Sweet and sour sauce is usually used in Asian cuisine and eaten with meat or veggies. You can definitely still enjoy the flavor of sweet and sour sauce while following a plant-based diet. Not only can you add it to veggies for an extra kick of flavor, but you can add it to tofu and tempeh, offering a good alternative to meat. Don’t forget to check out these recipes and many others on our Food Monster App!

1. Sweet and Sour Tofu

Source: Sweet and Sour Tofu

The soy, ginger, garlic and maple syrup gives this dish a teriyaki flavor, but the addition of the vinegar gives it a cheeky zing. You can make this Sweet and Sour Tofu by Melissa Tedesco for dinner, or even take it for a delicious lunch! With the added scallions on top, you’ll find yourself loving this dish.

2. Sweet and Sour Pineapple Sticky Rice

Source: Sweet and Sour Pineapple Sticky Rice

There’s nothing like a big bowl of rice and veggies to keep you full and satisfied — and you can be so versatile with the flavors. With sweet pineapple and spicy sauce, this Sweet and Sour Pineapple Sticky Rice by Ella Suihko is a tasty Thai-inspired dish. This easy-breezy recipe is something the whole family will love and the cooking takes only 30 minutes!

3. Sweet and Sour Tempeh

Source: Sweet and Sour Tempeh

A sweet and tangy stir-fry recipe that is healthy and delicious! A quick way to serve flavorful tempeh in 10 easy steps. This Sweet and Sour Tempeh by Talida Voinea is made extra delicious with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and scallions. Both add an extra crunch, and even more flavor.

4. Sweet and Sour ‘Chicken’

Source: Sweet and Sour ‘Chicken’

This dish is incredible – the mix of sweet and spicy – that always makes me happy! This Sweet and Sour ‘Chicken’ by Rhea Parsons goes perfectly over some brown rice and satisfies that take-out craving without ever having to leave your house.

5. Sweet and Sour Bean Meatballs

Source: Sweet and Sour Bean Meatballs

These Sweet and Sour Bean Meatballs by Joni Marie Newman are a perfect appetizer or side-dish for your holiday parties this year! Just poke in a toothpick and you have a bite-sized snack that is sure to impress. These little meatballs have a nice bite to the outside but are soft and chewy on the inside. They taste awesome served on their own or over rice.

6. Sweet and Sour Sesame Broccoli and Tofu

Source: Sweet and Sour Sesame Broccoli and Tofu

Pressed for time? Craving a delicious meal made from pantry ingredients? Try this Sweet and Sour Sesame Broccoli and Tofu by Adina Beck, where the only thing you’ll probably have to pick up is the tofu! This pairs well with rice or your choice of grains, like quinoa.

7. Mambazha Puliserry: Sweet and Sour Mango Curry

Source: Mambazha Puliserry: Sweet and Sour Mango Curry

There is nothing better than mangoes and this Mambazha Puliserry: Sweet and Sour Mango Curry by Srividhya Manikandan doesn’t disappoint. Ripe mangoes are sweet, filling, and make you feel like you’re on vacation (even when you’re not). If you have not tried combining the bright flavors of mango with spiciness from chilis, you are missing out on life. This flavor combo in this sweet and sour mango curry will bring you to your knees.

8. Sweet and Sour Cucumber Carrot Noodles

Source: Sweet and Sour Cucumber Carrot Noodles

This vibrant Sweet and Sour Cucumber Carrot Noodles by Diana Johnson looks gorgeous and tastes even better. The noodle base is filling, with great crunch and texture and the chickpeas add a meaty texture. A drizzle of homemade sweet and sour dressing adds another layer of flavor. This refreshing dish is perfect for the transition from cool weather to warmer days.

9. Sweet and Sour Bok Choy

Source: Sweet and Sour Bok Choy

This Sweet and Sour Bok Choy by Rinku Bhattacharya is quick, easy, and delicious meal made with red cabbage, carrots, and bok choy. The sweet and sour sauce adds a nice flavor to these veggies, and with such simple ingredients, you’ll be surprised how easy it comes together.

 10. Sweet and Sour Green Beans

Source: Sweet and Sour Green Beans

Blanch these green beans in this Sweet and Sour Green Beans by Katzie Guy-Hamilton before searing them in the cast-iron skillet. The resulting texture is perfectly tender, caramelized, and delicious. Tamarind is a sweet-and-sour root commonly used in cuisines around the world, especially those known for their regional curries. Pungent sage—a medicinal herb whose literal meaning is “saved”—has been linked to mental clarity. Paired with earthy hazelnuts, this dish is proper eating—and nothing short of magic.

11. Fermented Sweet and Sour Cauliflower

Source: Fermented Sweet and Sour Cauliflower

This Fermented Sweet and Sour Cauliflower by Amanda Nicole Smith is covered in a sauce made from vegetables and spices and then fermented in a mason jar for a few days. The result is a heaping quantity of soft, flavorful florets that are sweet and sour. The perfect way to serve these vegetables is on a bed of warm rice with steamed broccoli.

12. Veggie Wontons With Sweet and Sour Sauce

Source: Veggie Wontons With Sweet and Sour Sauce

Craving Chinese? These crisp-baked Veggie Wontons With Sweet and Sour Sauce by Gin Butters are stuffed with a sumptuous ginger-garlic veggie filling should do the trick! They’re ridiculously tasty and considering they’re low-fat and low-sodium, they’re way healthier than any wontons you’re going to find in a restaurant.

13. Macrobiotic Sweet and Sour Tempeh

Source: Macrobiotic Sweet and Sour Tempeh

This hearty stew blends tastes, flavors, and textures in delicious, uplifting harmony. In this Macrobiotic Sweet and Sour Tempeh from The One Peaceful World Cookbook, tempeh, carrots, burdock, and lotus root are combined with a sweet, tangy sauce that pairs perfectly with brown rice.

14. Sweet and Sour Sesame Tofu Bowl

Source: Sweet and Sour Sesame Tofu Bowl

This Sweet and Sour Sesame Tofu Bowl by Logan Dunn & Lexus Osman is the perfect “use-what-you-have” marinade that, in all honesty, is comparable to the more traditional sweet and sour sauce you’d buy in the store! Simply marinate the tofu in the sauce we’ve provided (or a new creation of your own) then coat & fry, or bake until crispy. and Add these little bites of flavour to your favorite bowl for an added boost of protein. Dinner never sounded so easy.

15. Tempeh Meatballs in Spicy Sweet and Sour Sauce

Source:Tempeh Meatballs in Spicy Sweet and Sour Sauce by Valentina Chiappa

Craving Chinese? These crisp-baked wontons stuffed with a sumptuous ginger-garlic veggie filling should do the trick! They’re ridiculously tasty and considering they’re low-fat and low-sodium, they’re way healthier than any wontons you’re going to find in a restaurant.

If you’re looking for more takeout recipes, check out this These 20 Vegan Chinese Dishes Instead! and these 15 of Your Chinese Takeout Faves Made Plant-Based!

If it’s more recipes you’re after, check out these recipes and thousands more by downloading our Food Monster App, which is available for iPhone! The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes and subscribers get access to new recipes every day.

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