Vegetarian Chinese Recipes

Meat-free Chinese cooking that doesn't taste like a compromise. Every recipe here is written for a US kitchen — precise steps, real heat cues, and substitutes for anything hard to find.

Browse Vegetarian Chinese recipes

Vegetarian siu mai — steamed mushroom and tofu dumplings topped with grated carrot and peas in a bamboo steamer

Vegetarian Siu Mai

Buddha's delight (lo han jai) — a Chinese vegetarian braise of tofu, mushrooms, snow peas, carrots and glass noodles in a glossy sauce

Buddha's Delight (Lo Han Jai)

Kung pao tofu — crispy tofu cubes with dried red chilies, peanuts and scallions in a glossy dark sauce

Kung Pao Tofu

Chinese broccoli (gai lan) — blanched green stalks topped with fried garlic and a glossy soy-oyster sauce

Chinese Broccoli (Gai Lan) with Garlic Sauce

General Tso's tofu — crispy golden tofu cubes in a glossy sweet-spicy sauce with dried chilies, scallions and sesame seeds

American Chinese

General Tso's Tofu

Scallion oil noodles — glossy soy-coated noodles topped with crispy golden fried scallions in a bowl

Scallion Oil Noodles

A small bowl of glossy bright orange sauce with strips of fresh orange zest

American Chinese

Orange Sauce

Golden pan-fried tofu triangles in a glossy brown sauce with red and green peppers

Home-Style Braised Tofu

Crispy golden salt and pepper tofu cubes tossed with red chili and scallion

Salt and Pepper Tofu

Chilled silken tofu topped with soy dressing, scallions, and chili oil on a white plate

Cold Silken Tofu with Soy-Sesame Dressing

A small bowl of glossy reddish-brown kung pao sauce with dried chilies and Sichuan peppercorns

Kung Pao Sauce

A small bowl of glossy bright red-orange sweet and sour sauce

American Chinese

Sweet and Sour Sauce

A small bowl of glossy savory brown Chinese garlic sauce flecked with minced garlic

American Chinese

Chinese Garlic Sauce

A bowl of Chinese egg drop soup with silky golden egg ribbons and scallions

Home-Style (家常菜)

Egg Drop Soup

Bright green garlic bok choy halves topped with golden fried garlic on a white plate

Home-Style (家常菜)

Garlic Bok Choy

Vegetable lo mein — soft egg noodles tossed with carrots, cabbage and scallions in a glossy sauce

Lo Mein

Crispy golden air fryer tofu cubes glazed with soy and sesame seeds in a bowl

Home-Style (家常菜)

Air Fryer Tofu

Crispy golden Chinese spring rolls stacked on a plate with a dipping sauce

Spring Rolls

A jar of homemade Chinese chili oil, deep red with chili flakes and sediment, with a spoon

Chinese Chili Oil

A jar of glossy brown Chinese stir fry sauce with a whisk

Home-Style (家常菜)

Chinese Stir Fry Sauce

A small bowl of glossy dark red General Tso's sauce with dried chilies

American Chinese

General Tso's Sauce

Soy sauce chow mein with browned egg noodles, bean sprouts and scallions in a wok

Soy Sauce Chow Mein

Silky Cantonese steamed egg custard in a shallow bowl, drizzled with soy sauce and scallions

Cantonese Steamed Egg

Golden egg fried rice with scallions in a wok

Home-Style (家常菜)

Egg Fried Rice

Chinese tomato and egg stir-fry with soft scrambled eggs over rice

Home-Style (家常菜)

Chinese Tomato and Egg Stir-Fry

A bowl of hot and sour soup with tofu, mushrooms and egg ribbons

Home-Style (家常菜)

Hot and Sour Soup

Chinese eggplant in a glossy red-brown garlic sauce with scallions

Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce

Sichuan dry-fried green beans, blistered and tossed with ground pork and chili

Sichuan Dry-Fried Green Beans

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