Japanese food is not really known for being vegan-friendly but with veganism gaining in popularity, more and more food bloggers are adapting traditional Japanese recipes to be as equally delicious but cruelty-free! I’ve scoured the Interwebs to round up more than 60 of the very best vegan Japanese recipes perfect every vegan Japanese food lover!
While sushi and ramen are undoubtedly the most well-known Japanese dishes outside of Japan, Japanese cuisine is incredibly wide and varied and makes good use of different types of noodles, vegetables, tofu and other soy products, seaweed and rice.
Unfortunately for vegans and vegetarians, it’s also notoriously fishy. Those damn bonito flakes show up everywhere!
Even dishes that may seem vegan at first glance often include fish products in the dashi (soup stock).
Unless you go to a vegan Japanese restaurant or you make your own Japanese food at home, it can be very difficult to ensure that the food is free from animal products.
The good news is that as veganism gains in popularity, more and more food bloggers and cookbook authors are embracing a cruelty-free diet and making it easier for vegan home cooks to explore the wide variety of traditional Japanese recipes.
Vegan Japanese cookbooks
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While this collection of over 60 vegan Japanese recipes features some of the most well-known and popular Japanese recipes made vegan, if you’re wanting to explore vegan Japanese cuisine more in depth, consider picking up one of these vegan Japanese cookbooks.
Vegan JapanEasy by Tim Anderson features over 80 recipes that explore Japanese recipes that are already vegan or nearly vegan with one or two easy substitutes.
The Vegan Japanese Cookbook by Yoko Segawa features 75 of the author’s favorite family recipes as well as vegan recipes from the Japanese Buddhist tradition.
Kansha: Celebrating Japan’s Vegan and Vegetarian Traditions by Elizabeth Andoh features recipes from Buddhist temple cuisine, macrobiotic cooking, traditional and creative modern Japanese cuisine.
Japanese Cooking: Contemporary & Traditional by Miyoko Schinner features vegetable dishes found in traditional Japanese cuisine as well as recipes with innovative vegan substitutions for meaty dishes.
Japanese ingredients
The first step to learning how to cook vegan Japanese food is to make sure you have a few staple ingredients on hand. Fortunately, as Japanese food has become more popular, you can now find things like miso pasta, mirin and sake in most large well-stocked supermarkets.
If you have an Asian supermarket in your city, you’ll be able to track down some of the more hard-to-find ingredients or you can always order on the internet.
Miso: A thick paste made from fermented soybeans. There are different types of miso with different flavor profiles and is a key ingredient for adding umami to your dishes.
Noodles: Ramen, soba, somen, and udon are some of the most popular Japanese noodle types.
Soy sauce: There are two main types of soy sauce in Japanese cooking: shoyu and tamari. Tamari is a by-product of miso making and is gluten free. Shoyu, like the Kikkoman brand, is made from wheat and soy and is what you’ll often find in Japanese restaurants.
Mushrooms: Japanese cuisine makes use of a wide variety of mushrooms from delicate enoki to robust shiitake. Dried shiitake mushrooms are essential for creating a vegan dashi stock.
Panko: Japanese breadcrumbs are light, airy and absorb less grease than Italian breadcrumbs. Panko is essential for fried recipes like katsu.
Nori: These sheets of dried seaweed are essential for making sushi.
Kombu: Is another type of seaweed, specifically kelp, that is used to make stock.
Rice: Japanese rice is a short-grained variety. When seasoned with a mixture of vinegar and sugar, it can be used to make sushi. Without this seasoning, it is used for a variety of every day meals such as Japanese curry, rice bowls, and rice balls.
Goma: Goma is the Japanese name for sesame seeds. Black and white sesame seeds are used to garnish a wide variety of Japanese dishes.
Mirin: Mirin is a sweetened rice wine and is a very common ingredient is glazes and sauces. You’ve likely encountered it in teriyaki sauce.
Sake: Sake is rice wine and is not just for drinking! It’s also a common ingredient in sauces and glazes.
Red bean paste: Red bean paste is a sweet paste made from adzuki beans and used in sweets and desserts like mochi.
Toasted sesame oil: Make from sesame seeds, this oil is potent and a little goes a long way in flavoring noodles, stir fry, dressings and marinades.
Rice vinegar: There are two main types of vinegar in Japan: white rice vinegar, which is more versatile and often used to pickle vegetables, season sushi rice, and to dress salads, and brown rice vinegar, which is more nutrient-dense and has a nutty flavor.
Umeboshi: Umeboshi is a salted, pickled ume fruit that’s something between an apricot and a plum. They’re usually referred to as pickled plumbs and add a lot of umami to dishes.
Wasabi: Wasabi is the spicy green paste that is typically served with sushi. Most wasabi is just horseradish dyed green since real wasabi only grows in Japan and is very hard to come by elsewhere. You can use it to add a spicy kick to a lot of dishes besides sushi.
Vegan Japanese Recipes
Sushi
ntroducing the Spicy Tofu Crunch Roll, a vegan showstopper that combines teriyaki tofu, creamy avocado, crisp cucumber, and a fiery crunch of chili panko, all drizzled with a mouthwatering teriyaki sauce. Get ready to be swept away by an explosion of flavours that will leave your taste buds happy and take your sushi game to new heights.
Making Vegetarian Sushi Rolls at home is surprisingly easy and affordable. It only requires simple tools and perfectly cooked vinegared rice. Once you get the techniques down, you‘ll be ready to roll in no time.
Vegan sushi never looked so real! King oyster mushroom is cooked to perfection for the “fish” look and the satisfying texture. This vegan “fish” nigiri is topped with onion, scallions, Hawaiian salt, wasabi and a surprising taste from lime! It’s a must recipe to try out for all vegan sushi lovers and to impress non-vegan sushi lovers!
Are you looking for the perfect Vegan California Roll recipe? You’ve found it! This innovative version swaps crab meat for shredded tofu, providing a unique texture and taste. Topped with vegan caviar crafted from seaweed to give a burst of umami flavour, making these a crowd-pleaser for vegans and non-vegans alike.
For this sustainable vegan sushi, we swapped out tuna for tomato that gets a savory seafood flavor from seaweed, tamari and other umami-rich ingredients. The tomato "tuna" tops sushi rice and is finished with a dollop of spicy vegan mayo for nigiri that will delight any sushi lover.
Check out these super easy and healthy sushi rolls. Packed with plenty of fresh and crunchy veg, these vegan hand rolls are an easy lunch time treat
This vegan and vegetarian avocado roll is packed with creamy avocado slices and wrapped in sticky cooked rice and a toasted nori sheet. It’s topped with sesame seeds and can be served with your favorite sauces.
Ramen
This vegan ramen will be the most delicious bowl of ramen you’ve ever tasted. A vegan version of tantanmen ramen, this soup features a creamy and spicy sesame broth, fresh bok choy, crispy fried tofu and frizzled scallions. Not only that, it’s quick and easy to make!
Here’s how to make healthy homemade ramen noodles from scratch. Perfect for your ramen soup, these fresh noodles need just three ingredients and are much healthier than fried instant noodles!
This Quick & Easy Vegan Ramen is a delicious homemade soup that is perfect for a cold or rainy day. It’s filled with ramen noodles & soft tofu and comes together in less than 30 minutes!
If you are craving a piping hot bowl of noodle soup, you have come to the right place! This 15-minute vegan ramen recipe is easy to prepare at home, loaded with flavor (miso, ginger, and shallots!), and so comforting!
If you are looking for a quick recipe, this is not it but it is worth the time spent, I promise! Ramen is not difficult to make but it does require love to coax the maximum flavour out of each and every ingredient and in the cooking world, love equals time.
This coconut ramen is made simple with the addition of curry powder – so you don’t have to have a storecupboard full of spices at your disposal to create depth of flavour. It’s a deliciously creamy, spicy, slurpable bowl of noodles
This Simple Vegan Ramen is comfort in a bowl. Crispy mushrooms & shallots, tofu, bok choy and a tasty vegan broth! A must make!
Noodles
This curry udon is a quick and easy recipe that features slurpy udon noodles and vegetables in a thick, flavourful stew. This recipe uses a homemade curry roux to replace store-bought Japanese curry cubes if you don’t have them or don’t want the extra additives.
You don’t need to wait until New Year’s Eve to make this delicious toshikoshi soba recipe. This dish is extremely easy to make with just a simple and wonderful umami broth and nutty soba noodles. Sprinkle over some sesame seeds and chopped green onion for a bit of colour and crunch and you’ve got a lip-smacking, steaming bowl of soba noodle soup.
Sesame-ginger soba noodles is a tasty and filling dish packed with fresh, raw veggies and loaded with vitamins and minerals. As simple as chopping up the veggies, whisking together the sauce and boiling the noodles, it’s a great dish for a quick weeknight dinner.
My vegan take on a Japanese classic – yaki udon. It’s easy to make and full of umami. Like any stir-fry type dish, it is very flexible – use any veggies you like, but make sure you add hardier vegetables to the wok first
This ramen stir fry doctors up packaged ramen noodles with a rainbow of fresh vegetables and an easy stir fry sauce made from pantry staples. This recipe is super adaptable to whatever veggies you have on hand and makes a great 20-minute weeknight dinner.
This vegan somen salad is perfect for when it’s too hot to turn on the oven, or when you just don’t have time to cook. It’s delicious, nourishing, and comes together in just under 20 minutes!
Vegetarian Japanese pan noodles are the perfect Meatless Monday recipe that the whole family will be clamoring for. Udon noodles are cooked in a sauce that coats and caramelizes the noodles and goes perfectly with shiitake mushrooms, broccoli and carrots for the most delicious bite after bite!
Enjoyed chilled or at room temperature, this Soba Noodle Salad tossed in a agave-soy dressing is exactly what you need for a quick, light meal.
Rice
Onigiri (Japanese rice balls) are a quick, healthy, and surprisingly simple snack to make for on-the-go days! In this recipe, learn how to create the most delicious onigiri, even if it’s your first time. Enjoy them plain, stuffed with fillings, or wrapped in nori.
This tofu fried rice is an easy, vegan one-pot meal.
This donburi (Japanese rice bowl) takes some chopping, but once the prep is done it comes together quickly and easily.
This Vegan Takikomi Gohan is a Japanese mixed rice dish seasoned with the traditional flavours of kombu dashi, soy sauce, mushrooms, vegetables and tofu. A quick rice cooker recipe thats perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
A hearty plant-based twist on a classic Japanese “hashed beef” stew. Japanese comfort food made gluten-free, vegan, and with NO boxed roux!
Learn to make this Yaki Onigiri (Japanese Grilled Rice Balls) with flavorful plant-based fillings and a crispy exterior. These crispy fried rice balls are perfect for a quick bite or as a party snack.
You'll be amazed at how the simple seasonings in this Japanese mushroom rice add so much umami, earthy, delicious flavor. This easy side dish works so well alongside both Asian and many other meals.
Main Dishes
Whether you're living the plant-based life or just trying to save a few bucks, this Vegan Unagi Don made with eggplant glazed in sweet and savory unagi sauce is a classic alternative that will satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and seafood lovers alike.
Whether you are a Tofu Lover, just starting to cook with this plant-based protein or you decided to give tofu a second chance, our Teriyaki Tofu is the ideal choice for your next meal! Sweet, salty, tangy, and umami-packed, this Japanese-style recipe is guaranteed to be a winner.
Charred cubes of tofu bathed in a sweet and salty dipping sauce, these tofu skewers are a ridiculously simple, completely delicious finger food or meal.
A super quick, delicious delight, this traditional Japanese dish – nasu dengaku, or miso eggplant – is a vegan recipe that all the family will love. It’s packed full of flavor, simple to make and good for you.
Vegan Japanese curry is a thick, stew-like dish with chunky vegetables and slightly sweet undertones. Making Japanese curry from scratch is not complicated at all and allows you full control over the spiciness and flavour profile of your finished dish.
These Vegan Gyoza are packed with so much authentic flavour and cooked to perfection. Only 11 plant based ingredients needed to make these incredible homemade gyoza that you can enjoy with everyone!
Crispy tofu katsu with flavorful Japanese curry served on a bed of rice is what you need to try today! The tofu is perfectly seasoned and fried to a golden brown. The crunchiness is so addictive that it can be served as-is. The curry has melt-in-your-mouth potatoes that go so well with a bowl of warm sushi rice.
Tempura, everyone’s favourite fried vegetables. Tempura is a light and airy batter typically found in Japanese restaurants. The batter is often made with iced sparkling water, flour, eggs, baking soda, starch and oil. Obviously there is one very big issue in that batter for vegans; eggs. We took to the kitchen to a just as light and airy Vegan Vegetable Tempura.
Flavorful, hearty vegan meatballs packed with plant protein. Coated in a Japanese-style sweet and sour sauce, they are irresistible!
This is a plant based version of the classic Japanese hamburg steak – and it tastes just like the real thing! Made with Beyond Beef Ground Beef, the patties are moist and tender and the gravy (also vegan!) is a perfect mix of umami and sweetness. Your kids will love this recipe!
This homemade Vegan Miso Soup is made with a flavorful, from scratch dashi broth and is packed with green onion, boy choy, shiitake mushrooms and tofu. It's flavorful, comforting and surprisingly easy to make!
Egg Recipes
This Vegan Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich or tamago sando is filled with a creamy tofu “egg” salad tucked between two slices of soft white bread. This sandwich is protein rich, easy to make, and holds up well in a packed school or work lunch. You can find this popular snack item at convenience stores across Japan or you can easily make this vegan version at home with just a few ingredients.
Vegan Okonomiyaki is a savoury Japanese pancake made with yamaimo, rice flour, cabbage and tenkasu, topped with delicious okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise. Learn how to make this popular Japanese street food right in your own kitchen!
Watch Gaz Oakley create an epic vegan ramen featuring a fully vegan ramen egg?!?!?!
A vegan version of tamagoyaki, the much-loved Japanese rolled omelette. This chickpea-tofu version is seasoned with scallions and herbs.
Omurice is a popular home-cooked meal in Japan that consists of tomato fried rice tucked into an omelette parcel. This recipe is super versatile so you can add whatever veggies you like into the fried rice (I think corn or nori would be really good in it!)!
This vegan Chawanmushi recipe is a dairy-free and egg-free twist on a creamy egg custard flavored with fish-free dashi. It’s a delicious and light snack, breakfast, or side dish.
Desserts
Easy Mochi Recipe: How To Make Mochi In A Microwave Or Steamer
Mochi is the perfect accent to any meal. It’s commonly recognized as a dainty Japanese dessert that comes in various flavours to satiate any sweet tooth. However, it can also become a savoury snack with a few tweaks.
Dorayaki is a snack that is a favorite amongst Japanese people and also myself! It’s delicious, just the right amount of sweetness, and quite easy to make! It’s perfect for on-the-go and perfect for any time of the season. If you haven’t had Japanese treats, then you should try this. It is a little sweet taste of Japan.
Vegan matcha ice cream is a luscious green treat infused with earthy green tea that will tantalise your taste buds. With every scoop, you'll feel the cool and smooth texture of the ice cream melt in your mouth, leaving you craving more.
This vegan souffle pancake recipe is inspired by the popular Japanese Souffle Pancakes which are super fluffy and thick. This version is egg-free, dairy-free and even easier to make than the original. Although the texture is not exactly the same, these vegan fluffy pancakes are wonderfully light and delicious with a touch of vanilla. They’re also super cute – the perfect addition to your weekend brunch.
With spring in the air, you have got to try this Easy Hanami Dango recipe. Firm, colorful rice balls that are sweet and chewy, this Japanese treat is a must this season.
Celebrate summer with this delightful Japanese dessert called Anmitsu! It’s a Japanese wagashi dessert with kanten jelly, fruits, mochi, sweet red bean paste, green tea ice cream and a good drizzle of black sugar syrup.
These vegan matcha cookies with white chocolate chips are so delicious and take just 20 minutes to make! The flavors of the matcha and vegan white chocolate blend together for the perfect cookie!
Condiments
It's vegan (no bonito flakes here!) and you can use wherever you'd normally use dashi, as a broth for mushroom hot pot or the base for miso soup.
Learn how to make delicious and easy homemade Teriyaki Sauce the authentic Japanese way. You only need four ingredients!
Learn how to make Japanese style or 'Kewpie' mayonnaise with this fool proof step by step recipe! This vegan kewpie mayo is rich and creamy with the perfect balance of sweet and tangy. The umami flavour is what makes this mayonnaise so delicious and popular! (Egg free & allergy friendly).
Vegan furikake seasoning – a typical Japanese condiment packed with umami and nutty flavors used to liven up any bland dish. Use it to season rice, salads, noodles, popcorn, and more!
Citrus, rice wine vinegar and mirin make this traditional-inspired ponzu sauce so unique and tasty!
Learn how to make your own Japanese Worcestershire sauce at home! This savory, sweet, and tangy sauce is essential for Japanese home cooking.
Togarashi is not only the Japanese word for chilli (pepper), but it also encompasses a range of mixes that have chilli as a main ingredient. I love Japanese Togarashi mixes and always have a homemade shichimi togarashi at hand.
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