20 Delicious Vegan Chinese Recipes – Fake-out Options for Everyone!
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It’s surprisingly easy to find vegan Chinese recipes! Ingredients like tofu, and a focus on fresh crunchy vegetables, mean that there are many vegan Chinese dishes out there…or many ways to vegan-ize others!
We have found 20 delicious vegan Chinese recipes for you, split into starters and mains, so you can experiment with all different kinds of vegan Chinese food.
Vegan Chinese recipes, from starters to mains
In Starters, you can find vegan Chinese recipes for some absolute classics, such as vegan spring roll recipes and vegan wonton recipes. Who knew you could have mouthwatering homemade vegan spring rolls on the table in just 30 minutes!?
In Mains, we have included a whole variety of vegan Chinese recipes, from our own straightforward vegan chow mein to many succulent vegan Chinese tofu recipes.
Losing the meat in vegan Chinese dishes
As I said, some of these recipes are vegan by default, but some of them take seasoning/sauce usually used with meat and apply it to a vegan substitute. This is where cauliflower often comes in!
It is worth noting that cauliflower is a super useful ingredient, in many vegan, keto, and gluten-free recipes. Its bland flavour means that it is a great canvas for many other flavours.
Furthermore, being low in calories, low in carbs, high in fibre, and a great source of antioxidants, means the health benefits of cauliflower are numerous!
Try this vegan hoisin duck recipe using cauliflower! Crazy, right?
With this compilation of recipes, you can enjoy DELICIOUS homemade vegan Chinese dishes which equal (or better!) any take-out!
Vegan Chinese starters
1. Tofu Sesame Toast
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: It’sNotComplicated
Bonus: quick, easy, delicious
Inspired by a classic Chinese appetiser, these Tofu Sesame Toasts are quick and easy to make and have a delicate balance of flavours.
2. Vegan Chinese Dumplings
Ready in: 1 hour 5 minutes
Recipe by: CitronAndCitronella
Bonus: meaty, delicious, easy
These vegan dumplings feature a faux pork, shiitake and cabbage filling. They are the “meatiest” vegetarian dumplings out there and they are surprisingly easy to make!
3. Vegan Jackfruit Bao Buns
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: VeggieDesserts
Bonus: easy, quick, juicy
Vegan pulled Jackfruit Bao Buns are so easy to make and taste divine. This vegan chinese dish brings together a delectably seasoned Chinese sauce with pulled jackfruit, tangy pickled onions and soft, delicate bao buns. Ready in 30 minutes.
4. Red Cabbage & Radish Rolls
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: Erica’sRecipes
Bonus: crunchy, crispy, bite-size
Crispy spring rolls filled with the most DELICIOUS red cabbage, mushroom, and radish filling you could ever hope for in your life. Uncomplicated, beautiful, impressive, and party-perfect.
This Red Cabbage and Radish Vegan Spring Rolls recipe is for those that want easily obtainable, restaurant-quality vegan Chinese food at home.
5. Vegetable Wontons with Chilli Oil
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: BeesBites
Bonus: healthy, flavoursome, light
A delicious vegan wonton recipe for veg-filled boiled dumplings. Healthy vegan Chinese food and totally vegan too!
6. Mushroom San Choy Bow
Ready in: 50 minutes
Recipe by: ItsNotComplicated
Bonus: healthy, tasty, flavourful
Mushroom San Choy Bow is a fabulous meal for vegetarians and carnivores alike. It is a classic Chinese starter, one of my favourites and one that I frequently order when eating out. These Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps are full of flavour and simple to prepare (and if you like them, you will love these other vegetarian wrap ideas!).
Vegan Chinese dishes for main course
7. Vegan Vegetable Lo Mein
Bonus: healthy, versatile, easy to make
Delicious Vegan Lo Mein. You’ll find all ingredients in a regular supermarket. Just as delicious as the original and ready in only 20 minutes.
8. Braised Tofu and Mushroom
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: WokAndKin
Bonus: healthy, flavourful, filling
This vegetarian Braised Bean Curd and Mushroom recipe will be your next family favourite! A delicious earthy sauce brings it all together for the perfect weeknight dinner.
9. Chinese Broccoli Stir Fry
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: IHeartUmami
Bonus: low carb, quick, easy
Easy Chinese Broccolistir fry (gai lan) with garlicky sauce is Vegan, Paleo, Whole30, Keto, and low carb. This vegan Chinese stir fry (more vegan wok meals this way) is a great way to add dark leafy greens to your meal.
10. Edamame Noodle Soup
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: FitFoodieNutter
Bonus: healthy, fresh, gluten-free
Nourishing, warming, and super easy to make, this vegan noodle soup is a perfect fix for a quick lunch or dinner (if that sounds good, you will love these quick vegan recipes too!). Vegan and gluten-free.
11. Vegan Chinese Curry
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: VeganPunks
Bonus: hot, flavourful, easy
This Vegan Chinese curry has all the benefits of a real Chinese takeaway, only it’s healthier and cheaper! Ready in 30 minutes and needs just one pot. A delicious vegan Chinese food recipe to add to your rotation (try some of these vegetarian Chinese recipes if you want more ideas and aren’t fussed about dairy!)!
12. Stir Fry with Creamy Peanut Sauce
Bonus: creamy, nutty, easy
A delicious peanut sauce compliments this fantastic stir fry with simple to follow cooking tips. Beginner friendly and super quick to make!
13. Vegan Cauliflower Pancakes
Ready in: 1 hour 10 minutes (prep time 20)
Recipe by: VeggieDesserts
Bonus: crispy, meaty, healthy
Vegan crispy duck? Oh yes! Seasoned roasted cauliflower makes an easy and delicious meat substitution. Then add easy homemade pancakes and plum sauce. This is a delicious vegan homemade version of the classic Chinese takeout dish.
14. Kung Pao Tofu
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: KiipFit
Bonus: hot, flavourful, creamy
This protein-rich Kung Pao Tofu is a comforting Chinese dish. It’s easy, quick, and requires simple ingredients. This vegan Chinese dish makes a great weeknight dinner.
15. Lao Gan Ma Noodles
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: IntentionalHospitality
Bonus: sweet, sticky, spicy
Delicious Asian Noodles Lao Gan Ma have layers of sweet, spicy flavors that develop a sauce you will be wanting to lick the pan for.
16. Chinese Sesame Tofu
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: CookMorphosis
Bonus: sweet and sour, nutty, full of protein
Another famous Chinese-American take-out dish that is vegetarian friendly: Vegan Chinese Sesame Tofu with sticky addictive sauce. A vegan Chinese tofu recipe to die for!
17. Vegan Mongolian Beef
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: ForkfulOfPlants
Bonus: healthy, easy, quick
This vegan Mongolian beef is super easy, significantly healthier than its takeaway counterpart, and tastes just as good! The perfect meal after a busy day.
18. Spicy Orange Cauliflower
Ready in: 50 minutes (prep time 15 minutes)
Recipe by: KiipFit
Bonus: oil-free, healthy, fresh
This oil-free Spicy Orange Cauliflower is infused with fresh and real ingredients. It’s a delightful Chinese dinner for the entire family. Along with being vegan it’s a healthier form of the traditional Chinese dish.
19. Vegan Dan Dan Noodles
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: MrsJones’sKitchen
Bonus: delicious, nutty, spicy
Udon noodles, a salty-spicy peanut sauce, spiced mushrooms, and chilli oil (optional for younger family members) make up this easy and comforting vegan version of a Sichuan classic street food, dan dan noodles.
20. Vegan Chow Mein
Bonus: versatile, tasty, full of veg
Bring glory to the kitchen with this awesome Chinese-inspired vegan chow mein. Quick, tasty, and full of veg! Give it a go tonight!
Ingredients
- 6 oz noodles (we’ve used ramen, wide rice noodles and ‘generic’ noodles. All worked great, just check they don’t include egg if you’re vegan, 6oz = 160g)
- 2 tsp ginger, fresh (diced)
- 4 tbsp peanut oil (or untoasted sesame oil)
- 2 medium onion
- 1 bell pepper, red (and sweet, if available)
- 1 carrot
- 1 big handful spinach
- 5 baby corns
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp vinegar (regular is fine, or if you have red wine, rice or sherry vinegar, use that)
- 1 tsp hot sauce (double the amount if you like it spicy)
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (to garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the noodles according to packet instructions then leave to the side.
- Dice the ginger and get it frying in half the peanut or sesame oil. A wok or wide frying pan is helpful.
- Dice the bell pepper and onions and throw them in next. Add the spinach too.
- Slice the carrot thinly and add it about five minutes after the peppers and onion.
- Roughly chop the baby corns and throw them in too. Give everything another couple of minutes frying at a med-high heat.
- Add the rest of the oil, soy sauce, vinegar, sriracha and maple syrup. Mix in the noodles and give it a good stir.
- If using, sprinkle over the sesame seeds to garnish. Done!
NOTES
Nutrition
We hope you enjoyed reading and maybe even trying these vegan Chinese recipes. Let us know which vegan Chinese dishes were your favourites in the comment section 🙂
Dave Bell
I’m not a foodie, although I do love eating. I believe food should serve us and our goals, not hinder. Taking control and responsibility for what I eat is important to me. Lots of veggie protein is my way forward.
This article has been medically reviewed by James LeBaigue MSc Learn More
James LeBaigue MSc
James has a Masters Degree in Sport and Exercise Nutrition, as well as an Advanced Diploma in Human Nutrition.
He loves combining his scientific knowledge along with food in the real world, and these recipes are the result.
He’s on top of all the latest evidence and guidelines to make sure our nutrition advice on the website is as accurate as it can be.
By day he works as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in a busy NHS GP Practice.
Each recipe is tested and then eaten (much to James’ delight), many times before it is deemed worthy to be published. Bon appetit!
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