-free alternative to real eel, the plant-based product is also eco-friendly as it does not contribute to the continued decline of freshwater eel populations. Image Credit: *Ocean Hugger Foods.* ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.4/10 - Popularity: 6% | Activity: 28% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Plant-based Seafood Substitutes:** The success of Unami presents an opportunity for companies to further develop alternative seafood products using plant-based ingredients. - **Patent-pending Texturizing Processes:** Ocean Hugger Foods’ patent-pending process used to create the texture of Unami can be expanded into other industries to create innovative texture-modified food products. - **Sustainable Food Industry:** Unami's use of eggplants and algae oil presents an opportunity for companies to prioritize eco-friendliness and sustainability in food production and processing. ### Where This Applies - **Plant-based Food Industry:** The creation of Unami opens up possibilities for companies to develop other meat and seafood substitutes using plant-based ingredients. - **Food Processing Industry:** Ocean Hugger Foods’ patent-pending process can be expanded into the food processing industry to develop innovative texturizing methods for various food products. - **Sustainable Agriculture Industry:** Unami's use of eggplants and algae oil presents an opportunity for companies to prioritize sustainable farming practices and develop alternative ingredients for food production. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Plant-Based Seafood Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-based-fish-dishes.md) - [Whole-Cut Plant-Based Tuna](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/impact-food.md) - [Konjac-Based Egg Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-eggs-umami-united.md) - [Plant-Based Squid Appetizers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plant-based-squid.md) - [Seaweed-Based Salmon Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/salmon-substitute.md) - [Eel-Flavored Instant Noodles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nissin-mystery-unagi.md) - [Vegan Sashimi Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-sashimi.md) - [Cell-Cultured Unagi Eels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/forsea-foods.md) - [Cultivated Eel Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cultivated-eel.md)