My Honest Konscious Review

I never thought of myself as a fish lover, but it turns out that I just don't like cooked fish. My sushi adventures led me to discover that I love raw fish and smoked salmon, and since they often turn up in sushi and poke bowls, I've been relying on those for a fix.

I was browsing the frozen aisles in a local health food store when I spotted Konscious. This brand sells frozen vegan sushi, onigiri and poke bowls. I was a little skeptical about the "vegan" part--how do you convincingly replicate raw fish?--but since I love sushi, I gave them a shot.

The vegan "fish" was an unusual experience (we'll get to that shortly), but overall, this was one of the best brands I've tried in a while. It's not quite restaurant-quality, but it's great for frozen food.

For the record, this is NOT a paid promotion. These are my honest, unfiltered opinions about Konscious.

1. Salmon Poke Bowl

The Konscious Salmon Poke Bowl comes with a sealed bowl of rice, fruit and vegetables, a package of vegan "salmon" cubes, a spicy miso sauce packet and a wooden spoon. To defrost, you heat up the rice bowl in the microwave and submerge the sauce and cubes in hot water.

The rice is sprinkled with small chunks of corn, mango, carrots, cucumber, edamame and red onion. I'm an onion fan, so I loved the strong onion aroma when I took the bowl out of the microwave. Afterward, I dumped the "salmon" cubes on top and doused them with the spicy miso sauce.

The cubes were bright pink like real salmon. According to the box, they're made from konjac (elephant yam), carrots and peas, but they definitely didn't taste like vegetables. In fact, they didn't have much of a flavor at all. They're also more rubbery than fish. Eating them is like chewing on a flavorless block.

Still, the spicy miso sauce masks the unusual taste and texture. If you eat the cubes with a forkful of rice, you'll barely notice the difference. Just don't expect them to taste exactly like fresh salmon.

Aside from that, I wish the bowl had more mango because the tropical kick added a nice contrast to the savory vegetables. The rice was soft and fluffy, and the sauce added dimension to the rice. This bowl made me enjoy eating vegetables, which is no easy feat.

The Konscious Poke Bowl contains 24% of your daily value of sodium, so if you're on a low-salt diet, I'd skip this one. Otherwise, it makes an excellent light lunch or healthy-ish snack.

2. Tuna Avocado Roll

The Konscious Tuna Avocado Roll is another foray into vegan "fish." You can microwave this sushi or submerge it in hot water; I chose the microwave because it's easier. Each box also comes with a packet of tamari sauce and a packet of spicy green mayo, two condiments that I'd never tried before.

A pleasantly fresh smell hit my senses when I opened the box. The defrosted rice isn't quite as sticky as fresh sushi--it's stiffer and falls apart when you cut into it--but it's reasonably soft and fluffy. Not bad for a frozen product.

Like their artificial salmon, Konscious' vegan "tuna" doesn't taste much like fish, although the appearance is strikingly similar. The texture is chewy and a little rubbery. However, it's unnoticeable when you eat the "fish" alongside the rice and vegetables. If you served a carnivore this dish, they might not be able to tell the difference.

I loved the tamari sauce, which was intensely savory and salty like concentrated soy sauce. The rice absorbed the sauce, giving it a delicious umami flavor. If you prefer lighter condiments, the spicy green mayo tasted pleasantly like mild horseradish.

I was afraid that microwaving the vegetables would make them soggy, but they tasted fresh and crisp. Still, you're getting 23% of your daily sodium intake if you eat the entire roll, so I'd eat half now and save the rest for later.

3. Kale Gomae Onigiri

Konscious Kale Gomae Onigiri takes only a minute to defrost in the microwave. The rice is soft and fluffy, and I love the seeds and spices on top. They give the rice a pleasant crunch and enhance the appearance.

I was afraid that this dish would be too spicy or sour, but it was the perfect balance of savory and mildly bitter. Kale and miso are the standouts with a hint of ginger in the background. The filling was chewy and tasted fresh.

Kale Gomae Onigiri is another product that's high in carbs and sodium, so if you're worried about your salt intake, I don't recommend adding soy sauce. Otherwise, enjoy this dish in moderation.

4. Korean BBQ Mushroom Onigiri

Konscious Korean BBQ Mushroom Onigiri is a treat for people who love fermented or pickled foods. The red spices and seeds on top offered a burst of heat before I plunged into the mushroom filling.

Surprisingly, the ingredients list includes apple puree. I didn't taste the apple, but I enjoyed the chewy texture and mild spiciness. The ginger puree adds intensity to the recipe.

I'm not sure where the Korean BBQ part comes in--maybe it's the chili?--but the flavors mingled well, and the rice was fluffy and chewy as always. For a meal, you could serve this with pickled vegetables.

Final Verdict

Overall, Konscious is a great brand. I didn't expect much from reheated sushi, but their formula manages to preserve the tastes and textures. They're a little pricey, and many of their recipes are high in fat, sodium and carbohydrates, so they're more of an occasional lunch than an everyday meal. Still, I wish they shipped their goods online. If I didn't have to search for products scattered across grocery stores an hour away, I'd be more likely to indulge.