Vegetarian dishes are the top choice that can be very good for the body as they contain no protein, but that does not diminish the deliciousness of the dish. Let’s get cooking with TasteVN to make this delicious vegetarian cao lau right away!
1. Vegetarian Cao Lau
Preparation
30 minutes
Cooking
30 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian Cao Lau For 3 people
Fresh cao lau 100 gr Dried cao lau 100 gr Dried cao lau ram 100 gr Fresh tofu skin leaves 100 gr (2 pieces) Chicken leg mushrooms 50 gr (1 piece) Tofu 100 gr Bitter vegetables 50 gr Aromatic herbs 50 gr Banana blossom 50 gr Fish mint 50 gr Bean sprouts 50 gr Green onion 1 stalk Fermented tofu 5 gr (1 piece) Vegetarian oyster sauce 2 tablespoons Soy sauce 3 tablespoons Black sauce 1 tablespoon Five spice powder 1/4 teaspoon Char siu seasoning powder 1 teaspoon Vegetarian seasoning powder 1 teaspoon Peanut oil 530 ml Sugar/Pepper powder A little
How to choose fresh and delicious ingredients
How to choose fresh and delicious tofu
- Good tofu will have an ivory white color; if the tofu is too yellow, it means it contains a lot of gypsum.
- When held, it feels light, soft and smooth, has elasticity, and is not easy to break. When smelling, there should be a characteristic aroma of tofu; if there is an unpleasant pungent smell, it should not be purchased.
- Additionally, you can also self-make tofu right at home with an extremely simple recipe that doesn’t take too much time and ensures health for the whole family.
How to choose fresh and delicious chicken leg mushrooms
- Fresh chicken leg mushrooms will be firm, so choose mushrooms that are usually 12 – 15cm long. If the mushrooms are too long, they will be hollow and not fresh or sweet.
- The mushroom caps should be brown, shiny, with no scratches or bruises. Fresh mushrooms have a thin layer of fibers on the caps, with a characteristic aroma similar to almonds.
- Avoid purchasing wilted, bruised mushrooms, soft stems, or those with an unpleasant smell.
How to choose delicious tofu skin
- You should buy fresh tofu skin instead of dry or fried types.
- Choose tofu skin leaves that are bright yellow, with no signs of mold or unpleasant smell.
- It is best to buy tofu skin at reputable supermarkets or grocery stores to ensure the best quality.
- Additionally, you can also try making tofu skin right at home to ensure food safety.
Suggestions for buying cao lầu noodles:
- Cao lầu noodles are a specialty ingredient from Hoi An, so they can be purchased at specialty stores that sell local products near where you live.
- In addition, cao lầu is also distributed at vegetarian specialty shops across the country.
- In large-scale markets, it is also easy to find cao lầu for cooking.
- Additionally, they can be ordered online on e-commerce websites, but it is advisable to choose reputable places with clear brands and origins.
How to prepare Vegetarian Cao Lầu
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Prepare cao lầu noodles
Fresh cao lầu noodles should be blanched in boiling water for about 1 – 2 minutes, then rinsed with cold water.
Soak dry cao lầu noodles in water for 1 – 2 hours, then put a pot on the stove with 500ml of water over high heat. Once the water boils, add both types of noodles and boil for 5 – 7 minutes until soft, then remove and drain.
Put another pan on the stove with 500ml of peanut oil and heat over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, reduce to low heat and continue to fry the dry cao lầu until crispy for 5 – 7 minutes, then remove.
Tip:- To make cao lầu chewier and prevent it from breaking when boiled, rinse briefly with cold water.
- When frying the dry cao lầu, ensure the oil is hot for even puffing and crispiness.
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Make char siu sauce
Take a bowl to add 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of vegetarian oyster sauce, 1 teaspoon of vegetarian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of char siu spice powder, 1/4 teaspoon of five-spice powder, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper, then mix all together and divide the sauce into 2 portions.
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Make cao lau broth
Using the bowl from the char siu sauce that has been divided in half, add 1 tablespoon of black bean sauce, 1 piece of fermented tofu, and 150ml of water to mix everything together.
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Making vegetarian char siu
Clean the king oyster mushrooms and shallots, then slice the mushrooms and tofu. Cut the fresh tofu skin into bite-sized squares, and finely chop the shallots.
Next, heat a pan over low heat with 3 tablespoons of peanut oil. When the oil is hot, fry the tofu and tofu skin for about 7 – 10 minutes.
Once both sides are golden, add the king oyster mushrooms and char siu sauce, and stir-fry on low heat. When the sauce thickens, turn off the heat and serve on a plate.
In another pot, heat 2 tablespoons of peanut oil and sauté the shallots until fragrant. Then add the remaining broth and simmer for 3 minutes over medium heat. When the broth boils, turn off the heat and serve in a bowl.
Tip: You can use soybean oil; however, using peanut oil will give the dish a more distinctive cao lầu flavor. -
Completion
Cabbage, Cao Lau, banana flower, bitter herbs, aromatic herbs, and water spinach should be washed and drained.
Once all the ingredients are prepared, take a bowl and add the vegetables and vegetarian char siu. Finally, pour the sauce over it, and the dish is complete.
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Final Product
The vegetarian specialty of Hoi An today is truly captivating and appealing. The Cao Lau noodles are chewy and delicious, the sauce has a distinctive rich flavor that cannot be mistaken, and the crispy vegetarian char siu all blend together with various herbs to create an unforgettable taste.
The vegetarian Cao Lau with a squeeze of lime and a little chili paste is unparalleled. This is certainly the perfect choice for vegetarian days. Now, let’s enjoy it right away!
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2. Vegetarian Cao Lầu (Recipe shared by Tiktok Vegetarian Kitchen XANH)
Preparation
20 minutes
Cooking
20 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Vegetarian Cao Lầu (Recipe shared by Tiktok Vegetarian Kitchen XANH) Serves 2 people
Fresh Cao Lầu 100 grams Dried Cao Lầu 100 grams Chicken thigh mushrooms 3 pieces Vegetarian ribs 3 pieces Dried shiitake mushrooms 4 pieces Chopped green onion 2 tablespoons Fresh coconut water 350 ml Seasoning a little (vegetarian seasoning/ sugar/ five spice powder/ vegetarian oyster sauce/ chili sauce/ soy sauce/ annatto oil)
Required Tools
Ingredient Image
How to Make Vegetarian Cao Lầu (Recipe shared by Tiktok Vegetarian Kitchen XANH)
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Prepare Ingredients
Vegetarian ribs should be washed with water after buying, then squeezed until there are no bubbles.
Soak chicken thigh mushrooms in diluted salt water for about 10 minutes, then take them out, rinse, and drain.
Soak dried shiitake mushrooms in warm water for at least 20 minutes until they are soft. Then, take them out and drain.
Fresh Cao Lầu noodles should be blanched in boiling water for about 1 – 2 minutes, then rinsed in cold water.
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Marinate vegetarian ribs and king oyster mushrooms
Add 3 king oyster mushrooms and 3 pieces of vegetarian ribs into a bowl. Then, sequentially add: 2 tablespoons of vegetarian seasoning, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 teaspoons of five-spice powder, 2 tablespoons of vegetarian oyster sauce, 4 tablespoons of chili sauce, and 4 tablespoons of soy sauce into the bowl.
Mix well so that the mushrooms and vegetarian ribs absorb the seasoning evenly and marinate for 15 minutes.
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Sauté mushrooms and vegetarian ribs
Heat a pan on the stove, sauté 1 tablespoon of annatto oil with 2 tablespoons of chopped green onion.
Next, add the marinated mushrooms and vegetarian ribs and stir-fry the ingredients briefly.
Continue to add the marinade and 350 ml of fresh coconut water into the pan. Wait until the water boils, then add 4 dried shiitake mushrooms and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.
After that, remove the mushrooms and vegetarian ribs and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
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Fried crispy Cao lau cakes
Place a pan with oil on the stove, wait for the oil to heat up, then drop the dry Cao lau cakes into the oil and fry until they puff up evenly.
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Completion
Add a serving of Cao lau noodles into a bowl, then arrange fresh vegetables, chicken thigh mushrooms, vegetarian ribs, and shiitake mushrooms on top, then drizzle with the rich stir-fry sauce and it’s ready to enjoy.
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Final Product
Vegetarian Cao Lau has a light aroma of mushrooms, extremely appealing. The Cao Lau noodles are chewy and delicious, the mushrooms have a natural sweetness that blends with the rich sauce, combined with vegetables, enhancing the dish’s flavor immensely.
When enjoying, you can squeeze a little lime and add some spicy chili for an even better experience. Let’s get into the kitchen and prepare this dish for your family to enjoy!
The article above has provided you with a way to cook the nutritious dish cao lầu chay that is completely oil-free and very light for the body. Wishing you great success and a delicious meal with your family!
*Refer to the images and recipes from the YouTube channel Ghiền nấu ăn and Tiktok Bếp chay XANH!
