Here are 9 mouth-watering recipes for the ultimate vegan Chinese feast (that even meat-eaters will love!).
Appetizers
Spinach and Chickpea Dumplings
Dumplings are one of the most important Chinese New Year dishes. They’re considered to be one of the “lucky foods” that’ll bring you luck for the coming year!
Filipino Fried Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are a very traditional Chinese New Year dish. Check out these crunchy vegan Filipino fried spring rolls that are filled with vegetables instead of their traditional filling, pork.
Yeasted Scallion Pancakes
Crispy, chewy and golden, Scallion Pancakes are an absolute crowd-pleaser! Plus, they’re quick and easy to make.
Sweet Potato Steamed Buns with Spicy Bean Filling (Bao Buns)
Soft and fluffy bao buns with a twist!
Mains
10-Minute Chinese Hot Oil Noodles
Bringing together the key flavors of Chinese food, these quick and easy noodles are both vegan and gluten-free!
Sweet and Sour Cauliflower
Cauliflower works perfectly in this cruelty-free version of a popular Chinese dish. Yummy!
General Tso Tofu
No Chinese New Year menu would ever be complete without General Tso’s Tofu! Here’s the recipe for this classic Chinese takeout dish from the Wholesome Culture Cookbook!
Fancy a copy of our cookbook which contains more than 80 healthy plant-based recipes for every type of meal? Grab your copy now!
Makes 2-3 servings
Prep time: 15-20 minutes
Cook time: 10-12 minutes
- 14 ounce block of extra firm tofu
- Canola or vegetable oil for frying
- 1/4 cup green onion, chopped
- 2-3 tablespoons sesame seeds
Marinade:
- 1 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
Sauce:
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons raw agave
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Batter:
- 1/3 cup gluten-free flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions:
- Using paper towels, gently press tofu to help soak up excess liquid. Then, chop into large cubes, roughly 1 inch in size.
- In a large bowl, mix together 1 cup rice vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 3 tablespoons soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons garlic powder. Add diced tofu and mix gently.
- While the tofu begins to marinade, add tomato paste to a medium sized pot and stir in the cornstarch. Then, add water, rice vinegar, soy sauce, raw agave, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes to pot. Mix thoroughly then cook on medium low heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Once sauce has begun to thicken, remove from heat.
- Now using two separate bowls, prepare the batter. In one bowl, mix together gluten-free flour, garlic, and salt. In another bowl, mix together breadcrumbs and salt.
- Fill a separate pot with around 2 inches of oil, leaving at least 3 inches unfilled in pan so that the oil doesn’t splatter up. Using an oil thermometer, bring up to 350 degrees.
- Dip the tofu pieces a few at a time into the liquid batter then coat with the breadcrumb mixture and carefully place into the hot oil [1]. Cook for around one minute or until golden brown, then flip and cook the other side. Remove from oil and continue this process with the rest of the tofu.
- Once all the tofu is cooked, add it to the sauce and heat for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and top with the chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with rice if desired.
Note: [1] Frequently check the temperature of the oil, ensuring it never goes above 375 or below 340 degrees.
Dessert
Raw Persimmon “Cheesecake”
In China, persimmons are incredibly popular around New Year. Doesn’t this creamy persimmon “cheesecake” make your mouth water? And – it’s super easy to make!
Are you looking for more plant-based cooking inspiration? Check out these other recipes from the Wholesome Culture Cookbook:
- This is the vegan BLT sandwich of your dreams!
- The best vegan Cauliflower Buffalo Chick’n Wings
- Make this peanut butter smoothie to have the best day!
Tags :
Chinese food without meatchinese new year feastplant-based Chinese foodplant-based cookingplant-based foodplant-based kitchenplant-based lifestyleplant-based recipesvegan chinese foodvegan chinese new year foodvegan chinese new year menuvegan cookingvegan feastvegan recipeswholesome culture cookbookwholesome kitchen
