21 Asian-Inspired Vegetarian Recipes to Get Your Takeout Fix at Home

By Katlyn Moncada
February 19, 2021
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Credit: Jason Donnelly

Asian countries were using plant-based proteins (hello, tofu!) and vegetables as star ingredients of traditional dishes long before the trend to go vegetarian or vegan. If you're trying to minimize spending on takeout or attempting to lower the amount of meat you consume, this is the place to find an Asian-inspired vegetarian recipe. Expect delicious Asian noodle bowls, vegetarian curries, stir-fries, and more without any meat. 

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Make-It-Mine Thai Curry Pot

Credit: Carson Downing
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This Asian vegetarian recipe is the ultimate clean-out-the-fridge meal. Use whatever veggies, protein, and curry sauce desired to make a delicious, comforting one-pot meal. If you're flexitarian like me (mostly plant-based with the occasional meat), it's a great recipe to keep on hand for chicken or beef, too.

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Veggie Summer Rolls with Almond Sauce

Credit: Adam Albright
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Rice paper wraps make the perfect chewy vehicle for holding all sorts of fresh ingredients. These summer rolls are stuffed with thin strips of carrot, kohlrabi, radishes, and asparagus. The almond butter sauce adds an irresistible creamy, nutty finish to every bite.

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Bibimbap Casserole with Tofu

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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A traditional bowl of Korean bibimbap ("mixed rice") is usually paired with steak. To make this vegetarian Asian-inspired main dish, a blend of tofu and eggs combine as the main sources of protein. The Asian tofu recipe packs in 18 grams of protein per serving!

Related: Casserole Dishes Our Editors Can't Live Without

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Peanut Sauce Noodles with Veggies

Credit: Andy Lyons
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The nuttiness in this Asian-inspired noodle dish proves peanut butter is good for more than just a PB&J. Using a package of frozen veggies helps cut down the prep time for this 20-minute dinner. Add a sprinkle of crushed red pepper and freshly torn mint leaves for a sweet-heat finish.

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Noodle Bowl with Tofu and Poached Eggs

Credit: Blaine Moats
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One of the best ways to end a long day (especially if it's wintertime) is curling up with a steamy noodle bowl for dinner. For this Asian vegetarian dish, the broth gets a deep umami flavor with the addition of earthy shiitake mushrooms. The runny yolk from the poached egg provides extra richness.

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Crispy Tofu "Stir-Fry"

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Frying tofu gives it a surprisingly chicken-like texture. If you're trying to eat healthier and cook with less oil, try air-frying tofu instead! The one-dish meal adds fresh veggies to the basket toward the end of cook time. Serve the Asian tofu over hot cooked rice to complete your dinner.

Buy It: Chefman 3.7-Quart Digital Air Fryer ($60, Target)

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Butternut Squash and Mushroom Noodle Bowl

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Hearty, delicious winter squash dishes like this noodle bowl will have you craving it year-round. The shiitake mushrooms provide the meat-like umami flavor in the vegetarian Asian noodle bowl while also adding to the plant-based protein count.

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Coconut-Tamari Mushroom Soup

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Coconut milk allows this Asian-inspired soup to achieve a rich, creamy texture without any dairy. The vegan Asian recipe also gets an irresistible umami flavor thanks to crushed wakame (brown) seaweed. Look for wakame in the Asian section of larger grocery stores or your local Asian market.

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Pad Thai Stir-Fry

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Ordering vegetarian pad Thai can be tricky when sneaky non-veggie ingredients like fish sauce are used in traditional recipes. To make a vegetarian version of the dish, you can swap the fish sauce for soy sauce and still have a delicious bowl of noodles to devour sans meat.

Related: Each of These Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes Can Be Yours in 30 Minutes (or Less!)

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Spring Green Fried Rice

Credit: Blaine Moats
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Eating on a budget? Look no further than this flavorful vegetarian fried rice. Brown rice adds some nutritional whole grains to your meal, while eggs and edamame add a hearty boost of protein to every bowl. We also use a hint of sesame oil in the mix to give the fried rice a warm, nutty aroma.

Buy It: Bialetti Titan Nonstick 12-Inch Fry Pan in Black ($30, Bed Bath & Beyond)

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Brussels Sprouts and Noodle Stir-Fry with Cilantro and Almonds

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Homemade stir-fries like this get a delicious crunch with the addition of Brussels sprouts and almonds. The vegetarian Asian noodle dish makes a great side dish, but you can easily add tofu to make a main meal. Oh, and no need to buy specialty noodles here. Whole wheat spaghetti noodles will do the trick.

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Butternut Squash and Chickpea Curry

Credit: Blaine Moats
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You only need a handful of ingredients to make this spicy vegetarian curry. The chickpeas make the perfect meatless star ingredient to provide protein, fiber, and potassium. When buying green curry paste, read the ingredients to make sure it's vegetarian. Some curry pastes contain fish.

Buy It: Thai Kitchen Premium Authentic Green Curry Paste ($3, Target)

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Asian Spiced Edamame and Tofu Soup

Credit: Jacob Fox
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Soothe your soul with a steamy bowl of this slow-cooker Asian-inspired soup recipe. The broth is nicely seasoned with five-spice powder and ginger. Every bite is packed with nutritious veggies (bok choy, celery, and carrots) and tofu.

Buy It: Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Slow Cooker ($22, Kohl's)

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Grilled Tofu Teriyaki with Spicy Spinach Udon

Credit: Blaine Moats
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One look at this gorgeous dish and everyone will think you ordered takeout from a fancy Asian restaurant. A sweet and tangy tofu marinade flavors the tofu before getting a smoky char on the grill. Serve over a bed of fresh udon noodles, spinach, and tomatoes.

Related: The 9 Best Indoor Grill Pans to Make Your Summer Favorites from Your Stove Top

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Asian-Style Fried Rice and Beans

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Pineapple and ginger give a tropical twist to this Asian vegetable rice dish. Add some carrots, peas, and chickpeas to the brown rice mix, and you've got a healthy vegetarian dinner ready in less than an hour.

Test Kitchen Tip: Fresh ginger is a freezer gem. Place unpeeled ginger in a freezer bag. When a recipe calls for fresh ginger, peel and grate in its frozen state. No thawing required!

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Egg Drop Soup

Credit: Blaine Moats
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This egg drop soup might be better than your favorite takeout spot. The addition of cayenne pepper is optional, but it gives this Asian-inspired recipe a little extra kick in every spoonful. 

Test Kitchen Tip: Stream the eggs into the soup while the broth is simmering but not boiling. If the soup is boiling, the egg strands will get foamy.

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Tofu and Veggie Pot Stickers

Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
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Once you find out how easy (and delicious) it is to make homemade pot stickers, you'll start skipping takeout and the frozen food section. Broccoli slaw and water chestnuts give the perfect crunchy contrast to the soft, chewy exterior. Paired with the ginger-sesame dipping sauce, these little beauties are going to disappear quickly.

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Thai Peanut Squash Soup

Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Got 20 minutes? Then you've got time to make this easy Asian vegetarian soup. The key shortcut ingredient here is frozen butternut squash to save on prep time. Simmer with vegetable broth, coconut milk, and spices to develop rich flavor before blending the soup to creamy perfection.

Buy It: Better Chef Immersion Blender in Silver ($40, Target)

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Ginger-Sesame Oats with Mushrooms and Charred Green Onions

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Bet you haven't had oats like this before! This savory porridge shines thanks to Asian flavors such as sesame oil, soy sauce, and ginger. Topped with a stir-fried blend of mushrooms and green onions, you'll be surprised at how delicious these savory oats are. To change things up, try cooking with other whole grains such as quinoa or barley.

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Squash and Curried Noodle Soup

Credit: Blaine Moats
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Get ready to slurp and savor every last bit of this vegetarian Asian noodle soup. Curry powder and turmeric season the coconut-infused broth here. Bonus: Turmeric and leafy greens like the spinach used here can help fight inflammation.

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Spicy Tofu Lettuce Wraps

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Asian lettuce wraps are better known to many served with a chicken filling. Here tofu magically takes on a similar texture in a lettuce wrap mixture that will have you reaching for seconds fast. Coming in at just 88 calories per wrap, this Asian vegetarian recipe is perfect served as an easy starter or light lunch.

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