Asian food is probably one of the world’s most loved cuisines, with dishes such as Pad Thai, Sushi and Gong Bao Chicken taking center stage on menus around the globe.
But what if you’re a vegan?
Can you still enjoy these foods?
With most Asian cooking involving meats, honey, and egg – it can be difficult for a vegan to find a way of bringing a taste of the orient to their dishes.
But of course, there are plenty of vegan cookbooks out there which use plant based and healthy alternatives, while still keeping that Asian cuisine taste.
Today I am here to show you some of these books and prove that you can still enjoy exotic flavors without meat.
1. The 30-Minute Vegan's Taste of the East
150 Asian-Inspired Recipes–from Soba Noodles to Summer Rolls
by Mark Reinfeld
The 30-Minute Vegan’s Taste of the East provides a realist approach to cooking vegan Asian food, with dishes that take 30 minutes to prepare.
This is perfect for the everyday vegan and ideal for families with hectic schedules, with no fuss cooking and delicious meals to send you to the east.
The authors of this cookbook encourage you to have some fun with the flavors and ingredients of each recipe.
These recipes taste so good and are so easy that you’ll have even non-vegan family and friends wanting to try them out.
Some recipes include:
- Sesame Asparagus
- Coconut Curry
- DanDan Noodles
- Orange-glazed Tofu
- Spicy Sesame Peanut Noodles
- Tamarind Vegetables with Lemongrass
In short, this is a book which should be in any kitchen, with easy to make and practical dishes that fit any occasion.
2. The Chinese Vegan Kitchen
More Than 225 Meat-free, Egg-free, Dairy-free Dishes from the Culinary Regions o f China
by Donna Klein
Donna Klein provides a cookbook filled with Chinese recipes, involving the use of aromatic spices, vibrant color and great flavor.
China already has a huge array of meat, dairy and egg-free dishes which puts it with some of the healthiest food in the world.
This vegan Chinese book contains recipes from different regions of China, such as Canton, Hunan, Peking, Shanghai and a lot more.
225 recipes are contained within The Chinese Vegan Kitchen, and can be prepared with ease.
Each recipe has a detailed nutritional breakdown of protein, fat, fiber, and carbs.
Some of the recipes in the book include:
- Velvet Corn Soup
- Roasted Carrots with Sesame and Ginger
- Stir-Fried Bok Choy & Shiitake Mushrooms
- Hunan-Style Baked Sweet Potato “French Fries” with Chili Sauce
- Instant Ramen Noodle Soup with Vegetables
- Country-Style Vegetable Stew with Tofu Puffs
- Chinese Corn Flour Flatbread
Even more, the more novice cooks, this book is accessible and a great addition to the vegan kitchen.
3. The Asian Vegan Kitchen
Authentic and Appetizing Dishes from a Continent of Rich Flavors
by Hema Parekh
This asian cookbook features a collection of recipes spanning the breadth of Asia, with dishes full of spices and tasty plant-based ingredients to get the taste buds tingling.
The Asian Vegan Kitchen’s aim is to cater for the growing mass of people who are transitioning to a vegan lifestyle and offers these familiar Asian flavors with a healthier base.
This cookbook doesn’t include replacements; it is about bringing dishes which were vegetarian in the first place to the forefront, and showcasing these ingredients.
Full of stunning photos and detailed instructions, this book is a great guide to Asian vegan cooking.
This book can satisfy a huge array of tastes – with cooking styles that can change dramatically between countries.
It is divided into sections for each country and also shows how the dishes are traditionally served.
Each country has options for breakfast, dinner and deserts.
4. Love Vegan
The Essential Asian Cookbook for Vegans
by High Cedar Press
Asia is home to a huge range of cuisines and cooking styles, and this asian cookbook aims to showcase all of these styles while bringing in healthy and plant based ingredients.
All the dishes in Love Vegan can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, making it an excellent choice for those with busy schedules.
This is a great book for meat eaters who want to reduce their meat intake, vegetarians who are vegan-curious and of course vegans.
Here are just some of the recipes which are featured in this book:
- Traditional Pad Thai
- Teriyaki Sweet Potato with Cauliflower Rice
- Vietnamese Pho
- Malaysian Panang Curry
- Kung Pao Chickpeas• Chinese Steamed Buns
- Japanese Gyoza
- Thai Cashew Coconut Rice
- Coconut Crusted Tofu Bites with Creamy Thai Green Sauce
- Ginger-Infused Japanese Rice Pudding
With such flavorful recipes, it can motivate you to reshuffle the way you eat and begin a vegan diet.
This cookbook will inspire you to go and make delicious Asian meals every night of the week.
5. VEGAN THAI RECIPES
VEGAN THAI RECIPES FOR THE SLOW COOKER
by CHEF TUMMY
Thai food chef Tummy has compiled a selection of great vegan Thai recipes which are filling and bursting with flavor.
This cookbook gives tips on how to select the best produce and how to substitute ingredients you can’t find in the shop.
Recipes in VEGAN THAI RECIPES include:
- Vegan Green Curry
- Thai Pineapple Curry
- Thai Bamboo Shoot Curry
- Thai Red Curry with Pumpkin
- Southern Thai style Tomato Curry
- Green Mango Curry
With each Thai cooking method explained in detail, this is an excellent guide to Thai cooking as well as a recipe book for Vegans.
A great addition to the kitchen for any would-be Thai cook.
Even if you aren’t a vegan, trying some of these great Thai dishes may give a new perspective on the culinary culture of Asia.
From the cookbooks above, you can see that although it may be seen like being vegan reduces your food options, but it opens up a door to a whole new perspective and different variations on these classic Chinese and Thai dishes.
Asian food is just as diverse as the countries it comes from, and Vegan options are very well catered for.