Chinese Vegetarian Recipes

As we all know Chinese vegetarian recipes will contain lots of fresh vegetables and spices usually with rice, noodles, or tofu. Chinese recipes also contain bok choy which is an extremely versatile veggie. This vegetable can be steamed, boiled, stir-fried or even eaten raw.

Chinese vegetarian dishes will have harmonious balance of colors and textures as well as flavors. A lot of Chinese dishes take on interesting shapes such as seafood or meat so it is pleasing to the eye not just the palate.

Below is some items you might wish to stock up on for your Chinese vegetarian recipes. These items should be on everybody list whether your a meat-eater, vegan, or becoming a vegetarian These ingredients would also cook up well for with vegetarian crock pot recipes also.

Toasted or Roasted Seaweed (Yakinori)
Who though seaweed could taste good. Yakinori will add a sweet flavor to your Chinese vegetarian recipes. Some people will even eat this raw for a snack.

Bean Curd
Bean curd is made from soybeans which come in large, dried sheets. Bean curd may be hard to find, but an Asian grocery store will have it. Worth the extra effort it takes to find it.

Fungi:
I never really thought to eat fungi. Edible fungi include black fungus, white fungus, and golden fungus. These all need to be soaked in warm water to soften them up and the hard piece cut away.

Mushrooms:
When your making your Chinese vegetarian recipe you usually use dried, black mushrooms, but there are other varieties that will spice up your dish as well. Other mushrooms you can use would be button mushrooms, abalone, and straw.

Walnuts:
Walnuts can be used as a meat substitute in your vegetarian dishes and they are high in protein. As an added benefit there is evidence that eating walnuts reduces the risk of heart disease. Walnuts should be boiled before use because of the bitter taste of the skins.

Gluten:
Gluten is also a meat substitute and rich in protein and it is made from wheat flour.

Water Chestnuts:
Water chestnuts can be canned or fresh. As with everything, the fresh water chestnuts will taste better. Water chestnuts will give your recipes sweetness.

Bean Sprouts :
Bean sprouts are very nutritious and have a crunchy texture which will bring snap to your Chinese vegetarian recipes.

Sesame Seeds
Sesame Seeds are oil rich seeds that are high in Vitamin E, and essential Omega oils. They are also rich in manganese, copper and calcium. They are excellent as cooking ingredients in Asian foods.