The Best Vegan Asian Recipes (2024)

Here are 20 easy and delicious vegan Asian recipes that will turn a meat eater into a plant based food lover!

The Best Vegan Asian Recipes (1)

Easy plant based meals Here are some of my favorite vegan Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Thai dishes. Whether you are looking to serve a main dish or add a couple of sides to your meal, these vegan recipes are simple and easy enough for everyone to make.

1. Miso Soup

A classic Japanese vegetarian appetizer or side. And it only takes a few minutes to make. GET THE RECIPE

2. Korean Cucumber Salad

Spicy and smoky, this vegan Korean salad is often served as banchan (small dish served with rice). GET THE RECIPE

3. Chinese Lotus Root Salad

Dishes such as this lotus root salad is why I love vegan Chinese so much. It’s light, slightly sour and salty, with a satisfying crunch. GET THE RECIPE

4. Nasu Dengaku

Another traditional Japanese dish, nasu dengaku are eggplant broiled until tender, and brushed with a sweet and salty miso glaze. It’s one of my favorite eggplant dishes of all time. GET THE RECIPE

5. Doenjang Jjigae

A light and spicy vegetarian Korean bean paste soup packed with vegetables and tofu. GET THE RECIPE

6. Thai Potato Curry

A creamy and silky vegan potato and onion curry infused with flavors of Thailand. Delicious. GET THE RECIPE

7. Sweet and Sour Tofu

This sweet and sour dish is so delicious that your meat eating friends won’t believe it’s vegan! GET THE RECIPE

8. Baby Bok Choy Soup with Garlic and Ginger

Lots of depth of flavor in this simple Chinese vegetarian baby bok choy soup. The addition of dried shiitake mushrooms infuse the broth with plenty of umami. You will love this! GET THE RECIPE

9. Vegan Tantanmen

Vegan Japanese food like this bowl of tantanmen is what I crave when I want comfort food without the meat. GET THE RECIPE

10. Sour and Spicy Chinese Shredded Potatoes

A classic vegan Chinese dish, these shredded potatoes are pan fried with dried chilis and vinegar for a smoky and sour taste. I personally find this dish addictive! GET THE RECIPE

11. Smacked Cucumber with Chili Oil

Smacked and chopped cucumber pieces are drenched in a mix of chili oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and garlic. GET THE RECIPE

12. Vegan Jajangmyeon

A vegan Korean dish that’s not spicy! This jajangmyeon is made with mushrooms, cabbage, and zucchini (to replace the meat), while the noodles are coated in the traditional black bean sauce. Served with freshly chopped cucumber, this plant based version is both filling and satisfying! GET THE RECIPE

13. Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce

This is another eggplant dish I love. Tender pieces of eggplant stir fried with garlic, dried chilis, soy sauce, sesame oil, and vinegar, and topped with chopped scallions. GET THE RECIPE

14. Vegan Mapo Tofu

If you asked me to pick between vegan Chinese food and vegan Japanese, I wouldn’t be able to choose. Both cuisines are so good at finding the perfect ingredients to substitute for meat. This vegan mapo tofu is the perfect example – finely chopped mushrooms are used instead of ground meat and add so much depth of flavor and umami to the dish. It’s so good that I no longer eat the traditional version with ground meat. GET THE RECIPE

15. Tofu Chow Fun with Watercress

Pan fried noodles coated with soy sauce and topped with marinated tofu and watercress. Simple yet tasty! GET THE RECIPE

16. Spicy Vegan Sichuan Noodles

The original dish comes with pork but I thought it would be fun to use celery instead. You don’t miss the meat because the celery, when stir fried with mushrooms, gochujang, and soy sauce, takes on a meaty texture. It’s spicy, salty, and slightly pungent. GET THE RECIPE

17. Kung Pao Cauliflower

Beside looking stunning, this vegan kun pao cauliflower packs a punch in the flavor department. Crushed peanuts and Thai chilis add heat and nuttiness to this otherwise savory dish. GET THE RECIPE

18. Vegan Dan Dan Noodles

We’ve arrived at my favorite vegan Chinese noodle dish – the dan dan noodles. We make these noodles almost every week! The flavor profile has it all – spicy, salty, pungent, a little sweet, and a little sour. Perfection. GET THE RECIPE

19. Tofu Miso Dengaku

This is the tofu version of the Japanese vegetarian nasu dengaku recipe. Just as yummy but more filling. GET THE RECIPE

20. Easy Vegan Fried Rice

And finally, we couldn’t end the list of vegan Asian recipes without throwing a fried rice in there! This is a simple vegetable fried rice made with brown rice and seasoned with soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, and ground black pepper. GET THE RECIPE

For A List Of Japanese Vegan Recipes, Read:

The Best Vegan Asian Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is an Asian vegan? ›

Asian cuisines make it shockingly easy to eat vegan. With dishes often centered around plant-based staples like rice, noodles, tofu, or veggies, you can find delicious vegan meals across all types of recipes, from Chinese to Korean specialties.

Does Gordon Ramsay have vegan recipes? ›

Cooking a meat and dairy free meal doesn't mean you have to settle for anything less than delicious. Our collection of tantalising and varied vegan recipes will have vegans and meat eaters alike coming back for more.

How to eat vegan without cooking? ›

16 No-Cook Vegan Recipes to Beat the Heat
  1. Berry Overnight Oats.
  2. Chia Breakfast Parfait.
  3. Enchanted Smoothie Bowl.
  4. Chickpea Salad Rolls.
  5. Tofu "Egg" Salad Sandwich.
  6. Rainbow Hummus Sandwich.
  7. Thai Crunch Salad With Peanut Dressing.
  8. Rainbow Salad.
Jul 21, 2022

What can I cook for my vegan girlfriend? ›

Vegan meal for two recipes
  • Sticky noodles with homemade hoisin. ...
  • Pearled spelt salad with peas & gooseberries. ...
  • Grilled Mediterranean veg with bean mash. ...
  • Miso aubergine. ...
  • Marinated tofu. ...
  • Roasted cauli-broc bowl with tahini hummus. ...
  • Veggie noodles with sesame dressing. ...
  • Pumpkin, spinach & black bean dopiaza.

What do chefs think of vegans? ›

While many chefs ethically understand the reasons behind veganism, the overall culinary ecosystem doesn't support this thought making it difficult for chefs to accept it wholeheartedly. They start making excuses and regard the whole concept of veganism as fake and simply pretentious.

How does Gordon Ramsay feel about vegans? ›

Gordon Ramsay is famously averse to vegan food – but it turns out the celebrity chef has been keeping a closely guarded secret for many years. Opening up to competitors on the US Masterchef: Back to Win series, Ramsay admitted that despite his public disdain of vegan food throughout his career, he actually loves it.

Why did Gordon Ramsay go vegan? ›

Health considerations: The potential health benefits associated with a vegan diet may motivate Ramsay, as they have for many individuals who adopt plant-based eating to promote personal well-being.

Can you survive as a raw vegan? ›

A raw vegan diet may not be sustainable in the long term. The lack of bread, cooked grains, and cooked legumes can make it challenging to get enough calories every day without frequent meals, which may make it too restrictive to be a 24/7 thing.

What not to eat when going vegan? ›

Vegans don't eat any foods made from animals, including:
  • Beef, pork, lamb, and other red meat.
  • Chicken, duck, and other poultry.
  • Fish or shellfish such as crabs, clams, and mussels.
  • Eggs.
  • Cheese.
  • Butter.
  • Milk, cream, ice cream, and other dairy products.
  • Mayonnaise (because it includes egg yolks)
Nov 3, 2023

Is vegan the healthiest way to eat? ›

Is vegan a healthy lifestyle? Vegan diets can be a part of a healthy lifestyle when planned and implemented correctly. Like any eating plan to restrict specific food groups, vegan diets can come up short in essential nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron and vitamin B12.

Can vegans eat hummus? ›

Hummus is a vegan staple that allows you to have some versatility in your diet. It's an immensely popular food amongst vegans so you may have found a new favourite yourself. It's available in a wide range of flavours and is very versatile in the kitchen so you can experiment with it if you wish to.

Is peanut butter vegan? ›

The bottom line. Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.

Are Oreos vegan? ›

Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense. Plant-based cookies and cream lovers rejoice!

Can Asians be vegan? ›

Asians have diverse religious beliefs. Some of these beliefs practice no eating of meat, animals' blood, and so on. So, yes! They can be vegans too.

What do vegan Japanese eat? ›

Japanese food can be delicious and wholesome for both vegans and vegetarians. Rice and vegan-friendly noodles make up the base of most dishes. Tofu is available in a staggering variety of shapes and textures. Miso, a seasoning made of fermented soybeans and koji (a fungus) is in many dishes.

What percentage of Asians are vegan? ›

Of five world regions, the Asia-Pacific region has the highest share of vegetarians (19%) and vegans (9%).

What is vegan at Chinese? ›

Tofu Vegan

Chinese classics on its extensive menu include wonton soup, Cantonese sweet and sour “chicken”, dim sum, and Peking “duck”.

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