When it comes to vegetarian Chinese recipes, there really is something for everyone, whether you’re looking for vegetarian appetizers, soups, mains, or anything in between.

Thanks to the depth and variety of China’s food culture, Chinese cuisine boasts a wide array of tasty vegetarian recipes from all across the country, and even more when you consider how easy it is to swap meat for tofu or ‘mock meat’ in classic Chinese chicken, pork, and beef recipes.

And while Papa G has yet to really embrace plant-based eating, there are still a fair few recipes in his repertoire that contain no meat at all, making them perfect for our vegetarian readers and friends.

So, below we’ll be sharing some of the top vegetarian-friendly recipes we have on our site. We hope you find what you’re looking for!

PS: Craving something sweet? Most of our Chinese dessert recipes are vegetarian as well!

Vegan Spring Rolls

Crispy and satisfying spring rolls… but completely vegan! Can you believe it?

This delicious recipe is filled with perfectly seasoned vegetables, with two types of cabbage, carrot, celery, and onion all in the mix. If you’re looking for a plant-based yet gluttonous Chinese treat, then be sure to give these a try.

Check out our full Vegan Spring Rolls recipe for more details.

Vegan Dumplings

Another one of our must-try vegetarian Chinese recipes is… well, actually, they’re vegan – these delicious vegan dumplings, packed with a tasty mix of finely diced vegetables.

Juicy, crispy, and packed with flavor – serve these with your favorite dumpling dipping sauce and you’ll never look back.

Recipe coming soon

Longevity Noodles (Yi Mein)

This deliciously slurp-worthy dish is a popular Chinese New Year food, and consists of simply noodles, mushrooms, and seasoning, making it an ideal recipe for those who are craving meatless Chinese noodles.

Whether on their own or as a side dish, they taste great and are sure to satisfy.

Check out our full Longevity Noodles (Yi Mein) recipe for more details.

Tomato and Tofu Egg Drop Soup

We have written a lot about Chinese soups, but one of the best vegetarian soups we have to offer is this Tomato and Tofu Egg Drop Soup.

Made up of juicy tomatoes, silky tofu, and a flavor-rich broth, all it takes is omitting the eggs to make it vegan as well.

Check out our full Tomato and Tofu Egg Drop Soup recipe for more details.

Instant Pot Congee

Another excellent vegetarian-friendly Chinese recipe is this Instant Pot Congee.

Congee is a rice porridge that lends itself perfectly to a myriad of flavorings and toppings. Enhance this blank canvas of a recipe with vegetable broth, your favorite vegetables, and you’ve got a perfectly nourishing meal to enjoy.

Check out our full Instant Pot Congee recipe for more details.

Steamed Rice Rolls (Cheung Fun)

For a slippery and delicious treat that happens to be vegetarian, be sure to try our Steamed Rice Rolls, made up of addictive rice noodle sheets.

Served with a drizzle of sweet soy sauce, they taste great on their own, but you can feel free to jazz it up with a variety of vegetarian-friendly fillings, like tofu, veggies, or egg.

Check out our full Steamed Rice Rolls (Cheung Fun) recipe for more details.

Stir Fry Vegetables

For a very clean vegetarian recipe that goes great with everything, this Stir Fry Vegetable recipe is a must-try.

In this dish, your choice of crunchy vegetables come together with a thin and light sauce that doesn’t skimp on flavor. The best part of this recipe is how versatile and easily adaptable it is to what you have in your fridge.

Check out our full Stir Fry Vegetables recipe for more details.

Mushroom and Broccoli Stir Fry

For a vegetarian take on Beef and Broccoli (hands down one of the most famous Chinese takeout dishes), give this Mushroom and Broccoli Stir Fry a chance.

It’s loaded with umami thanks to the mushrooms and sauce, plus the broccoli comes out with a perfect crunch… ideal for pairing with rice!

Full recipe coming soon

Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) with Oyster Sauce

Chinese Broccoli (also known as Gai Lan) is commonly served at Dim Sum restaurants with a slathering of oyster sauce.

Luckily, this is an easy recipe to enjoy as a vegetarian! Simply use this widely available vegetarian oyster sauce and you’re good to go.

Check out our full Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) with Oyster Sauce recipe for more details.

Did we miss any of your favourite vegetarian Chinese dishes?

Let us know in the comments so we can add more delicious recipes to the list!