In honor of Chinese New Year, I wanted to share this small collection of plant-based recipes that highlight the really special elements of Chinese cuisine. There are dumplings, noodles, stir-fries, and desserts – all kinds of tasty ways to explore the ingredients, flavors,and textures as we move into the lunar new year.
My love for Chinese plant-based food
As you may know, I lived in China for a few years. During that time I realized that the cuisines (there are many) are more vast than I can comprehend. I can say for certain, though, that plants have a deep-rooted importance and this is reflected in the way they are used in meals every day.
The menu at a midrange restaurant could have literally 50 vegetable dishes on the menu. An entire page of the menu could be dedicated to basic greens prepared however the customer wants. A Yunnanese restaurant could have 20 kinds of mushrooms. Tofu doesn’t just come in blocks, but also sheets, strings, knots, bark, and so many other ways.
Then there are the preparation methods. The eggplant in China is known for converting people who claim not to like that vegetable. The texture of the fried eggplant and combination of sweet, sour, savory, and spicy are beyond words. Proper stir-frying produces incredible results as well. It imparts the flavor of the fire, yet the process goes so quickly that the vegetables are just barely cooked and you can really appreciate the freshness. Some of the best dishes I’ve eaten consisted of two or three ingredients, say some cabbage or pea shoots, stir-fried with garlic.
Chinese Ingredients are another deep well of inspiration. It’s not just soy sauce. Things like doubanjiang (a preserved bean paste like miso, but spicy and more vibrant), aged vinegars, an endless assortment of preserved and fermented vegetables create a fantastic palette for plant-based cooks.
Food at Chinese New Year
It’s an understatement to say that food and tradition are really important in Chinese culture. And for Chinese New Year, it’s even truer. Handmade dumplings, made by the whole family on New Year’s Eve, are just the beginning. Every dish has significance. And there are so many of them.
So as the new year approaches (February 6 in 2019) I’d like to share these plant-based recipes with you. Many of them are Chinese, as eaten in China, while others are more internationalized or from other parts of Asia. Please do note that many of the links go to omnivorous websites.
With the help of these recipes, your table could be decked with a rainbow of tofu, mushrooms, potatoes, vegetables, herbs, and sweet and savory sauces. I hope you enjoy them.Happy Chinese New Year (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè)!
Appetizers
Tofu Fried with Sesame Honey Garlic |I AM A FOOD BLOG
Deep-fried tofu is simply amazing. The crusty, crunchy outside gives way to a soft, yielding creamy soft center. Use brown sugar or maple syrup in place of honey for a vegan-friendly starter.
Vietnamese Spring Rolls|Culinary Hill
Easy and fun to make ahead of time, these spring rolls are a huge hit for anyone who likes fresh flavors and lots of delicious textures. For vegan nuoc cham, use vegetarian fish sauce (made with seaweed).
Vegetable Dumplings |The Woks Of Life
Do justice to the most symbolic Chinese New Year snack – the dumpling. The veggie-stuffed version is just as good as, if not better than, the meat one. Serve it with your favorite sauce for an instant hit.
Harusame Salad |Just One Cookbook
Stay on top of your health kick with Japanese Glass Noodle (Harusame) Salad. Light, refreshing, low calorie and so flavorful with a savory and tangy sesame soy vinaigrette.
A slightly different type of dumpling, these Siu Mai are filled with broccoli and zucchini with a decadent garlic sauce. Serve with beet slices and hoisin sauce (which is vegan too!)
Mains
General Tso’s Tofu |Simple Vegan Blog
Filling but not overwhelming, General Tso’s Tofu is spicy-sweet, healthier than the classic Chinese American takeout dish, and one of my favorite tofu recipes.
Chinese Eggplant with Garlic Sauce |Omnivore’s Cookbook
Eggplant is vastly underrated outside China. But very frequently appears on Chinese dinner tables. Grill it until crispy and smoky, before cooking it in a rich, sumptuous garlic sauce.
Scallion Pancakes | Healthy Nibbles and Bits
Ever wondered how they get those scallion pancakes so flaky? Here’s the answer! Thin and crisp on the outside, when you tear them apart, you’ll see all the beautiful layers.
Buddhas Delight |Omnivore’s Cookbook
Classic and festive, a Buddha’s Delight is a superb tasting, very flexible, and practical vegetable stew for home cooking. It’s also massively nourishing.
Turnip Cakes | Arthurstreet Kitchen
Shredded daikon (radish) is combined with seasonings and rice flour, which, when steamed, gel together to become a solid, silky ‘cake’ – an authentically vegan Asian snack.
Triple Garlic Noodles | No Recipes
This dish features a trinity of fried garlic, black garlic, and raw garlic in an impossibly flavorful sauce. Tossed with your favorite noodles, it makes for a delicious entrée or savory side.
Honey Chilli Potatoes| My Food Stories
Crispy Honey Chilli Potatoes are a super addictive sweet and spicy snack that’ll leave you licking the sauce off your fingers! Swap agave, date, or maple syrup in place of the honey.
Rainbow Longevity Noodles |Omnivore’s Cookbook
There is nothing more festive and cheerful than these beautiful rainbow longevity noodles served in a rich broth. A show-stealer on the dinner table, for sure.
Sriracha Fried Rice|Appetite For China
Spice up plain rice with some sizzling sriracha, peas, mushrooms, and green scallions boosted with a slug of peanut oil. So good!
Sweet Treats
Peppermint Mochi | Two Red Bowls
Mochi is already one of my favorite things, perfectly soft and chewy and gently sweet, butwith a dose of peppermint extract, itbecomes freshand festive in the best way.
Red Bean Buns| China Sichuan Food
Pillow-soft red bean buns are so simple to make and 100% plant-based. Have one bite, and you’ll see the smooth sweet red bean paste inside. A genuine Chinese sweet treat.
Candied Sweet Potato in Caramel Sauce| My Korean Kitchen
Highlight the natural sweetness of the sweet potatoes with caramelized sugar. Fully melted, it looks like fine threads coming out from the sugar syrup and is a guaranteed sensation.
Peanut Butter Cookies| Pickled Plum
Few people know it, but peanut cookies are super popular across China at around the new year. Fill your home with the wonderful aroma of freshly baked, chewy, crispy and moist bites of perfection.
Homemade Taho | Kitchen Confidante
Taho is a classic Filipino sweet treat made with silken tofu, sago or tapioca pearls, and a simple brown sugar syrup. It’s served warm or chilled.
Spiced Chai Tea Latte Popsicles| Jessica Gavin
This spiced chai tea latte popsicles recipe feature some bold flavors!It’s the perfect refreshing treat with just a hint of sweetness.
