10 vegetarian Japanese-inspired recipes (2024)

Interested in trying our FREE Healthy Diet Plan? This easy-to-follow, nutritionist-created plan will inspire you to cook and eat more healthily. Nourish yourself with seven days of meals, snacks and treats.

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We've put our own veggie-friendly spin on these Japanese-inspired recipes to create satisfying meat-free midweek meals of vegan japanese food. Try a family-friendly bowlful brimming with noodles, comforting curries with time-saving shortcuts or a nourishing super salad. Stock up on some useful staple ingredients, like soy sauce, garlic, ginger and some fresh veg, then dive in.

If we've whet your appetite, find more delicious vegan japanese recipes in our main collection, from homemade sushi to a stack of fluffy Japanese pancakes. Try making a batch of our freezable vegetable gyoza and serve as a side with your veggie main. The fillings can be adapted to your taste, enjoy these delicious dumplings with a savoury soy dipping sauce.

1. Veggie yaki udon

Starting off our japanese vegan recipes is our take on yaki udon is the ideal throw-together dinner for two when you're craving veg that packs a punch. This simple, healthy dish with chunky udon noodles topped with fiery pickled ginger is even low in calories. The mild curry kick from the sauce is great for satisfying those midweek cravings.

2. Aubergine katsu curry

Pair crunchy golden-brown aubergine slices with a simple curry sauce and rice for a filling family feast. Our veggie take on the classic katsu curry takes just 15 minutes to prepare. We guarantee it'll be a new Friday night favourite. Try serving with our chilli green salad for a bit of added colour and crunch.

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3. Spice-crusted tofu with kumquat radish salad

Our Japanese-inspired tofu salad is anything but bland and boring. The shichimi togarashi spice mix coating the tofu adds some serious kick and the crunchy veg adds some bite and texture to this colourful plate. A subtly sweet citrus dressing pulls the whole dish together.

5. Veggie okonomiyaki

Our nutritious veggie version of a traditional okonomiyaki is packed with crunchy cabbage, pak choi and spring onions. Believe it or not, you can go from chopping and slicing to plating up in just 25 minutes, perfect for a speedy low-calorie lunch. Serve with a drizzle of zesty lime mayo and a little wasabi on the side for a fiery accompaniment.

6. Sticky noodles with homemade hoisin

10 vegetarian Japanese-inspired recipes (5)

This healthy, low-calorie, vegan stir fry packs in four of your 5-a-day. The homemade hoisin sauce is made with Chinese five spice and apple cider vinegar to boost the flavour.

7. Saucy Japanese greens with sticky sesame rice

Serve up long-stemmed broccoli with a spicy miso ginger dressing and nutty sesame sushi rice. This simple supper is vegan too so perfect for satisfying everyone's dietary needs. The stir-fried broccoli and pak choi brings plenty of crunch to this easy dish. The spoonful of brown sugar in the dressing adds just enough sweetness to balance out the zingy rice wine vinegar.

8. Vegan ramen

The combination of dried shiitake mushrooms and a spoonful of miso paste create the perfect savoury broth base for our vegan ramen. Pile on additional extras like spicy sriracha, crushed peanuts and crumbled sheets of nori for tasty final touches that are well worth the effort. Make this bowl brimming with noodles and veggies in just 25 minutes and slurp to your heart's content.

9. Saucy miso mushrooms with udon noodles

Chunky portobello mushrooms make a great meaty substitute and a filling main course. Let rich, umami flavours take centre stage in this ultra-satisfying supper you can prep in just 10 minutes. If you're not a fan of mushrooms, try swapping in aubergines, halved through the centre and cooked the same way.

10.

Take inspiration from different cuisines and pair up a Japanese-style marinade with a zingy Korean-inspired salad. This simple recipe brings plenty of colour and crunch to the plate in just a few easy steps. The savoury miso and soy glaze transforms often-bland tofu into sticky triangles of tastiness. Read our guide on how to press tofu to ensure crispy tofu slices. Also, discover our tofu steaks with chips recipes.

Use up the rest of the block with our best firm tofu recipes for more veggie-friendly dinners.

Enjoyed these recipes? Learn even more about Japan and Japanese cuisine...

How to make gyoza
How to cook Japanese food
Why is the Japanese diet so healthy?
How to make sushi
Vegetarian food japan

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What's your favourite Japanese dish? Leave a comment below...

10 vegetarian Japanese-inspired recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a popular Japanese vegetarian food? ›

For more inspiring Japanese cuisine, there are a few dishes you can try, such as vegetable tempura, tsukemono (pickled vegetables), tofu and tofu skin, nasu dengaku (miso-marinated grilled eggplant), zaru soba (boiled and chilled buckwheat noodles), kappa maki (seaweed sushi rolls with cucumber), takuan maki (daikon ...

What is the most famous vegetarian dish? ›

Originating in the Middle East, falafel is one the most popular vegetarian foods in the world! As one of the most popular vegetarian foods in the world, falafel needs no introduction! However, the origin of these beloved patties is rather controversial.

Is Japan okay for vegetarians? ›

Nowadays there are a wealth of veggie-friendly restaurants and dishes out there to discover – so you can indulge in lots of delicious Japanese vegetarian food without it feeling like a compromise. Having said that, vegetarianism is not as common or well understood in Japan as in some western countries.

Why was Japanese cuisine once vegetarian? ›

Shintoism and Buddhism both contributed to the vegetarian diet of medieval Japanese while 0.1 ounces of meat was the daily amount consumed by the average Japanese in 1939. Japan lacked arable land for livestock so meat eating was outlawed several times by Japan's rulers.

Which is the No 1 vegetarian country in the world? ›

India is ranked top in the world with 38% of the total population being vegetarian. Vegetarianism in the region became popular after the introduction of Buddhism and Jainism, which was around the 6th Century BC.

Who is the number one vegetarian in the world? ›

India. India has the highest percentage of vegetarians in the world, with an estimated 20-39% vegetarian population.

Which city in Japan is the best for vegetarians? ›

Kyoto. Japan's imperial capital doesn't just give visitors a taste of feudal Japan – it also plates up the country's best vegan cuisine. The buffet of Buddhist temples that make Kyoto famous also explain the smorgasbord of meat-free meals on its menu.

Is Miso Soup vegetarian? ›

It's typically made with a base stock, miso paste, tofu, soba noodles, and various vegetables. Many varieties of miso soup are vegan, unless the recipe uses fish-derived ingredients, in which case it could suit a pescatarian diet or vegetarian diet that allows seafood.

Is Bread in Japan vegetarian? ›

Almost all bread in Japan contains egg and/or dairy products. This makes it very challenging and often impossible to find vegan bread in supermarkets and it's probably better not to waste your time looking in convenience stores.

What did Japan eat before rice? ›

They are an island nation remember! But also birds & bird eggs, deer etc… Pretty much the same types of food any hunter/gatherer society would be eating. They had rice from the 3rd century BC on, before that there most likely ate game, fish, seafood and what natural plants grew around them.

What is every meal in Japan eaten with? ›

Rice is served with every Japanese meal. Daily rice served with meals is usually steamed and lightly seasoned. But, rice may be cooked in a variety of ways and served with different spices and adding delicacies to make it more nutritious.

Why did Japan ban meat? ›

However, due to the influence of Buddhism which was introduced in the 6th century, a strong tendency forbidding the killing of animals was growing, and meat eating was legally banned in 675 (the reign of Emperor Tenmu).

What is the most popular Japanese vegetable? ›

Daikon (Giant white radish)

What is the most consumed vegetable in Japan? You guessed right. It's a daikon! It is often used in stews, soups, or simmered with seafood.

How common is vegetarianism in Japan? ›

In Japan, vegetarianism traces its roots in the Buddhist principle of 'Ahimsa' or non-violence, which inspired a meat-free diet. Currently, 9.1% of Japanese people consume a meat-free diet.

What is vegetarian in Japanese? ›

(watashi-wa bejitarian desu)

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