Skip the takeout and whip up your favorite Chinese dishes at home! This collection includes everything from potstickers to lo mein to General Tso’s tofu. All delicious and totally vegan!
Let’s talk about Chinese zodiac signs. There’s something to them. For most of my life, I thought this was a bunch of nonsense. I was told, some time when I was very young, that I born under the sign of the monkey, because I was born in 1980. Outgoing, charming, party animal…that made absolutely no sense.
I didn’t figure out what was going on until a couple of years ago when I went to see the Chinese New Year parade in Philly, in February. That’s when it occurred to me that because I was born in January (before the start of the new year), I must be associated with the previous sign: the sheep. Sensitive, quiet, creative…now that made sense! Keep this in mind next time you read about your sign on a Chinese restaurant menu.
You could also just skip the restaurant, and celebrate Chinese New Year at home, vegan style. I’m here to help, with my favorite vegan Chinese recipes, or at least, Chinese-inspired recipes. I say “inspired” because, as far as I know, zucchini noodle lo mein is not authentic to Chinese cuisine, but the inspiration is definitely there.
This year’s Chinese New Year celebration falls on February 5th, when we enter the year of the pig.
Appetizers
Smoky Tofu Dumplings with Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
Chinese Steamed Buns – China Sichuan Food
Gluten Free Potstickers Filled with Sweet and Sour Tempeh – Vegan Richa
Sticky Rice Mushroom Shumai – The Woks of Life
Vegetable Spring Rolls – Steamy Kitchen
Chinese Salt and Pepper Tofu – Veggie Belly
Chinese Potato Pancake – China Sichuan Food
Soups & Salads
Hot and Sour Soup with Bok Choy
Faux Pork Wonton Soup with Bok Choy – Olives for Dinner
Nine Vegetable Hot and Sour Soup – Eats Well With Others
Vegan Chinese Salad – Simple Vegan Blog
Chinese Spinach and Peanut Salad – Omnivore’s Cookbook
Chinese Cucumber Salad – Kalyn’s Kitchen
Vegan Crock Pot Chinese Hot Pot -Noshing with the Nolands
Noodles
Veggie Chow Mein – Amuse Your Bouche
Roasted Eggplant + Noodles with Chinese Black Vinegar Dressing – My Darling Lemon Thyme
Vegetable Stir Fry Mung Bean Noodles – Healthy Nibbles and Bits
Chinese Five Spice Vegetable and Noodle Stir Fry – The Taste Space
15 Minute Hot Oil Noodles – The Woks of Life
Vegan Dan Dan Noodles – Serious Eats
Fried Rice
Brussels Sprout Fried Rice with Spicy Baked Tofu
Vegan Chinese Fried Rice – Simple Vegan Blog
Sriracha Fried Rice – Appetite for China
Vegan Quinoa Fried Rice – Girl Makes Food
Main Dishes
Tofu Stir-Fry with Garlic Sauce
Hoisin Tofu with Mushrooms and Cauliflower Rice
Sweet and Sour Slaw with Sticky Ginger Tofu
Crispy Tofu with Chinese Black Bean Sauce
Crispy Orange Ginger Tofu with Broccoli
Kung Pao Lentils – Vegan Richa
Sweet and Sour Brussels Sprouts
Sweet and Sour Crispy Mock Chicken Stir Fry – Olives for Dinner
Chinese Vegetarian Chicken with Simple Five Spice Sauce – Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
Pineapple and Cashew Stir Fry – Amuse Your Bouche
Sweet and Sour Cauliflower – The Veg Life
Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts – Appetite for China
Mongolian Soy Curls – Vegan Yumminess
Peking Chickpeas with Mandarin Pancakes
Chinese Cabbage and Five-Spice Seitan with Fermented Black Beans – The Taste Space
Sichuan Tofu with Garlic Sauce – Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
Mapo Tofu with Mushrooms – China Sichuan Food
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Thanks for the shout-out, Alissa. Lots of great vegan options for a not-so-vegan-friendly cuisine. :)
That’s funny, I’m a monkey too and an introvert. Certainly not the life of the party.
I like to celebrate Chinese New Year too, even if I’m not Asian. Any excuse is good to eat more Asian inspired vegan food…
What a fun idea for a post! And so many tasty ideas. Thanks for including my recipe.
Great post!!! Thanks a lot for including our recipes :) Have a nice day!!!!
Thanks for including my noodle stir fry in this post! There’s so many great dishes here!
Thanks for the shout-out and fun discovering your blog!
Love to mix things up with a little vegan dish every now and then, I mostly go for vegetarian but hey, a lot of these recipes can change my mind!! Thanks for including ours!
Aww…has nobody come up with any good vegan Chinese desserts?
There are a few out there, but the recipes are much tougher to find. I’ll keep that in mind for a future round-up. :)
Mochi balls that can have kobocha squash rolled in the dough, almond jelly made with agar agar, sticky rice with adzuki bean paste.
This is a lovely find so wounderfull vegan dishes a lovely variety simple great photos and explains.
Thank you!
Hi! I’m Lindsey
Thanks for the vegan recipes. I’m an owner of “Happy Buddha” restaurant in the beautiful city of Shanghai. We are launching a crowdfunding campaign to help make the move to become 100% plant-based in 2018! With your help, we will continue to make Shanghai healthier and happier. Please help us spread the news! Thank you! https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/help-us-spread-more-vegan-love-in-shanghai-restaurant-food#/
I love your website. :-)
Every recipe I’ve tried so far has been amazing. Is there any chance you might publish a cookbook? Even if it was only a ‘best of’ with recipes you already published here, I might buy it ! Hope you continue to post for a very long time.
Greetings from Germany
Nimra
Aw… thank you so much Nimra! I’ve talked to publishers in the past, but haven’t found the right fit or the right time! I hope to publish a book at some point though, and I really appreciate the encouragement!
Great compilation of recipes can’t wait to try the egg foo young!
Thank you! Enjoy!!
Thanks, so much, for putting this list together! I really appreciate that it’s organized by type, like appetizers, soups, main dishes, etc. That makes it much easier to navigate than similar posts, that I’ve seen. I’m new to the vegan scene, and I’m not sure that I’m gonna go all-in. But, for health reasons, I’m trying to find ways to eat a more plant-based diet (and get enough protein), while relying on my love of international cuisine, for flavor.
Wonderful! I’m glad this is helpful to you. I hope you have a chance to give a few of these a try!
Thank you for all these wonderful classic favorites turned vegan! My husband is a chef and we’ve been vegan for going on two years now. I wouldn’t change it for the world, but I have missed having Chinese cuisine in my life. Especially Seasame Chicken and Generals Tso Chicken, which I ate regularly to be honest. To have these recipes without having cruelty involved is going to be a huge deal for us. Thank you again! 😊
Very welcome!! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes!