If you’re looking for new and exciting vegan recipes to add to your repertoire, you’ve come to the right place. The world is vast, and within it, you will find hundreds of different cultures, each with unique culinary traditions. So why not explore some of these cuisines by whipping up a few vegan-friendly dishes in your kitchen? This post will help you explore recipes from around the world that are perfect for vegans. From Thai curries to Spanish tapas, there is something for everyone in this roundup! So get your cookbooks ready, and let’s get cooking!
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How Many Cultures Eat Vegan?
Though people think of the vegan lifestyle as a relatively recent phenomenon, many cultures worldwide have been eating vegan for centuries. In India, for example, most Hindus are strict vegetarians, and there is a long history of Buddhist monks abstaining from all animal products. In China, the traditional Buddhist diet is also vegan, and many Confucians believe eating meat is disrespectful to one’s ancestors.
Even in the west, several ancient cultures practiced vegetarianism, including the Pythagoreans of Greece and the Essenes of Judea. Today, with more people than ever adopting veganism for ethical or environmental reasons, it’s clear that this way of eating is here to stay.
Vegan Recipes From Around The World
Once you realize how many other cultures eat vegan, it’s not hard to find delicious recipes from all over the globe that are perfect for vegans. The following are some delicious options to get you started:
Thai Red Curry
This red curry is a beloved staple in Thai cuisine. It’s traditionally made with chicken but can easily be veganized by removing the chicken. The key to making a good red curry is in the paste; be sure to use a high-quality paste for the best flavor. Serve over steamed rice for a complete meal.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 cups vegetable broth
- 1 (14-ounce) can of light coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions:
1. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and bell pepper and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, curry powder, ginger, turmeric, and salt, and cook for 1 minute longer.
2. Add the chicken broth and coconut milk and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the vegetables are very soft, about 30 minutes.
3. Remove the soup from the heat and let it cool slightly. Purée in a blender or food processor until smooth. Return the soup to the pot or Dutch oven and stir in the red curry paste until well combined—season with sugar to taste. Reheat over low heat before serving with a side of rice!
Avocado Ceviche
This dish is a refreshing and light vegan take on the classic Latin American seafood dish. The avocado provides a creamy base for the ceviche, while the fresh lime juice and cilantro give it a bright flavor. Serve with tortilla chips or on top of crispy tostadas for a complete meal.
Ingredients:
- 24 ounces firm tofu, drained and cubed
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about three limes)
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon chili powder
- Pinch of salt
- One avocado, diced into small cubes
- One large tomato, diced into small cubes
- One small jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- Tortilla chips or tostadas for serving
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, combine the tofu, lime juice, red onion, cumin, chili powder, and salt. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- After the tofu has marinated, add the avocado, tomato, jalapeño pepper, and cilantro and stir gently to combine.
- Serve with tortilla chips or on top of tostadas.
Zaru Soba Noodles
Japan is known for its delicious soba noodles made from buckwheat flour. These noodles are traditionally served cold with a dipping sauce and make for a refreshing and light meal. However, they can also be served hot in a broth, as in this recipe. Removing the egg from the noodles is the only significant change from the traditional recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. of zaru soba noodles
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground white pepper
- 1/4 cup of chopped green onions
- 1 tablespoon of Japanese rice vinegar
Instructions:
1. Cook the zaru soba noodles according to the package instructions.
2. While the noodles are cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
3. Add the soy sauce, sugar, garlic, white pepper, and green onions and cook for 2 minutes until everything is fragrant.
4. Drain the cooked zaru soba noodles and rinse them with cold water to cool them down quickly.
5. Pour the noodles into a bowl and add the Japanese rice vinegar. Toss everything together until everything is well coated. Serve warm!
Vegan Fried Rice
Fried rice is a popular dish from Asia and makes for a quick and easy meal. This vegan version uses tofu instead of meat, which is just as delicious. You can use any vegetables in this recipe, but we recommend using those typically found in fried rice dishes, such as peas, carrots, and onions.
Ingredients:
- 14 ounces firm tofu, drained and cubed
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
- ½ tablespoon vegetable oil
- One small onion, diced
- One carrot, peeled and diced
- One stalk of celery, diced
- One tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
- One clove of garlic, minced
- ½ cup frozen peas
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
Instructions:
- Whisk together the soy sauce, vegetable broth, sugar, and ground white pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrot, celery, ginger root, and garlic, and cook for about five minutes until the vegetables are tender.
- Add the tofu and frozen peas and cook for an additional three minutes.
- Stir in the soy sauce mixture and cook until everything is heated. Serve with chopped green onions on top. Enjoy!
Vegan Plov
Plov is a rice dish that is popular in many countries in Central Asia, such as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. It typically contains meat, but this vegan version uses mushrooms instead. The rice cooks in a broth made with onion, carrots, and spices and is served with raisins and fried onions.
Ingredients:
- One cup of long-grain rice
- Two cups of vegetable broth
- One small onion, finely chopped
- One carrot, peeled and finely chopped
- One teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Pinch of salt
- One tablespoon olive oil or vegetable oil
- Two cups sliced mushrooms
- ⅓ cup raisins
- Fried onions (optional)
Instructions:
- Bring the rice, vegetable broth, onion, carrot, cumin, coriander, black pepper, and salt to a boil in a large saucepan.
- Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes until the rice is tender and it absorbs the liquid.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for about five minutes until they are tender.
- Stir in the raisins and cooked rice and cook for an additional two minutes. Serve with fried onions on top, if desired!
Try Some Vegan Recipes From Around The World!
These are just a few of the many delicious vegan recipes that you can find from all over the world. With so many different cuisines to choose from, you can experience Japan’s tastes or the Middle East’s spices without ever leaving your kitchen or breaking your vegan diet! So what are you waiting for? Get cooking! And feel free to make any changes to the recipes to suit your taste. After all, that’s what cooking is all about! Experiment and find new flavor combinations that you love!
