While you may associate Japanese cuisine with Kobe Beef and seafood, many Japanese staples are actually already vegan! This includes rice, seaweed, mushrooms, tofu, sesame seeds, and certain vegetables! Even if you don’t cook vegan Japanese food, you probably already have some (if not all) of these in your kitchen. So why not give it a try?
Vegan Japanese food is delicious and fun to make! Want to see for yourself? Try out these 15 vegan Japanese recipes from our Food Monster App!
1. Yaki Onigiri: Japanese Rice Balls With Sweet Potato and Avocado Filling
Source: Yaki Onigiri: Japanese Rice Balls With Sweet Potato and Avocado Filling
Onigiri (stuffed rice balls) are a popular snack in Japan. Typically, onigiri is eaten cold but these are yaki (meaning “fried”) and are best right after frying. Quick frying on a hot pan gives this Yaki Onigiri by Maikki Vasalaa nice crispy texture. They are even more yummy when dipped in a homemade teriyaki sauce!
2. Pink Oyster Mushroom Maki Rolls
Source: Pink Oyster Mushroom Maki Rolls
These Pink Oyster Mushroom Maki Rolls by Kirsten Kaminski are the perfect pretty dinner/lunch to treat yourself, your friends or family to! The beautiful pink color is made naturally with pink pitaya. Alternatively, you could opt for 3-4 different colors to make rainbow maki rolls, but that’s only if you’re feeling a bit extra!
3. Vegetable Teppanyaki: Lightly Fried Japanese Vegetables
Source: Vegetable Teppanyaki: Lightly Fried Japanese Vegetables
Teppankaki is a simple Japanese dish comprised of lightly fried vegetables and usually served with rice. This Vegetable Teppanyaki by Raymund Macaalay uses julienned zucchini, carrots, and white cabbage that are sautéed in a wok with a tangy sauce. You can serve them as is or with the starch of your choice.
4. Savory Mushroom and Vegetable Ramen Soup
Source: Savory Mushroom and Vegetable Ramen Soup
This Savory Mushroom and Vegetable Ramen Soup by Molly Ashworth is chock-full of fresh vegetables and mushrooms, with no short supply of noodles. This ten-minute meal is exactly what you need on chilly days! It can be made spicy to your liking, or seasoned with tamari for some extra umami flavor.
5. Naturally Sweet Red Bean Daif*cku
Source: Naturally Sweet Red Bean Daif*cku
Daif*cku, also known as mochi in the United States, is one of the most popular wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) that consist of a soft, chewy outer layer made from sweet rice flour with a sweet red bean filling called anko. While traditionally vegan, daif*cku can be very high in sugar. This recipe for Naturally Sweet Red Bean Daif*cku by Jasmine Briones cuts out the refined sugar by swapping in coconut sugar and dates — but they still taste just as delicious, especially when paired with matcha green tea!
6. Somen Noodles With Nori Dressing
Source: Somen Noodles With Nori Dressing
Somen noodles are very thin white Japanese noodles made of wheat flour and are usually served cold. As this recipe for Somen Noodles With Nori Dressing by Lan Pham Wilson proves, it is a breeze to make a delicious and filling meal with Somen noodles as the base. This Somen bowl contains a savory-sweet broth spiked with soy sauce and maple syrup, a refreshing seaweed dressings, and plenty of garnishes, including sliced cucumbers, kimchi, scallions, and nuts. Yum!
7. Japanese Curry
Source: Japanese Curry
Curry is one of the most popular dishes in Japan, but it’s not like Indian curries. Instead of starting with a masala paste like Indian curries, the British-influenced Japanese Curry by Sasha Gill starts with a roux, which gives it a gravy-like texture. This sweet and spicy curry is made with an oil-free roux and it can be made gluten-free. It’s loaded with starchy potatoes and sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, apple, and a blend of warm spices. Serve with rice on the side.
8. Thank You Very Matcha Ice Cream
Source: Thank You Very Matcha Ice Cream
Buddhist monks drink matcha for its potential to heighten concentration and enhance metabolism. So here’s a theory: if matcha is healthy, and matcha’s in your ice cream … then that means that ice cream is good for you?! Now, that’s the perfect recipe for Netflix-and-chill. You will love this Thank You Very Matcha Ice Cream by The Edgy Veg: 138 Carnivore-Approved Vegan Recipes!
9. Nikujaga: Japanese Meat and Potatoes
Source:Nikujaga: Japanese Meat and Potatoes
Nikujaga is a classic Japanese comfort food, something that every household makes a bit differently so that everyone craves the way their mom makes it. Even if your mom never made it for you, you can still try this veganized recipe for Nikujaga by Rachael Hutchings and make it your own!
10. Japanese Carrot Pickles
Source: Japanese Carrot Pickles
While these carrot pickles taste great on their own, their flavor and texture truly shine when paired with other components. They are the perfect balance of vinegary and salty goodness. Prepare a jar of these Japanese Carrot Pickles by Bold Flavored Vegan Cooking and add them to whatever dish your heart desires.
11. Tofu Yasai Don: Japanese Tofu Rice Bowl
Source: Tofu Yasai Don: Japanese Tofu Rice Bowl
This donburi (Japanese rice bowl) takes some chopping, but once the prep is done it comes together quickly and easily. Tofu, burdock root, Shiitake mushrooms, Japanese sweet potato and more are simmered in a sweet, umami sauce and served over a generous bed of rice. This Tofu Yasai Don by Rachael Hutchings is simple, but delicious! Just be sure to start about three days in advance prepping the tofu so it is ready when you need it.
12. Sweet Potato Tempura Roll
Source: Sweet Potato Tempura Roll
This Sweet Potato Tempura Roll by Kirsten Kaminski is filled with vegan cream cheese, crunchy veggies, sweet potato tempura, and creamy avocado layers. It is so easy to make and will quickly become one of your absolute favorites.
13. Mango Mochi
Source:Mango Mochi
Mochi is a traditional Japanese rice cake made with glutinous rice (also called sticky rice or sweet rice), most commonly moulded into shapes and usually rectangles or circles and eaten during special occasions and particularly festive season like the Japanese New Year. This Mango Mochi recipe by Daphne Goh is vegan, dairy free, nut free, soy free, corn free and refined sugar free.
14. Gomashio: Japanese Sesame Seed Condiment
Source: Gomashio: Japanese Sesame Seed Condiment
This roasted sesame seed and sea salt sprinkle is the most commonly used condiment in the macrobiotic community, bringing freshness and flavor to many recipes. It adds a delicious accent to your grain dishes. A sprinkle of gomashio on a serving of rice helps alkalize the blood and relieve tiredness. Because of the salt base, a moderate mixture of seeds and salt is recommended. The ratio 18:1 is considered to be the average. Store-bought gomashio is usually much saltier—another reason to make this Gomashio from The One Peaceful World Cookbook at home.
15. Okonomiyaki: Savory Japanese Pancakes
Source: Okonomiyaki: Savory Japanese Pancakes
Okonomiyaki is a type of savory Japanese pancake. Literally translated, it means “as you like it,” and “grill,” as it’s very customizable. Traditionally, it is made with eggs and shredded cabbage, but this plant-based version swaps the eggs for nagaimo, a type of Japanese root vegetable that, when grated, can act as a binder. This Okonomiyaki from The One Peaceful World Cookbook is delicious!
Inspired by these vegan Japanese recipes? Check out The Raindrop Cake and Ichigo Daif*cku! If you want to learn more about Japanese cuisine, take a look at our Ingredient Spotlight: Matcha, the Superfood Green Tea That Will Help You Relax and What is Amazake? Learn More About This Cozy, Fermented Japanese Rice Drink!
We also highly recommend downloading ourFood Monster App, which is available foriPhone, and can also be found onInstagramandFacebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!
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