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If you are looking for Vietnamese-inspired vegan recipes that are authentic, loaded with flavor, and easy to prepare, you will love these recipes. This round-up covers everything from condiments to mains and desserts!
🇻🇳 Introduction to Vietnamese Cuisine
Vietnamese cuisine is like no other. The variety of dishes, cooking methods, and flavors is mind-blowing. Influenced by many other cuisines like French, Indian, Chinese, and more, Vietnamese dishes are not only delicious and easy to prepare but also healthy!
🥒 Flavors of Vietnamese Dishes
Vietnamese dishes pack a lot of vegetables and fresh herbs, as well as different types of protein that are either grilled, sautéed, or boiled.
Aromatics often used include garlic, shallots, lemongrass, chili, and fish sauce.
The taste of the dishes varies depending on the area. For example, Southern Vietnamese cuisine uses more sugar to season the dishes than Nothern Vietnam.
Now, here are our best vegan Vietnamese-inspired recipes!
🥫 Condiments
Like other Asian cuisines, Vietnamese dishes rely a lot on all sorts of condiments to add flavor. You will find below some staples that you should have on hand if you plan on cooking Vietnamese dishes.
Easy Sweet Chili Sauce
Super easy, 8-ingredient, and naturally sweetened chili sauce that is great to spice up your dishes! Sweet, garlicky, and perfectly spicy!
Nuoc Cham is a classic Vietnamese dipping sauce that is sweet, salty, tangy, and garlicky! This plant-based version uses vegan fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili, resulting in a wonderful blend of flavors. It perfectly accompanies fresh spring rolls, bánh xèo, egg rolls, salads, and so much more!
Crafted from a base of mushrooms, cashews, and dried herbs, this vegan pâté is incredibly meaty, buttery, and so rustic! Enjoy it as a spread on French bread, toast, or as an addition to your sandwiches!
Crunchy, spicy, sweet, and tangy cucumber pickles! Super easy to prepare, these are the perfect addition to burgers, sandwiches, congee, porridge, and more!
Make carrot and daikon radish pickles at home with just 5 ingredients and 30 minutes! These Vietnamese-inspired pickles are crunchy, tangy, and slightly sweet!
This super fresh Vietnamese-inspired green papaya salad is packed with crunchy raw veggies, roasted peanuts, and fried shallots and tossed with a bright and citrusy lime dressing! It's easy to prepare, refreshing, and plant-based!
Vegan Bánh Tráng Trộn (Vietnamese Rice Paper Salad)
Bánh Tráng Trộn is a Vietnamese rice paper salad that features tangy green mango, roasted peanuts, crispy shallots, fresh herbs, and a sweet and sour sauce! This classic Vietnamese snack is chewy, spicy, zesty, and a bit sweet!
Flavor-packed Vietnamese salad with sautéed oyster mushrooms, crunchy red cabbage, carrots, tofu, cucumber, and cilantro! Tossed with an oil-free spicy-sweet lime dressing! Super fresh and healthy!
While Pho is the most famous Vietnamese dish, Vietnam has many other fantastic dishes to offer! From egg rolls to congee, spring rolls, and stews, there is something for every taste.
Easy Vegan Egg Rolls
Easy vegan egg rolls that are super crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Served with a spicy and garlicky dipping sauce! Better than takeout!
Learn how to make egg roll wrappers at home with just 3 ingredients! It's so easy to prepare that you won't buy them at the supermarket anymore. Use them to make egg rolls or samosas!
This vegan hot and sour soup is infused with lemongrass, tamarind juice, and pineapple for a wonderful harmony of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors. Served with rice noodles, fried tofu, and plenty of greens, this is one of our favorite Vietnamese noodle soups!
Bột chiên is a traditional Vietnamese dish that features crispy fried rice cakes with omelet, green onions, shredded green papaya, and pickles. We highly recommend giving this vegan version a try!
This Vietnamese classic dish consists of a rich broth infused with spices and served with vegan beef, rice noodles, and fresh herbs! This recipe is as close to authentic as possible!
Learn how to make Vietnamese vegan bologna from scratch! This meaty "pork" roll is prepared with tofu, wheat gluten, and a variety of seasonings. Use it in fresh spring rolls and banh mi, or add it to noodle soups or rice bowls!
A vegan version of the famous Vietnamese beef stew! This delicious stew features juicy "beef" cooked in a rich and aromatic broth infused with lemongrass, garlic, and spices. Comforting, easy, and SO good!
Vegan Bun Rieu (Bún riêu chay) is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup prepared with a sweet and tangy tomato broth and served with rice noodles, mushrooms, tofu, and fresh herbs. This unique noodle soup is a symphony of flavors and texture.
This eggplant stew features melty and juicy chunks of eggplant cooked in a sweet and salty sauce. It is infused with garlic, shallots, green onions, and soy sauce for plenty of umami goodness! This hearty meal is ideal for cold evenings and pairs perfectly with a serving of fluffy white rice.
This Vietnamese-inspired dish features tender okra pods simmered in a delicious sweet and salty tomato sauce! This healthy and comforting side dish is packed with flavor and pairs perfectly with steamed white rice, quinoa, or couscous.
These seaweed tofu rolls are super chewy and juicy! Cooked in an aromatic Vietnamese-inspired sauce infused with lemongrass, garlic, and chili, this dish is simply irresistible! Serve it over white rice and your favorite greens for a savory and nutritious meal!
Vermicelli woven served with chewy soy-glazed tofu, green onions, cucumber, and plenty of fresh herbs! A healthy and delicious Vietnamese-inspired dish!
Fresh, healthy, and with a toasted flavor, these Vietnamese-inspired summer rolls are filled a mix of sautéed carrots, sweet potatoes, tofu, and fresh herbs!
Make your own Vietnamese baguettes! These Bánh Mì have a light and cottony crumb with a super thin and crispy crust! This is the closest recipe to Vietnamese Bánh Mì!
Super rich and flavorful vegan banh mi made with carrot and daikon pickles, vegan sausage, sautéed mushrooms, vegan paté, cucumber, and plenty of fresh herbs!
Incredibly flavorful Vietnamese noodle soup infused with chili, and lemongrass and topped with vegan beef, fried tofu, sautéed mushrooms, and fresh cilantro. One of my favorites!
This one-pot Vietnamese curry (Cà ri) is loaded with taro, sweet potatoes, and carrots and infused with citrusy aromatics such as ginger, lemongrass, garlic, and lime. It is super creamy, flavorful, hearty, and takes less than one hour to prepare!
Learn how to make vegan "pork belly" that is crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and with layers of (coconut) fat. You will be surprised by how meaty and real it looks and tastes!
Tender and juicy tofu sautéed in a citrusy and spicy lemongrass sauce! Serve with steamed white rice or sautéed vegetables. With just 9 ingredients and 45 minutes to prepare!
Spicy, sour, and a bit sweet hot pot that is super flavorful, comforting, and easy to make! Flavored with lemongrass, ginger, and chilies. Serve with your favorite greens, tofu, and noodles!
Buttery grilled bread topped with meaty paté, sautéed green onions, and a generous drizzle of mayo and sweet chili sauce! A crispy, rich, and flavorful appetizer or snack!
Incredibly tender and juicy jackfruit cooked in a sweet and spicy black pepper sauce! Just 8 ingredients and 30 minutes are required. Delicious served on top of steamed rice!
Easy macaroni soup loaded with hearty veggies like carrots, potatoes, and mushrooms! This delicious soup is warming and so easy to prepare! Perfect for the colder days!
Crispy Vietnamese crepes made with rice flour and coconut milk. Filled with sautéed mushrooms, mung bean sprouts, carrots, and tofu! Versatile, easy to make, and delicious!
This Vietnamese-inspired dish consists of grilled betel leaves filled with tofu, mushrooms, lemongrass, shallots, and garlic. Served with a delicious pineapple dipping sauce!
Below are some sweet dishes that are often sold as street food in Vietnam. Sweet soups are called “chè” in Vietnamese. There are tens of different types of chè, you can find below a few of them, as well as other sweet snacks!
Banh Bo Nuong
Bánh bò nướng, also known as honeycomb cake, is a classic Vietnamese sweet snack that is soft, chewy, and so delicious! Our version features chewy golden brown coconut pancakes filled with freshly grated coconut meat!
Learn how to make Bánh cam at home! This traditional Vietnamese treat consists of sweet mung bean paste balls wrapped in glutinous rice flour wrappers and coated with sesame seeds before being deep fried to perfection. It's crispy, chewy, and so addicting. A must-try!
Silky smooth black sesame soup that is perfectly sweet and nutty with a subtle coconut flavor. This sweet soup makes a delicious snack or dessert! Vegan + GF!
These bite-size peanut butter candy bars are made with just 3 ingredients in about 10 minutes! Perfectly peanutty, sweet, and slightly crispy, you will love these!
Learn below how to make traditional Vietnamese coffee and other interesting drinks like black sesame milk (one of my favorites!).
How to Make Vietnamese Coffee (Vegan)
Learn how to make vegan Vietnamese iced coffee at home! Incredibly rich and creamy, thanks to the addition of vegan condensed milk, this coffee will be your new favorite afternoon drink!
Learn how to make delicious taro milk tea at home! Prepared from scratch with just 5 ingredients, this nutty and creamy drink is vegan and 100% natural!
Looking for a refreshing and healthy drink to enjoy this summer? Look no further than our Vietnamese-inspired peach, orange, and lemongrass iced tea! This classic iced tea has a floral and citrusy aroma that will surely satisfy your thirst!
Prepared with simple ingredients like roasted peanuts, water, and sugar, this delightful vegan peanut milk is creamy and packs a wonderful nuttiness. It can be enjoyed iced or hot, added to coffee, served with cereals, or used in baked goods!
If you are new to Vietnamese cuisine, you might be interested in learning more about some of the ingredients. You can check below complete guides on taro and winged beans.
What is Taro (And How to Cook It)
Learn how to cook taro with this step-by-step guide! This uncommon root vegetable can be used in soups, stews, curries, and more!
Learn how to pick winged beans, how to prepare them, and how to cook them. This uncommon vegetable is delicious, crunchy, rich in nutrients, and super versatile!
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This classic Vietnamese Pho consists of a rich broth infused with spices, and served with vegan beef, rice noodles, and fresh herbs! This recipe is as close to authentic as possible!
Start by charring the onion and shallots: heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the halved onion and shallots, cut-side facing down. Char them for 3-5 minutes, or until almost black. Note: you can also char them under the broiler, in an oven.
Transfer the charred onion and shallots to a large pot. Add the sliced carrots, daikon radish, salt, and sugar. Cover with the water and bring to a boil. Let simmer uncovered for 30-35 minutes.
In the meantime, char the sliced ginger in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add the whole spices and toast them for about 1 minute. Transfer the spices and ginger to a tea bag or cheesecloth closed with a string.
After the 30-35 minutes, turn off the heat and add the spices tea bag to the broth. Let infuse for about 10 minutes.
Remove the spices bag, onions, and shallots from the broth. Add the mushroom seasoning and vegan fish sauce if using. Taste and adjust the saltiness and sweetness if needed.
At this point, you can also remove the carrots and radish, or leave them in the broth to serve later. Note: If planning to keep for broth for one day in the refrigerator, I recommend removing all of the vegetables, otherwise they will soak up some liquid and you will end up with less broth.
Vegan "Beef"
Drain the vegan beef slices and rinse them under cold water a couple of times. Squeeze to remove as much moisture as possible.
Transfer the beef slices to a bowl and add the sugar, soy sauce, and ground black pepper. Stir to coat. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight in the refrigerator.
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the vegan beef slices and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side, or until slightly golden brown.
To Assemble
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, cook the rice noodles according to the package instructions and drain well.
Add a handful of raw bean sprouts to each bowl. Top with the cooked rice noodles, sautéed vegan beef slices, fried tofu, and sautéed mushrooms if using. Garnish each bowl with 2 tablespoons of chopped green onions, a few leaves of Thai basil, onion slices, and chopped cilantro. Pour in the piping hot broth over the noodles and serve immediately!
The broth will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Course : Breakfast, Entree, Main Course, Soup
Cuisine : Vietnamese
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About the Author
Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.
I absolutely love your Vietnamese recipes! We made the bun bo hue with sausage and the Vietnamese crepes for guests and they were all blown away! Of course we shared your blog. So many favourites and so many more to try. Thanks!
Hi Thomas! thank you for these, i love your banh mi and mushroom pate recipes. do you have a recipe for the vietnamese mayo that they put in the banh mi? i found some online, but it uses eggs, and i’m vegan. if you ever make it, please let me know!
Hi Hue,
Thanks for your kind words! I do not have any recipe for a Vietnamese mayo, sorry! From what I saw there, each seller has its own way to make mayo, and it doesn’t really taste different than regular mayo. Also, the mayo is often mixed with the paté, so any mayo will work!
Louise
2 years ago
This is hands down the best most informative vegan blog – as a chef here in the uk I’m always on the hunt for inspiration and usually find it in Asian dishes – I’d love to see a printed book of all your recipes – ant plans?
Thanks – fabulous!
Thanks so much for your feedback Louise 😉
No plans for a printed book, sorry!
Linh Ly
3 years ago
I really miss vegan Vietnamese food. None of the restaurants in the states offer these kinds of variations and the ones who have a vegan option is usually disappointing. I am so glad to find this page, because they look so promising. Cannot wait to try, especially that braised vegan roast pork, sausage patty and bun bo hue. <3
I hear you, I tried many Vietnamese restaurants here in France as well, and none match the food you can find in Vietnam.
Let me know if you try these recipes!
Leave a Comment
Thank you for these amazing recipes Thomas!
You are welcome Tommy!
I absolutely love your Vietnamese recipes! We made the bun bo hue with sausage and the Vietnamese crepes for guests and they were all blown away! Of course we shared your blog. So many favourites and so many more to try. Thanks!
Thanks for your support Tetyana 😉
Hi Thomas! thank you for these, i love your banh mi and mushroom pate recipes. do you have a recipe for the vietnamese mayo that they put in the banh mi? i found some online, but it uses eggs, and i’m vegan. if you ever make it, please let me know!
Hi Hue,
Thanks for your kind words! I do not have any recipe for a Vietnamese mayo, sorry! From what I saw there, each seller has its own way to make mayo, and it doesn’t really taste different than regular mayo. Also, the mayo is often mixed with the paté, so any mayo will work!
This is hands down the best most informative vegan blog – as a chef here in the uk I’m always on the hunt for inspiration and usually find it in Asian dishes – I’d love to see a printed book of all your recipes – ant plans?
Thanks – fabulous!
Thanks so much for your feedback Louise 😉
No plans for a printed book, sorry!
I really miss vegan Vietnamese food. None of the restaurants in the states offer these kinds of variations and the ones who have a vegan option is usually disappointing. I am so glad to find this page, because they look so promising. Cannot wait to try, especially that braised vegan roast pork, sausage patty and bun bo hue. <3
I hear you, I tried many Vietnamese restaurants here in France as well, and none match the food you can find in Vietnam.
Let me know if you try these recipes!
Very good recipes! Thanks
You’re welcome!
Thanks for the good recipes vegan.
You’re welcome Bianca!