55+ Vegetarian Asian Recipes – Travel with your tastebuds
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There are all kinds of good things about Asian cuisine but our personal favorite is the fact that finding vegetarian Asian recipes is soooo easy!
A lot of Asian cultures have vegetarian or even vegan recipes built into their standard cuisine, which is why you’ll almost never struggle to find vegetarian options at an Asian restaurant.
Plus, there are all kinds of delicious Asian recipes that have been made vegetarian by the good chefs out there on the internet, like vegetarian spring rolls, vegetarian banh mi, vegetarian pulao or vegetarian lo mein.
Honestly, there are so many sites claiming to have the best vegetarian Asian recipes that you might get a little overwhelmed! If you find wading through recipe blogs a little frightening, this list is for you.
But why are vegetarian Asian recipes so common?
When you think of Asian recipes, you probably think of Indian food, chinese food, maybe thai food or vietnamese food.
All of these types of cuisine have vegetarian dishes, but Indian (particularly South Indian) is known as being one of the most vegetarian friendly cuisines in the world.
This is because Hindus make up about 80% of the population of India, and their religion extols the virtues of a vegetarian diet.
That means that there are loads of vegetarian indian recipes, particularly vegetarian curries like chickpea curry or cauliflower curry!
Other countries in the region tend to produce more vegetarian recipes simply because of a focus on traditional ingredients like tofu (there are so many good vegetarian tofu dishes!) and rice.
So you can thank a combination of culture, religion, and local ingredients for these delicious easy vegetarian Asian recipes.
Since they’re so easy, when you wonder what to cook when you get home from work this week, why not check out some of these delicious Asian dinner ideas!
Or if you’re planning to pack lunches for your family, there are plenty of easy Asian lunch ideas to be found below.
Mains
1. Vegetable Stir Fry
Bonus: creamy, nutty and easy
A delicious peanut sauce compliments this fantastic stir fry with simple to follow cooking tips. Beginner friendly and super quick to make!
2. Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: PinchAndSwirl
Bonus: mega delicious and nutritious
A spicy and delicious vegetarian version of classic Kung Pao inspired by this recipe in Bon Appetit magazine.
3. Vegan Chow Mein
Bonus: easy, delicious, quick preparation
Delicious Fake Lo Mein. You’ll find all ingredients in a regular supermarket. Just as delicious as the original and ready in only 20 minutes.
4. Lemongrass Tofu Bahn Mi Pita
Recipe by: RainbowNourishments
Bonus: easy, delicious and filling
These lemongrass tofu bahn mi are made with pita pockets and a lighter and gluten-free version of the classic! They are packed with marinated tofu, crispy veggies and mayo.
5. Asian-Style Easy Egg Muffins
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp
Bonus: super easy and protein-packed
These Asian-Style Easy Egg Muffins are beautifully different. The carrot and ginger are a fresh and zippy combo. The soy sauce rounds it all up! Enjoy
6. Tofu Stir Fry With Veggies
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: FunFoodFrolic
Bonus: healthy and easy one-pot meal
This healthy tofu stir fry with veggies is ready in 30 minutes. It is a naturally vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free stir-fry recipe (if you need gluten free we got you covered with 100 vegetarian gluten free dishes right here).
7. Roasted Cauliflower Curry
Bonus: healthy, delicious and full of flavor 🙂
An exciting fusion of Pakistani spices combine with crunchy roasted cauliflower in this classically cooked dish.
8. Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry
Bonus: healthy, tasty and mega nutritious, can be stored for a while in the fridge
Vegan Chickpea Curry. Our awesome vegan take on the insanely popular dish. Ridiculously tasty and nutritious – just look at all that protein, fibre and iron.
9. Korean Sweet Potatoes
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: WentHere8This
Bonus: mega easy, crispy and caramelized
Sweet and caramelized on the outside, fluffy and tender on the inside, these Korean Sweet Potatoes have that ultra combination of sweet and salty, with a touch of spice.
10. Vegan Mongolian Beef
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: ForkfulOfPlants
Bonus: tasty, healthy, flavorful
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.
11. Black Bean Tofu and Eggplant
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: LoveAndGoodStuff
Bonus: easy to make, tasty and nutritious
Spicy black bean tofu and eggplant is easy and flavourful plant based stirfry. Cubed tofu and eggplant are cooked up with a black bean chilli sauce along with aromatics like garlic and ginger in this easy to make meal.
12. Chickpea Flour Pancakes
Bonus: very tasty, quick and spicy breakfast
A savory pancake begging to be eaten with pickles and chutneys or yogurts and cream. East meets West with this beautifully, wonderfully healthy dish.
13. Vegetable Chow Mein
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: LoveAndGoodStuff
Bonus: comforting and satisfying
Vegetable chow mein is the ultimate take out at home meal. These slightly crisp noodles topped with stir-fried veggies in a flavourful sauce are on the table in 25 minutes. Add your favourite protein for a complete meal.
14. Banana Curry
Bonus: super-fast, easy and incredibly delicious
Make the perfect banana curry with our stress-free and much loved recipe (one of our more unexpected healthy banana meals). It’s so easy you can’t go wrong – from pan to plate in minutes!
15. Flavourful Pea Pulao with Lemon
Bonus: simple, delicious and versatile dish
Flavourful Pea Pulao with Lemon. A zesty yet sweet, light but filling rice dish handed down through generations.
16. Asian Orange Cauliflower
Ready in: 45 minutes
Recipe by: TheBellyRulesTheMind
Bonus: super tasty yet healthy dish
Orange cauliflower is a vegetarian friendly take on Panda Express’s popular orange chicken recipe. Loaded with a sweet and spicy orange sauce, this lightened up take out classic will have your family happily eating their vegetables!
17. Jeera Rice
Ready in: 6 minutes cooking + 30 minutes soaking
Recipe by: LathisKitchen
Bonus: the easiest rice ever
Jeera Rice/ Cumin Rice is a popular dish to order in Indian Restaurants and it will be in the Buffet. This recipe is so easy to make in your kitchen. Let’s learn how to make restaurant-style, Vegan, Gluten-free, Jeera rice in under 15 minutes.
18. Kung Pao Cauliflower
Ready in: 40 minutes
Recipe by: SavoryBitesRecipes
Bonus: simple but so delicious
Delicious vegetarian alternative to the Kung Pao Chicken – its Kung Pao Cauliflower!
19. Sweet & Sour Tofu
Ready in: 35 minutes
Recipe by: RunningToTheKitchen
Bonus: super tasty yet healthy dish
Make this sweet and sour tofu in under 30 minutes. Crispy tofu and a sticky sweet & sour sauce mimic the classic Chinese takeout dish in this vegetarian friendly meal (just one of many delicious vegetarian Chinese recipes you can make at home!).
20. Vegan Coconut Curry
Bonus: easy, tasty and full of health benefits, can be stored for a while in the fridge. Sooooo easy!
This coconut curry is the easiest one we’ve ever made, but mixes it up with the top brass. You won’t find a better effort vs taste curry ANYWHERE!
21. Jackfruit Bao Buns
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: VeggieDesserts
Bonus: tangy, soft, versatile
These pulled jackfruit bao buns are really easy to make in less than 30 minutes! The vegan recipe makes the most of beautifully seasoned pulled jackfruit nestled in fluffy bao buns topped with quick pickled onions.
22. Vegan Cauliflower Curry
Bonus: great taste, easy and quick meal 🙂
Our stress-free take on the cauliflower classic. Sweet yet punchy, spicy yet smooth. Perfection is here.
23. Mango Curry
Bonus: quick, fresh, healthy and delicious curry
This virtually vegan mango curry is refreshing, tropical, super-quick and soooooo easy! Don’t miss out on this one.
24. Yogurt Potato Curry
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: MayurisJikoni
Bonus: quick, creamy and kid-friendly
Yogurt Potato Curry is a creamy, delicious, slightly spicy curry. Enjoy it with any Indian Flatbread or rice. Easy to make, this curry generally features on my table when I have guests over. It is relished both by adults and kids.
25. Spicy Cashew Broccoli Stir Fry
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: KiipFit
Bonus: quick, spicy, satisfying
This Spicy Cashew Broccoli Stir Fry (and lots more vegan stir-fries over here) is a delicious blend of Asian flavors and is quick to serve. It’s made with a savory and spicy sauce that is absolutely lip smacking. This vegan entree is a beautiful and an aromatic dinner for any weeknight.
26. Dragon Noodles
Bonus: quick, spicy and full of flavour
Fiery Dragon Noodles. Our tasty take on the insanely popular and easy spicy Asian dish. The perfect recipe for using up leftover pasta or noodles!
27. Vegan Chow Mein
Bonus: easy, delicious and versatile
Bring glory to the kitchen with this awesome Chinese inspired vegan stir fry (even more plant-based Chinese recipes over here!). Quick, tasty and full of veg!
28. Goi Cuon
Bonus: fresh, tasty and spicy
Gỏi cuốn – these summer rolls are easy, authentic and require absolutely no cooking. We’ve even included two simple but to die-for sauces!
29. Vegan Chickpea Tikka Masala
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: SandhyaHariharan
Bonus: easy to make, comforting and tasty
Vegan Chickpea Tikka Masala – So much better than a takeout and so much quicker! This one pot Vegan Tikka Masala is ready in just 30 minutes. Serve warm over steamed rice or with naan to scoop out all the creamy sauce.
30. Asian-style Creamy Corn Soup
Recipe by: HurryTheFoodUp
Bonus: light, tasty, creamy and satisfyingly filling
This speedy and roasted creamy corn soup is here to show the world just how much vegan food rocks. Why should vegans have all the fun?!
31. Spicy Chili Garlic Noodles
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: EatWithClarity
Bonus: easy to make, deliciously savory and customizable
These spicy chili garlic noodles are ready in about 15 minutes and FULL of flavor. They’re gluten free and vegan but delicious with some extra stir fried veggies and your choice of protein!
32. Vegetarian Thai Green Curry
Bonus: quick, healthy and satisfying! 🙂
Ready in 30 minutes and packed full of taste, spice and a fresh lime kick. Delicious, nutritious and it’s even vegan, yaay.
33. Vegetarian Fried Rice
Bonus: simple to make, tasty and nutritious
Everybody should know how to make veggie fried rice. Hands down one of the most delicious and easiest ways to use up leftovers. Ready in max. 15 minutes!
34. Easy Lemongrass Tofu
35. Korma with Coconut Sauce
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: TheVegSpace
Bonus: easy, tasty, flavorful
This creamy vegan korma made with coconut yoghurt and blended cashews is rich and delicately spiced. Serve with rice and naan for a showstopping vegan Indian feast (more delicious plant-based Indian recipes).
Sides and Salads
36. Thai Quinoa Salad
Bonus: fresh, tasty and incredibly healthy salad
Thai Quinoa Salad – Tropical Vibes. A refreshingly light, tasty Asian super-dish with lots of protein, fiber and tropical flavour. Get your summer feeling here.
37. Quick Garlic Bok Choy Recipe
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: TheForkedSpoon
Bonus: totally simple, easy, and delicious
Crisp, fresh, and bursting with loads of unexpected flavor, this Garlic Bok Choy Recipe is guaranteed to be your new favorite side dish.
38. Jeera Aloo Recipe
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: CubesNJuliennes
Bonus: quick and versatile
This Aloo jeera is a delicious cumin flavored boiled potato dish which you can prepare just in few minutes with handful of ingredients only. Serve with Indian breads for main course or enjoy it like a snack or appetizer.
39. Asian Coleslaw with Peanut Dressing
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: TheArtOfFoodAndWine
Bonus: simple, fresh and beautiful
This Asian coleslaw with a flavorful peanut dressing is a perfect side dish and also tastes great on top of your pulled chicken or pork sandwiches! No dairy so perfect for picnics.
40. Easy Sautéed Napa Cabbage
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: Cooktoria
Bonus: mega easy, tasty and light dish
Easy Sautéed Napa Cabbage – A flavorful way to enjoy Napa cabbage that is easy to make and ready in less than 10 minutes.
41. Chinese Garlic Green Beans Recipe
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: IHeartUmami
Bonus: light, healthy, and easy
Chinese Green Beans recipe sauteed in garlic sauce with blistered green beans and loads of garlicky flavor, made easy and not oily!
42. Crunchy Asian Tofu Salad
Bonus: quick, beautiful, crispy and so healthy
Asian Tofu Salad, High in Protein, Low-carb and Vegan. A crunchy and colourful mix of delicious vegan foods that look great and taste even better!
43. Crunchy Kale & Edamame Salad
Ready in: 5 minutes
Recipe by: aSimplePalate
Bonus: mega quick, protein-packed, flavorful
You’ll love this crunchy edamame salad for any occasion! It’s filled with chopped kale, roasted almonds, and sweet dried cranberries – all mixed with a carrot ginger dressing. The easiest salad with the tastiest results!
44. Thai Peanut Zucchini Noodles
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: TheKitchenGirl
Bonus: colorful, healthy, delicious
Thai Peanut Zucchini Noodles are zoodles quickly sauteed with fresh vegetables and tossed in a delectable peanut sauce (learn how to make courgette noodles here!). Zucchini pasta is an easy dinner recipe that can be served warm or chilled as a pasta salad for lunch (check out our vegan zucchini recipes for more like this!).
45. Coleslaw Salad (Peanut Dressing)
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: ThisHealthyKitchen
Bonus: crunchy, rich and spicy
For a healthy spin on traditional coleslaw, this healthy coleslaw salad is a must try! Drizzled in Thai peanut dressing that is delicious and oil free!
46. Irish Bombay Potatoes
Bonus: fast, spicy, delicious and so good!
We guarantee you’ve never eaten curried potatoes this good – they’re the perfect fusion of Indian curry and Irish ingenuity. They will not be beaten.
47. Mushroom Larb
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: VeganPunks
Bonus: quick, spicy, delicious
Traditionally a meat-based salad, adopted by the Thai people from Laos – we’ve created our own vegan and vegetarian friendly mushroom larb. A delicious mix of mushrooms, fresh herbs and the crunch of toasted rice!
48. Sticky Korean Cauliflower
Ready in: 23 minutes
Recipe by: BoulderLocavore
Bonus: easy, flavorful and full of taste
Perfectly cooked pan fried cauliflower coated with an easy homemade Korean BBQ sauce makes a delicious sweet, salty and tangy dish. It’s fast to prepare and is great over rice or paired with other Asian inspired dishes for a full meal.
49. Hibachi Vegetables
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: WornSlapOut
Bonus: so simple and versatile
These hibachi vegetables are an at-home version of what you find at your favorite Japanese steakhouse. Use whatever vegetables you have at home and have the meal ready in under 20 minutes.
Appetizers, Snacks and Dips
50. Asian Wraps with Cauliflower Rice
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: ThisHealthyKitchen
Bonus: easy, flavourful, savoury and satisfying
For AMAZING fresh wraps with peanutty, delicious flavour, look no further than these nutritious Asian slaw vegan wraps (if you like this, you need to check out our other vegetarian wraps!). Perfect to feed a crowd.
51. Crispy Miso Roasted Chickpeas
Ready in: 25 minutes
Recipe by: ForkfulOfPlants
Bonus: healthy, super easy, high in protein
These roasted chickpeas tick all the boxes for a satisfying snack- crispy, protein-packed, filled with umami flavour and slightly spicy (try our easy vegetarian chickpea recipes for more like this!).
52. Persian Cucumber Dip
Bonus: fresh, tasty and so quick
Take your cucumber dips to the next level with this plush Persian variety – you won’t be able to stop dipping – promise!
53. Tofu Sesame Toasts
Ready in: 30 minutes
Recipe by: ItsNotComplicatedRecipes
Bonus: easy to make, crispy and delicious
Inspired by a classic Chinese appetiser, these Tofu Sesame Toasts are quick and easy to make and have a delicate balance of flavours.
54. Baba Ganoush
Bonus: smoky, soft and beautifully delicious dip 🙂
Baba Ganoush – (Eggplant Dip / Aubergine Dip) Flatbreads and pitas go perfectly with this beautiful fusion of Arab-Mediterranean cuisines (more delicious easy dip ideas this way!).
55. Homemade Vegan Sushi Recipe
Ready in: 36 minutes
Recipe by: TheBellyRulesTheMind
Bonus: fresh, tasty and so satisfying
Easy vegan sushi is easier than you think to make at home. It’s a great family activity to do when you want to enjoy some time together. This Vegan sushi recipe uses fresh veggies and tofu to provide a well-balanced and delicious meal you can serve any time of day. Make it ahead to have an easy lunch, dinner, or snack any time you want!
56. Vegan Potstickers
Ready in: 55 minutes
Recipe by: MadhusEverydayIndian
Bonus: delicious and kids-friendly snack
Vegan potstickers are pan fried dumplings filled with vegetables and tofu. Crispy and soft pot stickers dunked in sweet and spicy chili sauce is just irresistible.
57. Crispy Teriyaki Tofu
Ready in: 20 minutes
Recipe by: OhMyFoodRecipes
Bonus: easy, tasty, protein-packed
Crispy teriyaki tofu not only it’s crispy outside, but also soft inside. Also, it tastes amazing delicious when it serves with homemade teriyaki sauce. This pan fried teriyaki tofu is great for appetizer, party food, side dish or even as main course that serve with rice.
58. Chinese Scallion Pancakes
Ready in: 23 minutes
Recipe by: TheArtOfFoodAndWine
Bonus: easy, versatile and crispy
Korean Scallion Pancakes are perfectly crisp on the outside and soft and flavorful on the inside. Can be made with shrimp or vegetarian. Paired with a Ginger Soy dipping sauce.
59. Cucumber Raita
Bonus: super fast, fresh, healthy and delicious
The ultimate companion to any curry, this cucumber raita is incredibly quick and cooling – a refreshingly perfect side dish.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (other yog will work too)
- ½ cucumber (grated)
- ½ cup mint, fresh
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp lemon zest
Instructions
- Peel then grate the cucumber.
- Place into a bowl and squeeze out excess water with your hands by pressing the grated cucumber towards the bowl rim. Pour away the unneeded water.
- Now mix in the yoghurt. Chop the mint leaves and add along with the lemon zest and salt (only the zest, no lemon juice necessary).
- Done!
NOTES
Nutrition
Whether you’re whipping up a quick vegetarian stir fry for a weeknight dinner, an Asian salad for a summer potluck or vegetarian bao to impress a special someone, our best vegetarian Asian recipes won’t disappoint.
We’ve covered as many of the Asian inspired sides, salads, soups and main meals that we could. They will serve you well as everything from interesting new sides to tried and true Asian dinner recipes.
If this all seems a little too complicated for you (especially the vegetarian part), don’t forget to check our guide to going vegetarian!
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.
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!
Comments
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That’s an awesome collection of Vegetarian Asian recipes of which many I have not tried making at home. Now I know where to come when I plan to make some kung pao.Tofu Sesame Toast is an interesting recipe.