14 Vegan Japanese Recipes That are Healthy and Delicious (2024)

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By Megan Edwards,

Sushi, ramen, and wasabi, oh my! If you normally shy away from preparing Japanese dishes at home, these plant-based recipes will level-up your kitchen confidence and have you whipping up vegan Japanese cuisine in no time. Learn how to create a full-blown sushi spread, nosh-worthy noodle dishes, and slurpable soups that will transport you straight to Tokyo. Try mixing and matching several of these dishes for your next dinner party to create a feast chock-full of vegan Japanese delicacies.

Spicy Tomato Sushi Rolls

The rice used in these rolls gets an extra-creamy texture from butternut squash, which also gives it a lovely earthy sweetness. Marinated tomatoes take the place of meat and bring bursts of warming ginger and spicy sriracha to your palate. Crisp cucumber, buttery avocado, and herbal scallions bulk up the filling for a perfectly balanced wrap. One happy reader writes, “These are delicious and the tomatoes make for a wonderful mouth feel instead of meat or fish.”

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Strawberry Kanten Japanese Jelly Treats

Need a crowd-pleasing dessert that isn’t super heavy? These fruity jelly squares have a similar texture to Jell-O but are created with 100% plant-based ingredients. Agar powder (which provides the wiggly texture) is naturally sweetened with grape and apple juice then studded with fresh strawberry slices. The berries appear suspended in the transparent jelly to create a stunning treat for the eyes and the taste buds!

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Quick-Pickled Japanese Cucumbers

Serve these delicious quick-pickled cucumbers alongside a warm noodle dish or enjoy as a palate-cleansing snack. Simply slice the cucumbers, add a simple brown rice vinegar marinade, top with sesame seeds, and chill everything for 30 minutes. Mashing the slices before pouring on the marinade allows the porous cucumber skins to open up and fully absorb the flavors so each bite bursts with tangy goodness.

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Stir-Fried Udon Noodles with Mixed Vegetables

This vegan Japanese recipe is comforting, satisfying, and incredibly easy to throw together on busy weeknights. Start with cooking whole grain udon noodles until they’re plump and tender, then sauté an assortment of your favorite veggies in broth until they’re soft. Combine the noodles and veggies with a quick stir-fry sauce, and you’re all set: Let the slurping begin! One satisfied reader says this dish is “super easy to make and very delicious.”

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Zucchini-Bulgur Sushi Rolls

Pack in an extra serving of hearty whole grains with this scrumptious sushi roll, which substitutes rice for bulgur. Its fluffy texture absorbs a simple marinade of rice vinegar and maple syrup to add extra tang to each bite while creating a snug layer around the filling. Zucchini, red onion, and carrots shine at the center of the roll and get a burst of herbal freshness from sprigs of cilantro. Serve with all your favorite sushi accouterments, and enjoy!

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Miso Tofu Waffles with Kasha Salad

Here’s a tasty new way to enjoy tofu: Stick a slab in your waffle iron! Each miso-marinated tofu “waffle” gets deliciously crispy on the outside while maintaining a tender interior when you use this unique cooking technique. Top each waffle with a refreshing salad of cucumber, bell pepper, kasha, and cabbage to turn this dish into a deconstructed stir-fry you’ll devour within minutes.

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Curried Millet Sushi

This vegan Japanese recipe receives an intriguing Indian twist by stewing the millet (which replaces sushi rice) in fragrant yellow curry powder. Not only does this add a beautiful golden hue to your roll, but it also adds a warming flavor that perfectly complements the crisp vegetables. Avocado, bell pepper, carrot, and spinach join forces in the filling while the salty nori wrapping ties it all together.

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Vegan Soba Noodle Salad

Need a simple dinner that doesn’t skimp on flavor? This soba noodle salad comes together in 30 minutes and only uses seven ingredients. Made from buckwheat, soba noodles bring a delicious nutty flavor to this dish and are dressed up in yuzu ponzu sauce infused with fresh ginger. Matchstick-cut carrots and bell peppers add color and crunch, but you’re welcome to throw in any other veggies that strike your fancy. Top with chives, and dig in!

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Creamy Vegan Ramen

You’ll never need to order ramen takeout again once you have this heavenly recipe in your regular rotation. Trumpet and shiitake mushrooms infuse the creamy broth with a rich umami flavor and offer a meaty texture to sink your teeth into. A medley of tofu, carrots, snap peas, and sweet potatoes are mixed into the chewy ramen noodles so each spoonful features a wide range of tastes and textures. Add as much spicy seasoning as you like, and get ready to have your mind blown by this undeniably delicious dish.

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Vegan Miso Soup with Noodles and Tofu

Miso soup is a staple of Japanese cuisine, and our version features chewy noodles, cubes of soft tofu, and tons of colorful veggies to complement the savory broth. Fresh ginger and garlic create an undercurrent of warmth, while kelp granules bring in the salty, briney flavor that’s present in so many Japanese dishes. Garnished with cilantro and strips of toasted nori, this recipe takes a classic meal to a whole new level of yum.

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Teriyaki Veggie Crunchy Roll Sushi

The key to a scrumptious oil-free crunchy roll is crispy brown rice cereal. It may sound unusual, but the crackly texture perfectly mimics that crunch of deep-fried tempura without adding unhealthy ingredients. Earthy Japanese yam, creamy avocado, and refreshing cucumber create a crave-worthy filling that tastes even better when dipped in the homemade teriyaki sauce. If you have guests to impress, this is the recipe to make!

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Soft Tofu with Black Sesame and Wasabi Sauce

Silken tofu is velvety smooth, delicate on the palate, and oh-so-delicious when dressed up in a savory marinade. To recreate this easy snack simply whisk together umami-rich black sesame paste, spicy wasabi, and salty tamari to pour over slices of cold tofu. A sprinkling of fresh herbs turns this refreshing recipe into an eye-catching meal that’s perfect as a light lunch or afternoon snack on a warm day.

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Teriyaki Jackfruit and Rice Stacks

Somewhere in between a sushi roll and a burger slider, these decadent teriyaki jackfruit stacks are a tasty twist on Japanese cuisine. The buns are replaced by small rounds of rice and topped with salty nori to keep the structure intact. Savory-sweet jackfruit offers a meaty texture while nutrient-dense adzuki beans add extra heft. Slip a few lettuce leaves underneath the veggie patties, and you have a fusion meal the whole family will love.

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Sushi Coleslaw

Serve up this special coleslaw when you’re craving the flavors of sushi but don’t want to put in the work of making your own rolls. Napa cabbage, scallions, and nori join forces to create a crisp and crunchy salad that works perfectly as a stir-fry side dish. Pear juice adds a subtle sweetness to the rice vinegar dressing while fresh ginger brings a spicy warmth. Sprinkle everything with toasted sesame seeds to finish off this simple dish, which celebrates some of the most classic flavors of Japanese cooking.

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14 Vegan Japanese Recipes That are Healthy and Delicious (15)

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About the Author

14 Vegan Japanese Recipes That are Healthy and Delicious (16)

About the Author

Megan Edwards

Megan Edwards is a staff writer and content producer for Forks Over Knives. She is also a certified RYT-500 yoga teacher who is passionate about cultivating holistic wellness through plant-based eating, mindful movement, and meditation. With a background in journalism and marketing, she supports both the online presence and quarterly print magazine for Forks Over Knives.

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14 Vegan Japanese Recipes That are Healthy and Delicious (2024)

FAQs

What do vegan Japanese eat? ›

Japanese food can be delicious and wholesome for both vegans and vegetarians. Rice and vegan-friendly noodles make up the base of most dishes. Tofu is available in a staggering variety of shapes and textures. Miso, a seasoning made of fermented soybeans and koji (a fungus) is in many dishes.

Can vegan food be delicious? ›

Many superb vegan recipes use ready-to-use organic soups, broths and stocks to add flavor and creaminess to entrees. Similarly, organic plant-based beverages can add creaminess to savory dishes, desserts, and snacks. These are high-quality products, so they're timesavers you can use without skimping on quality.

What is the number 1 Japanese dish? ›

Japan's most internationally famous dish, sushi is also internationally misunderstood. Most people are mistaken in believing that sushi is simply raw fish. Rather, good sushi is a vigilant combination of vinegared rice, raw fish and vegetables and comes in many different forms.

What Japanese food is good for gut health? ›

Miso soup, a staple in Japanese meals, is rich in probiotics and antioxidants. Its fermented goodness supports gut health and boosts the immune system.

What does 100% vegan eat? ›

A vegan diet is based on plants (such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits) and foods made from plants. Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs.

What is the most eaten vegan food? ›

Some of the most widely enjoyed vegan foods are legumes, nuts and seeds, chickpeas, and black beans. Nuts and nut butters are packed with nutrients. Airheads, Cracker Jack, Cinnamon Life Cereal, Fritos, and Fruit By the Foot are also vegan foods that are widely enjoyed.

Is Japan expensive or cheap? ›

While it would be an exaggeration to call it a low-priced destination, one of the great things about Japan is that you can truly tailor your experience to your budget, meaning that how much you spend is to a good degree up to you. If your budget is flexible, it's very easy to spend money here.

What mochi is vegan? ›

Mochi is sweet pillowy dough that's wrapped around creamy, ice cream, and it's made of rice flour, sugar, and water – making it 100% vegan! We've turned our classics — Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate, and Salted Caramel mochi ice cream flavors into non-dairy and vegan flavors, made with milky melty cashew cream.

Are McDonald's fries vegan in Japan? ›

There are no vegan burgers or desserts. McDonald's in Japan uses beef (presumably lard) to fry their items in, so the fried items like hot apple pie, hash potato and french fries all contain beef. Some of the flavored “Shaka Shaka Potatoes” (fries with seasoning) also contain additional animal ingredients.

Is Bread in Japan vegan? ›

Almost all bread in Japan contains egg and/or dairy products.

Do vegans look healthy? ›

That being said, there are certainly some vegan skin benefits, and switching to a plant-based diet could bring a more youthful glow. One of the most vital parts of anti-ageing and healthy skin is collagen. This is the protein that gives our skin volume and plumpness, and it slowly begins to deplete with age.

Is vegan always healthier? ›

Studies have shown that, over time, vegans and vegetarians have lower rates of chronic disease. However, vegan and vegetarian diets aren't automatically healthier, Fricke says. "Many meat substitutes are highly processed foods," Fricke points out.

Why do I feel so good eating vegan? ›

And researchers have found that eating plant-based foods helps healthy gut bacteria flourish and decreases inflammation. You may well feel refreshed after just the first 24 hours of vegan living. Perhaps you've experienced “meat sweats”—a phenomenon that can occur after consuming a meat-heavy meal.

Can Japanese food be healthy? ›

Improved blood sugar, increases in energy, and reduced risk of heart disease are just some of the health benefits associated with Japanese noodles. The final reason Japanese cuisine is considered so healthy is that Japanese food is high in protein content. Soy protein is a very common ingredient in Japanese foods.

How can I eat healthy in Japan? ›

Combine vegetables, fruits, milk products, beans and fish in your diet.
  1. ・Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits everyday to get vitamins, minerals and dietary fibers.
  2. ・Drink milk and eat green/yellow vegetables, beans, and small fish to get a sufficient amount of calcium intake.

What has made Japan healthy? ›

The health of the Japanese people has been built by the marvelous national policy of universal health coverage and its embodiment in community medicine. This presentation explains, using available data, the factors behind Japan's achievement of excellent health following the realization of universal health coverage.

What are healthy eating habits in Japanese? ›

The Japanese traditional diet (Washoku), which is characterized by high consumption of fish and soybean products and low consumption of animal fat and meat, relies on the effective use of umami taste to enhance palatability.

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