How can I make authentic Chinese vegetarian dishes?

Question

All the "Chinese" recipes in my cookbooks are Americanized. I'd like to make truly authentic Chinese meals. I'm a vegetarian. I don't want to use fish sauce or anything like that. I do have a vegetarian oyster sauce I found. But I really don't know what to do with it!

Any recipes or ideas?

Thanks.

No the "Oyster sauce" I found has NO oysters in it. It is a substitute.

Answer 1

About fish sauce - they have vegetarian fish sauce too, try looking for it.
Many Chinese vegetarian dishes uses something called "Gluten", usually known as 'mock meat' to add to their dishes.
One very common dish that monks in monasteries are known to eat is a simple noodle dish that has thick yellow hokkien noodles, fried with soy sauce, diluted vegetarian oyster sauce, cooked with sesame oil - though you can feel free to add garlic and onions (some Buddhists don't take root plants or plants under the soil). The mushrooms are marinaded in soy, a bit of water, and you can also add crushed garlic.
Fried tofu is also added sometimes. Black fungus marinaded in water to soften it is also added.

Stir fry it on high, till noodles are soft, and cooked.
For authentic chinese cookbooks, I'm not sure where you can get them in America (I'm sure you can, but just not sure where!), but there are many online bookstores that sell cookbooks made by chinese cooks.
Try Lilian Too, she's a pretty good Chinese cook who's written several cookbooks.


Jenova

Answer 2

About .com has a large section of recipes
My best cookbook for authentic was published in Taiwan though sometimes the English is a little unusual. Your best bet probably is with cookbooks written and printed inTaiwan or Hong Kong

Rodales Had a veg cookbook out years ago that had some good recipes but I don't think it is still in print. Some Buddhist temples have put out cookbooks though not all Buddhist sects are truely Vegetarian most are.

Answer 3

Here's a recipe I hope you will like. My mom makes it and so does my grandma. You can find ingredients at the asian supermarket, or change the veggies if you wish... but you did ask for Authentic Chinese!

2 bunch of baby bok choy, cleaned and separated into bite size pieces
1 can straw mushroom
1 can baby corn
1 package of tofu, I like the fried one but you can use firm
Garlic
Green onions
Corn starch
Water

In a bowl, add 2 tsp corn starch and 1/4 cup cold water. Mix til dissolved. Put aside.

In a skillet or wok, add 3 tsp cooking oil and heat to med/high. Add the bok choy. Sautee for 2-3 minutes. Add 2 or 3 cloves of crushed garlic (more or less to your taste). Stir fry. Add 2-3 tsp of oyster sauce (I don't measure... i just give it 2 or 3 shakes).

Stir fry some more, and lower the heat to med. Add the canned baby corn and mushroom and tofu (cut in cubes). Gently mix, cover for 2 minutes. Serve hot over bed of rice or mix with noodles.

Serves 1-2

Answer 4

Miss, i think you better not to check out any of the cookbook from American shop, I think American spoiled you guys with at lest the basic American style fused with any kind of food, I think you better look for the YAN CAN COOK, if not your list, better look for the bookshop online for more realistic Chinese food, no matter the dishes, you should try the other snacks as well (If there have vegetarian any) And you should look for the cookbook not made if American, but real Chinese from China or from Hong Kong, best of luck from Hong Kong

Answer 5

If you consider "fish sauce, or anything like that" is not vegetarian, then I am afraid "oyster sauce" is also not vegetarian.

Answer 6

the enormous question is, how severe is your allergy? My buddy, Pat, is allergic to shellfish. some acquaintances of hers further chinese takeout to her domicile and she or he all started going into anaphylactic wonder, even although she did not have a chew to devour. What exceeded off? Enzymes from the shrimp dish that one buddy ordered entered the air and affected Pat. in case your allergic reactions are not that undesirable, i'd recommend you visit the eating position properly earlier your dinner date and ask to work out the menu. in case you call in the previous, you're prepared to flow in at a time even as the position isn't so crowded. with assistance from doing it this way, you received't postpone different diners even as making your determination.

Answer 7

first start going to a buddhist temple in your city then become a friend of the nuns and monks, thsose peolpe knows how to cook. Ipromise you they wll give their recipes and ideas to make meals really fast an d healthy

Answer 8

simply use sesame oil,oyster sauce and a little bit of chilli sause.mushroom will make dish more appetizing!