Opinion 30 easy vegan Japanese recipes

Easy, delicious Japanese recipes – all 100% plant-based! Here’s how to make agedashi tofu, okonomiyaki, sushi, ramen, miso soup, golden curry, and more.

Exploring plant-based dishes from around the world is an amazing way of building up your vegan cooking repertoire – and when it comes to Japanese cuisine, there are some seriously incredible new flavour combinations to discover!

To prep your plant-based pantry for Japanese-style cooking, consider stocking your pantry with the following ingredients:

• Firm tofu
• Edamame beans
• Pickled ginger
• Shiitake mushrooms
• Cucumber
• Spring onions
• Sesame oil
• Mirin (Japanese sweet wine)
• Rice vinegar
• Soy sauce
• Teriyaki sauce
• Vegan Kewpie mayo
• Miso paste
• Nori (dried seaweed sheets)
• Black / white sesame seeds
• Chilli flakes
• Panko bread crumbs
• Short-grain Japanese rice
• Udon / ramen / soba noodles 

I’ve rounded up some of my favourite recipes below to get you started. But if you’re interested in learning more about cooking authentic vegan Japanese food, be sure to follow Okonomi Kitchen and Plant-Based Matters for heaps of incredible info, advice, and all the Japanese recipe inspiration you could ever need!

1. Okonomiyaki (Savoury Pancake)

Not only is plant-based okonomiyaki possible, it’s actually really easy to make! These savoury, shredded cabbage pancakes taste just as indulgent as the traditional recipe.

2. Agedashi Tofu

Agedashi tofu – deep-fried tofu served in a bowl of umami sauce – is an incredibly popular dish at Japanese restaurants, and now you can make it at home too.

3. Vegan Onigiri with Tofu Tuna Mayo

One of the most iconic fillings for onigiri – or Japanese rice balls – is ‘tuna mayo’, which is surprisingly easy to veganise! This recipe uses tofu as the base.

4. Matcha Green Tea Cupcakes with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

These green matcha cupcakes are the sweet treat you never knew you needed. If you can’t find vegan cream cheese in stores, try making your own or using vegan cream instead.

5. Miso Ramen with Spicy Tofu

Aside from tasting like pure happiness in a bowl, this miso and spicy tofu ramen recipe also happens to be chock-full of wholefoods and ridiculously nourishing.

6. Inari Sushi

Inari are little balls of seasoned rice stuffed into deep-fried bean curd pockets (which you can find in most Asian grocery stores). Perfect as a quick snack or side dish.

7. Japanese-Style Vegetable Curry

If you’re looking for a plant-based Japanese dinner that’s as delicious as it is nourishing, look no further than this golden, veggie-packed curry. 

8. Vegan Yakitori

This ingenious seitan recipe uses a magical blend of herbs, seasonings, and sauces to replicate the meatiness and spice of yakitori skewers.

9. Panko Fried Tofu Sandwich with Japanese BBQ Sauce

So simple, yet so satisfying! The punchy garlic-and-ginger BBQ sauce is what ties this crispy, crunchy tofu sandwich together. Keep it minimalist or amp it up by adding extra veg.

10. Edamame with Soy & Sesame Sauce

Everyone’s favourite Japanese starter happens to already be vegan! Here’s how to whip up your own fried edamame pods, using sesame oil and soy sauce for seasoning.

11. Creamy Soy Milk Ramen

This indulgent soy milk ramen is the epitome of vegan Japanese comfort food – and a great way to give new life to any forgotten veggies you have sitting in the back of the fridge.

12. Vegan Tofu Fish Fillets with Crispy Skin

There are lots of ways to make plant-based seafood, but this has to be one of the most innovative: A fillet made of tofu, with a crispy seaweed skin for that fishy flavour.

13. Sushi with Teriyaki Tofu & Black Rice

Once you realise how easy it is to roll your own sushi at home, you’ll never want to stop. This easy recipe calls for teriyaki sauce, which is a great staple to have in your plant-based pantry.

14. Vegan Purin (Japanese Crème Caramel)

Purin is a sweet custard dessert that’s drizzled with bitter-sweet caramel – and it’s one of the most popular desserts in Japan for a reason.

15. King Oyster Mushroom ‘Fish’ Nigiri Sushi

Vegan sushi never looked so real! The ‘fish’ in this one is made from king oyster mushroom, and topped with onion, scallions, wasabi, and lime. 

16. Soba Noodles with Edamame, Black Sesame & Spicy Tofu

Featuring sticky, spicy tofu, pickled ginger, cucumber, edamame beans, and black sesame, this soba noodle dish strikes the perfect balance between fresh and filling.

17. Vegan Spicy Tomato ‘Tuna’

Who knew you could make absolutely addictive vegan tuna out of tomato? Adapt this recipe to make spicy ‘tuna’ sushi, or just serve the finished product with rice and veggies. 

Don’t fancy making your own vegan fish from scratch? Check out all these plant-based seafood products you can buy ready-made in Australia.

18. Furikake & Oat Butter Rice 

Furikake – a Japanese seasoning made with toasted sesame seeds, salt, sugar, and nori (dried seaweed) – is the ultimate secret ingredient for making rich, umami-flavoured rice. 

19. Quick-Pickled Japanese Cucumbers

This one-step recipe for quick-pickled Japanese cucumbers couldn’t be simpler … and their fresh, tangy crunch is the perfect accompaniment to any of these plates.

20. Vegan Japanese Curry with Golden Tofu & Veggies

For a classic Japanese dish that’s almost too cute to eat, you have to try this mushroom and vegetable curry. Bear optional but encouraged!

21. Japanese Mayonnaise (Kewpie Mayo)

Vegan-friendly Kewpie mayo is an absolute must-have in your kitchen if you’re into Japanese food. You can make your own from scratch using this nifty recipe – or buy it online from a number of vegan-friendly retailers.

22. Cold Soba Noodles with Tangelo Dashi 

Try this refreshing summer recipe for a sweet-and-sour, citrusy take on a Japanese classic. Tangelo dashi and sesame-sprinkled soba noodles are a match made in heaven.

23. Japanese Fruit Sandwiches

These sweet little Japanese fruit sandwiches would look right at home at a high tea or sunny picnic in the park! 

24. Baked Miso Eggplant 

This is the dish that made me fall in love with eggplant! Slathered in miso-maple marinade and cooked to perfection, each bite practically melts in your mouth. 

25. Vegan Cold Ramen with Sesame Sauce

Proof that hot summer weather and indulgent comfort food can coexist! This cold ramen recipe is a surprisingly refreshing favourite.

26. Miso Soup

No wonder this ancient food has been a staple in Asian cuisines for over a thousand years – it’s quick, comforting, and laden with plant-based ingredients that aid in healthy digestion.

27. Soba Noodles with Smashed Cucumber & Sesame 

This light soba noodle salad contrasts toasty, nutty flavours with the fresh crunch of cucumber, the heat of chilli flakes, and the umami sweetness of soy and sesame dressing. 

28. Garlic Fried Rice

I’ll be real with you, I can’t think of three words that go better together than garlic fried rice. Why make plain white rice when this is an option?!

29. Avocado & Finger Lime Sushi 

An Australian-inspired twist on traditional avocado rolls – the sprinkle of finger lime on top adds an extra pop of brightness and zingy flavour.

30. Tofu & Edamame Stir Fry

Japanese-style stir fries are great go-tos if you’re short on time or energy. Once you’ve cooked the edamame and soba noodles, it’s just a matter of throwing it all in the pan.

There’s a whole wide world of plant-based food to explore!

For more plant-based Japanese meal inspiration, try these cookbooks:

• The Vegan Japanese Cookbook by Yoko Segawa 
• Vegan JapanEasy by Tim Anderson 
• Japanese Cooking: Contemporary & Traditional by Miyoko Schinner

And then check out these other vegan-friendly global cuisines to inspire you in the kitchen.