Vegetarian and Vegan Chinese Recipes

Vegan Chinese Kung Pao Tofu

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

You can create many of your favorite Chinese restaurant dishes at home and make them vegetarian or vegan. The cuisine can have big flavors and use proteins sparingly, so it is easily adaptable to vegan protein sources such as tofu and seitan. You will want to avoid some ingredients (such as fish sauce) you might find in non-vegan recipes. Try cooking up some meatless Chinese food at home, whether it's time for Lunar New Year, visiting in-laws, or just a midweek meal idea you need.

Szechuan-Style Chinese Noodles

Make this vegan Chinese food recipe for Szechuan-style noodles cooked with green onions and garlic. The spicy sauce is made from chili sauce, vinegar, and sugar. It's topped off with cucumber and peanuts. You can increase the heat with chili flakes, chili oil, or extra hot sauce.

Asian Green Beans

These Asian stir-fried green beans are a tasty addition to any meal. Inspired by the flavors of Asia with soy sauce, sherry, or rice wine, and a bit of sugar and garlic, this is an easy vegan green bean recipe.

Bok Choy and Shiitake Stir-fry

Vegetable stir-fries are quick and easy to make. This bok choy and shiitake stir-fry combines great flavors. You can serve it as-is or add tofu to round it out. Serve it with rice.

Vegan Stir-Fry With Seitan and Hoisin Sauce

This stir-fry with vegetables and seitan can be a one-dish meal. It's flavored with a hoisin-based sauce and uses seitan, a vegan protein made with wheat gluten that is an excellent meat substitute. You can make it gluten-free by substituting tofu. Enjoy the extra sauce over rice or noodles.

Orange-Glazed Tempeh

You won't miss orange chicken when you can make this orange-glazed tempeh recipe. Tempeh is a naturally fermented and compressed soy product that has a satisfying texture. If you prefer, you can make a similar dish with tofu. Serve this protein along with stir-fried vegetables and rice for a great Chinese-inspired meal.

Vegan Kung Pao Tofu

Enjoy a vegan tofu kung pao dish Chinese ingredients and seasonings, including sesame oil, red pepper flakes, onion, lime and hot sauce. It includes lots of Chinese veggies including snow peas, bok choy, cabbage, and mushrooms.

Sweet and Sour Tempeh

This sweet and sour tempeh can satisfy your cravings for Chinese-American restaurant sweet and sour dishes. Tempeh simmered with pineapples and peppers in a tangy sauce made with vinegar and sugar.

Vegan Tofu and Cashew Fried Rice

You won't miss restaurant fried rice when you can make this tofu and cashew fried rice that is tasty and balanced. The tofu has a very similar appearance and texture to eggs, and the cashews add even more texture and protein.

Vegetarian Hot and Sour Soup

You can enjoy hot and sour soup as a start to your meal or as a light meal in itself. Savor the spicy combination of mushrooms, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, soy sauce, hot sauce, vinegar, garlic, green onions, and chili oil. Make a batch the next time you're in need of warming up with something hot on a cold day.

Vegetarian Potstickers

Make these vegetarian potstickers with tofu and vegetables to enjoy on Lunar New Year or anytime. They are always a welcome snack or a meal starter.