Top Chinese Vegetarian Holiday Recipes

Written by
Rhonda Parkinson
Rhonda Parkinson is a freelance writer who has authored many cookbooks, including two Everything guides to Chinese cooking.
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Rhonda Parkinson
Updated 07/30/20

Here are vegetarian recipes to celebrate Chinese New Year or New Year's Eve, from appetizers to main dishes.

More Chinese New Year Recipes

Appetizers
Main Dishes
Desserts Quick and Easy

  • 01 of 10

    Deep-fried "Seaweed"

    Nori
    canacol / Getty Images

    A fun appetizer - the "seaweed" in this recipe is actually bok choy that has been briefly deep-fried until it turns crispy. Toasted sliced almonds add extra flavor.

  • 02 of 10

    Vegetarian Potstickers

    Gyoza
    Hidehiro Kigawa / Getty Images

    These potstickers are loaded with vegetables such as carrots and water chestnuts. They taste great alone or you can serve them with a ginger and soy dipping sauce.

  • 03 of 10

    Bean Curd Rolls

    Tofu spring rolls
    The Picture Pantry / Getty Images

    You may have heard of California rolls, with roasted seaweed wrapped in sweet seasoned rice. In this recipe roasted dried seaweed (Yakinori) is wrapped is softened and seasoned sheets of dried bean curd (available at Asian markets).

  • 04 of 10

    Fried Mock Oyster

    Studio shot of oysters
    Jamie Grill / Getty Images

    Bean curd and seaweed are shaped to resemble oysters in this tasty vegetarian dish.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Spareribs

    Sweet and sour sauce

    The Spruce

     

    Walnuts take the place of pork ribs in this stir-fry recipe with pineapple, carrots and sweet and sour sauce.

  • 06 of 10

    Chinese No-Meat Balls

    Tangyuan, Glutinous rice ball at food market of Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China
    Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty Images

    Beef flavored soy crumbles make a convenient substitute for ground beef in this party appetizer.

  • 07 of 10

    Vegetarian Eight Treasures

    Eight treasures
    CP Cheah / Getty Images

    The Chinese believe eight is a lucky number - what can be luckier than this healthy dish filled with vegetables and peanuts, with wheat gluten and spicy pressed bean curd (available at Asian markets) for protein.

  • 08 of 10

    Vegetarian Wonton

    Close-Up Of Wontons
    Anabell Auzinger / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Made with mashed tofu - vegetarians who forego eggs can replace the beaten egg with 1 tablespoon oil.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Cabbage Rolls

    Sarmale (aka Cabbage Rolls)
    Gabriel C Bucataru / Getty Images

    Cabbage leaves are filled with carrot, water chestnut, mung bean sprouts and other vegetables.

  • 10 of 10

    Vegetable Spring Rolls

    Close-Up Of Spring Rolls With Sauce In Plate
    Joseph Perales / EyeEm / Getty Images

    Originally, all spring rolls had a vegetable filling, in celebration of the Spring harvest. In this recipe the rolls are filled with thinly sliced carrot, bamboo shoots, sweet red bell pepper and dried black mushrooms, flavored with oyster sauce. To turn this into a vegetarian appetizer, use vegetarian oyster sauce.