When mentioning char siu, everyone probably thinks of it as a savory dish. But no, this will be a vegetarian dish if you know how to make it. TasteVN will guide you on 2 ways to make delicious and appealing vegetarian char siu that anyone can do. Let’s go to the kitchen!
1. Vegetarian char siu from chicken thigh mushrooms and wheat gluten
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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
45 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian char siu from chicken thigh mushrooms and wheat gluten For 2 people
Chicken thigh mushrooms 3 pieces Wheat gluten 6 pieces Coconut water 700 ml (dry or fresh) Green onion 1 stalk Soy sauce 1/2 tablespoon Char siu seasoning powder 1 teaspoon Five-spice powder 1/4 teaspoon Sesame oil 1 teaspoon Oyster sauce 1 teaspoon Common seasoning a little (Sugar/ salt/ seasoning powder)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh chicken leg mushrooms
- Choose mushrooms with a dome-shaped cap, brown color, shiny, and a white stem that looks very firm with uniform color.
- To ensure the inside of the mushroom is not hollow and has a fresh taste, you should select mushrooms that are 12 – 15cm long.
- Avoid choosing damaged mushrooms with many scratches or bruises and an unpleasant smell.
How to choose good mì căn
- It is recommended to choose mì căn that is tubular and hollow inside, as it will be softer and chewier when eaten, rather than being hard.
- To buy good mì căn, you should purchase it at stores specializing in vegetarian food or at reputable large supermarkets. When buying, make sure to check the origin, expiration date, packaging, and labels for integrity.
- Additionally, to ensure better hygiene, you can also make mì căn at home following the recipe shared by TasteVN.
How to make vegetarian Char Siu from king oyster mushrooms and wheat gluten
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Prepare the ingredients
Wash the scallions thoroughly, drain, and cut two small pieces about the length of a finger from the top of the scallion.
For the mushrooms, use a knife to cut off the dirty stems. Then, wash them thoroughly with diluted salt water, rinse again with plain water, and let them drain completely. Rinse the wheat gluten briefly with water and let it drain.
Using a fork, poke a few holes in the bodies of the mushrooms and wheat gluten. Continue poking until you have finished with all the mushrooms and wheat gluten.
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Mix the Char Siu seasoning
Add to a bowl 700ml of coconut water, 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning powder, 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of Char Siu spice powder, 1/4 teaspoon of five-spice powder, and 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, then stir well until the seasonings are completely dissolved.
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Cook the char siu
Place a pan on the stove, sequentially arrange mushrooms, scallions, and gluten into the pan. Then, pour in the water mixed with the char siu seasoning mixture made earlier and start boiling over medium heat.
When the water boils, continue to cook for another 30 – 40 minutes until the water in the pot is almost evaporated, then turn off the heat.
Finally, remove the char siu to a plate, let it cool slightly, and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Tip: To allow the char siu to soak evenly in the sauce, turn the char siu over every 10 minutes!
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Final Product
The vegan char siu dish made from chicken drumstick mushrooms and wheat gluten is completed with a beautiful orange-red color. Both the chicken drumstick mushrooms and wheat gluten are chewy and absorb the sauce’s seasoning perfectly.
This dish served with hot rice is excellent.
2. Vegan Char Siu from Vegetarian Spare Ribs
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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegan Char Siu from Vegetarian Spare Ribs Serves 2
Vegetarian spare ribs 3 pieces Coconut water 50 ml Satay 1 teaspoon Char Siu marinade 1 teaspoon Cooking oil 3 tablespoons Fish sauce 1 tablespoon Sugar/ seasoning powder A little
Suggestions for where to buy delicious vegetarian ribs
- You can buy vegetarian ribs at stores specializing in vegetarian products or at reputable supermarkets and large markets.
- Additionally, you can also purchase vegetarian ribs on e-commerce websites.
How to prepare Vegetarian Char Siu from vegetarian ribs
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Prepare and fry the vegetarian ribs
Soak the purchased vegetarian ribs in water for about 30 minutes to soften them. After that, drain the water and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Place a frying pan on the stove, add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil into the pan. Wait for the oil to heat up, then add the vegetarian ribs and fry until golden brown on both sides, then remove and let drain the oil.
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Making Char Siu Sauce
Keep the pan with oil that was just used to fry the spare ribs on the stove, add garlic and sauté until golden and fragrant.
Then add 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 50ml of coconut water, 1 teaspoon of chili paste, 1 teaspoon of char siu marinade, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder into the pan, then cook over medium heat until the sauce thickens.
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Cooking Char Siu
After the char siu sauce has thickened, add the spare ribs, stir continuously for about 5 minutes to let the ribs absorb the sauce evenly.
Finally, turn off the stove and place all the spare ribs on a plate.
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Final Product
The vegetarian char siu dish made from vegetarian ribs is completed with a beautiful brownish-yellow color. When you eat it, you will taste a sweet and salty flavor of the sauce soaking evenly into each piece of chewy ribs.
This dish pairs wonderfully with pickled vegetables, tomatoes, and hot rice. Try your result right away!
3. Vegetarian char siu noodles from fried tofu
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Preparation
20 minutes
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Cooking
20 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian char siu noodles from fried tofu For 2 servings
Tofu 1 piece Whole sauce 3 tablespoons Soy sauce 2 tablespoons Coconut water 1/2 cup Palm sugar 1 tablespoon Salt 1 teaspoon MSG 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder 1 tablespoon Filtered water 1 cup Five-spice powder 1 teaspoon Shrimp paste color 1 tube
Cooking Tools
Raw Material Image
How to Prepare Vegetarian Char Siu Noodles from Fried Tofu
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Fry the Tofu Crispy
After purchasing the tofu, rinse it with water and then use a clean towel to dry the outside. Next, use a knife to cut the tofu into small square pieces.
Then, heat oil in a pan, wait for the oil to heat up, then add the tofu and fry until golden brown on all sides. Finally, remove the tofu and let it drain excess oil.
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Mix the Sauce Ingredients for Vegetarian Char Siu
Add to a bowl: 3 tablespoons of fermented soybean paste, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of palm sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 tablespoon of garlic powder (optional), 1 cup of water, 1 teaspoon of five-spice powder, 1 tube of shrimp paste color, then stir well until the ingredients are fully dissolved.
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Cook char siu
You place the pan on the stove, pour the mixed char siu seasoning water into it, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Then, you strain the mixture through a sieve to make the sauce smoother.
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Make vegetarian char siu
You mix the fried tofu evenly with 3 tablespoons of the cooked vegetarian char siu sauce.
Next, you put the mixed tofu into the pan, add 1/2 cup of coconut water, and simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes before turning off the heat.
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Final product
The vegetarian char siu dish made from tofu is not only visually appealing but also has an enticing aroma. The crispy fried tofu is infused with the rich char siu sauce and the natural sweetness of coconut water.
Especially, you can use the final product to make a delicious char siu noodle dish as well!
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Above is a guide to 2 ways to make vegetarian char siu. I hope that the recipe shared above will help you easily make this vegetarian dish. Wishing you success and a delicious meal!
