150 mock recipes

Rich Creole-style mock turtle soup with beef, tasso, and a dark roux, simmered until the meat melts into a spicy, tangy broth. Finish with hard-boiled eggs and a splash of sherry.

Creamy casserole with mock crabmeat, hard-boiled eggs, curry powder, mayonnaise, and sour cream. Baked golden with paprika, served over rice.

Ritz crackers transform into tender, spiced filling that mimics apple pie with lemon zest, cinnamon, and buttery crust. A Depression-era classic dessert.

Buttery Ritz crackers soak up lemon-spiked syrup to create a convincing apple pie filling without a single apple. Nostalgic Depression-era baking.

Mock key lime pie skips the hard-to-find key limes and uses bottled lime juice for a tangy, custardy filling. Sweetened condensed milk and six egg yolks set into a smooth slice topped with whipped cream.

Mock tuna salad mashes chickpeas with celery, carrot, scallion and a touch of mayo and relish for a vegan twist on the deli classic. 10 minutes, no can opener required for fish.

Mock lobster Flemish style dresses up humble white fish, poached in a beer broth, bound in a silky cream and egg-yolk sauce, spooned into scallop shells, and broiled under Gruyere. An elegant fish gratin on a budget.

Mock shortbread cookies made without butter or sugar, using oil and a sugar substitute for a lighter, diet-friendly take on a tender, golden-edged classic. Simple roll-and-cut rounds in under an hour.

Mexican flank steak marinated overnight in lemon, jalapeno, and cilantro, grilled alongside cheese-stuffed flour tortilla mock tamales. A complete grilled dinner with fresh homemade salsa.

For those who don't eat potatoes, this puree makes a wonderful substitute.

Mock strawberry jam made with mashed figs and Jello for berry color and flavor. A Southern classic that sets in the jar over six weeks with no pectin needed.

Mock apple pie (cracker pie) made famous on the back of the Ritz box during the Depression. Ritz crackers, sugar syrup, cream of tartar, and apple spices fool the tongue into thinking it's eating real apple pie.

Maque choux Thibodaux: Paul Prudhomme's Cajun stewed corn built with a dark pan-caramelized puree, apple and prune juice, peppers, and a silky evaporated milk finish.

Zucchini in mock cream sauce uses the vegetable's own extracted juices to make a thick, creamy sauce with no cream at all. A clever lacto-vegetarian technique with garlic, butter, and optional Asiago.

Mock Orange Julius blended with coconut milk for tropical creaminess. Frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, and a touch of sugar whip into a frothy citrus shake in 5 minutes flat.

Mock apple pie made with peeled, sliced zucchini under a buttery crumb topping. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice complete the apple illusion. The pie bakes inside a paper bag for an even, juicy finish.