15 Popular Asian Recipes Made Vegan

Traditional Asian cultures have long relied on plant-based foods like soy, vegetables, and grains as staples in their diet, so many of their dishes are already vegan. But if not, it’s easy to make your favorite meal vegan with a couple of simple substitutions. Below are 15 delicious Asian-inspired vegan recipes:

1. Kelp Noodles in Peanut-Miso Sauce

Kelp noodles are not only tasty, but fat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and extremely low in calories. Their crunchy texture is not like those of regular noodles, but delicious in its own way. They are versatile and can be used raw (they are considered a raw food), or heated in stir-fries, etc.

2. Udon Noodle Soup

Thick and substantial, yet slippery and melting, udon is a wonderful comfort food. Despite common opinion stating that udon noodles are high in calories, a medium portion in a broth like this is wonderfully healthy.

3. Seaweed Salad

One cup of seaweed contains almost as much protein as a cup of lentils, and one gram of seaweed takes care of your iodine needs for the day. Not to mention all the B12 you can get.

4. Spring Rolls with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Cool, crisp veggies, full of flavor and crunch make this dish not only extremely satisfying, but leave you with loads of energy and won’t weigh you down.

5. Sweet Potato Red Cabbage and Kelp Noodle Bowl with Rich Miso Dressing

Kelp, and other seaweeds, offer a rich source of vitamins and minerals including iodine, magnesium, and B vitamins. These nutrients are essential for a healthy thyroid, combatting stress, and helping the body detox from harmful toxins.

6. Bangkok Black Rice Salad with Fresh Peach

The rice is definitely needed for color contrast, an appealingly nutty flavor, and a slightly chewy texture, not to mention a bit of protein.

7. Street Pad Thai

The most popular and well-known Thai dish is “pad thai”, something that can be found easily being prepared by street food vendors.

8. Pomegranate Sweet and Sour Tempeh

Try this bright tasting sweet and sour tempeh and see how it plays off one of our favorite American reislings, made by one of our favorite American winemakers, Charles Smith.

9. Peanut Butter Spicy Noodles

A delicious Asian inspired noodle salad which incorporates our beloved Plain Jane Peanut Butter. A great balance of protein, fresh veggies, and carbs.

10. Minced Tempeh Salad with Lemongrass Sesame and Cashews

Inspired by the region’s cuisine in general, this recipe uses raw lemongrass in a tempeh salad with a sesame/lime/sugar/soy sauce combination that will blow your mind.

11. Steamed Chinese Bao with Peanut Butter

You might know these as Chinese bao, steamed buns – you might know them with no filling at all – or you might not know them. These are delicious snacks and desserts.

12. Asian Slaw Salad with Miso Ginger Dressing

This colorful Asian style slaw can be served alone or as a side dish. It would also pair nicely served at room temperature, topped with crispy pan fried tofu.

13. Stir Fried Tofu with Veggies and Shiitake with Arrowroot Sauce

Cooking with arrowroot is easy, and the result is a fantastic, viscous sauce. Just be aware that once on the hot skillet arrowroot will dense the food immediately: don´t let it be unattended.

14. Raw Rainbow Noodles with Spicy Jungle Peanut Sauce

This is a simple clean dish that will fill you up with positive energy, vitamins, nutrients, and joy.

15. Cauliflower Manchurian

This cauliflower dish blends Asian and Indian flavors beautifully. It has a rich and complex flavor, but is slightly sweet and also a little spicy.