Vegetarian Dishes in East Asia

Miso soup is a traditional soy-based soup made from a stock called dashi, miso paste, and various additional ingredients such as seaweed or tofu. It is estimated that more than 70% of Japeanese people consume the soup for breakfast, altho... READ MORE

Futomaki is a variety of rolled sushi that is characterized by its large size and a strict balance of used ingredients. The rolls are typically filled with vegetables of different colors, and usually don't contain seafood. Futomaki should be both ... READ MORE

Kappamaki is one of the most common sushi varieties consisting of nori seaweed, vinegar-flavored sushi rice, and sliced cucumbers, preferably thin and seedless Japanese cucumbers. This sushi variety belongs to the wide group of makizushi (rolled s... READ MORE

Sunomono is a popular Japanese cucumber salad seasoned with a lightly sweetened dressing consisting of vinegar and soy sauce. Simple and refreshing, alongside thinly sliced cucumbers it can incorporate various other ingredients such as seafood, se... READ MORE

Mayak is a popular variety of South Korean rice rolls (gimbap). These mini versions of the standard roll consist of rice, toasted seaweed, and fillings that traditionally include carrots, pickled radish, and spinach. Unlike the traditional gimbap,... READ MORE

Atsuage is a traditional dish consisting of deep-fried tofu. The slices of tofu are wrapped in kitchen paper and weighed down with a small weight so the water drains well. They are then deep-fried until golden brown, puffy, and slightly crunchy on... READ MORE

In its basic form, boribap is a South Korean dish consisting of steamed rice and barley that are served with doenjang stew (fermented soybean) and a variety of side dishes (banchan). The dishes served with boribap are typically vegetarian and may ... READ MORE

Deep-fried tofu is a traditional delicacy known as aburaage. Tofu is usually fried twice to create a pocket in the middle, so when the piece is cut, it looks similar to pita bread. With a mild flavor, soft and chewy texture, and an incredible abil... READ MORE

Buddha's delight is a popular dish both in numerous Chinese households and in Buddhist temples, since it is a vegetarian dish, often consisting of more than ten different types of vegetables which are cooked in soy sauce and spices until they deve... READ MORE

Glutinous rice or plain white rice is typically combined with four other grains and beans in this traditional South Korean rice dish called ogokbap or five-grain rice. The selection of grains and beans varies between different regions, bu... READ MORE

Sekihan is a traditional dish consisting of only two main ingredients – glutinous rice and red azuki beans. The dish has a reddish hue which is a result of the cooking liquid from azuki beans. In the past, the color red was a symbol of good ... READ MORE

Yudofu, which translates to hot water tofu, is one the simplest Japanese dishes. As the name suggests, the tofu is merely heated in warm water, which is usually only spiced with dried kelp, a variety of dried seaweed. Yudofu was created b... READ MORE

The Chinese dish known as braised spring bamboo shoots is often seen in the menus of numerous restaurants in the country because it is easy to prepare, high in nutrients, and has a delicious, savory flavor. Spring bamboo shoots are unearthed aroun... READ MORE

Qing jiao yu mi is a traditional dish originating from Sichuan. This simple dish is usually made with a combination of sweet corn kernels, green peppers, salt, and oil. The kernels are stripped from the cobs, the pepper is cut into chunks that are... READ MORE

Tofu misozuke is a traditional dish originating from the Fukuoka area. Some people also call it vegan cheese, as its production requires aging in miso from 2 months to 2 years. During that period, the tofu develops a texture of soft and creamy che... READ MORE

Dubujeon is a traditional dish originating from South Korea. This type of jeon (pan-fried battered food) is made with tofu. Other ingredients usually include flour, oil, eggs, scallions, salt, pepper, and vegetables such as onions and carrots. The... READ MORE

Dububap or tububap, which translates as tofu rice, is a simple snack that is especially popular in North Korea. It consists of fried tofu slices that are filled with rice. The top of each piece is finished off with chili sauce, w... READ MORE

Gajijeon is a traditional dish originating from South Korea. This type of jeon (pan-fried battered food) is made with a combination of eggplants, flour, eggs, salt, and oil. The eggplants are cut into slices, sprinkled with salt, then coated with ... READ MORE

Ganbian kugua or dry-fried bitter melon is a traditional dish originating from Sichuan. The most common version of the dish is made with a combination of bitter melon, green peppers (bell peppers or hot peppers), oil, sesame oil, and salt. The dis... READ MORE

Shiitake dashi is a traditional type of dashi stock, prepared with shiitake mushrooms as the main ingredient. The stock is prepared by re-hydrating dried mushrooms in water. It’s rarely used on its own – instead, it’s combined wi... READ MORE

Stir-fried gai lan is a traditional dish originating from the southern parts of the country. The dish is usually made with a combination of chinese broccoli (gai lan, more related to kale than broccoli), vegetable oil, ginger, garlic, oyster sauce... READ MORE

Qiang lianhuabai is a traditional dish originating from Sichuan. The dish is usually made with a combination of cabbage, dried chili peppers, soy sauce, Chinkiang black vinegar, Sichuan pepper, salt, sugar, and oil. In order to prepare the dish, t... READ MORE

Horenso no goma-ae is a traditional salad originating from Japan. The salad is usually made with a combination of spinach, soy sauce, salt, sugar, sesame seeds, and tahini (sesame paste). The spinach is boiled in salted water, drained, and cut int... READ MORE

Liang ban qie zi is a traditional dish originating from Shanghai. The dish is usually made with a combination of eggplants, scallions, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, oil, sugar, and Chinkiang vinegar. The eggplants are sliced and cut into bite-sized s... READ MORE

Chao hancai is a traditional dish originating from Sichuan. The dish is usually made with a combination of amaranth leaves, garlic, oil, salt, and sesame oil. The garlic is peeled, sliced, and stir-fried in oil in a wok. Before it becomes golden, ... READ MORE

Agebitashi is a traditional vegetable dish originating from Japan. The dish consists of vegetables such as eggplants, asparagus, bell peppers, squash, and lotus root that are fried in oil and then marinated in a mixture of dashi, soy sauce, mirin,... READ MORE

Stir-fried beansprouts is a traditional side dish that's popular throughout China and in Chinese restaurants across the world. It's usually made with a combination of beansprouts, garlic, scallions, salt, and vegetable oil. Crisp and firm beanspro... READ MORE

Larou shao huacai is a traditional dish originating from Sichuan. The dish is usually made with a combination of cauliflower florets, smoked bacon, oil, garlic, stock, salt, white pepper, and potato starch. The bacon is cut into bite-sized pieces ... READ MORE

Nasu no miso itame is a traditional dish originating from Japan and it's often used in bento boxes. The dish is made with a combination of eggplants, miso, mirin, sugar, sesame oil, and green peppers. The eggplants are cut into cubes and saut&eacu... READ MORE