I had a Chinese takeaway last night and realised I still haven’t found a ‘main’ dish that I like.
I love egg fried rice, prawn crackers and dim sum. But I’ve never been able to find a main dish that I really enjoyed. I’m veggie and my local takeaway can do most dishes with tofu or meat substitute.
What I am after is something with sauce and vegetables. I always seem to end up with the same brown sauce and the same vegetables, which include bamboo, water chestnuts and onion, none of which I’m a huge fan of. Does anyone have any recommendations for a dish I should try? Could be a non-veggie one, so long as it’s adaptable.
Thanks AskUK!
30 comments
Prawn crackers aren’t vegetarian. Sorry to spoil your meal.
I don’t have an answer, but you should know that prawn crackers don’t just have that name for fun
Lol, not really veggie
Try mapo tofu
Vegetable Kung Po!
Plenty of dishes are excellent with tofu/beancurd.
Some favourites of mine are fried tofu & peppers in black bean sauce & tofu and cashews in yellow bean sauce.
Szechuan tofu, or tofu with black bean sauce are both good. If you’re not a tofu fan then substitute veg you like. Egg rolls, spring rolls. Veg chow mein is fine too.
Yeah, I will echo what others are telling you. There’s almost always prawns or shrimp and other crustaceans in prawn crackers. Skips crisps manage to be fishy without fish I don’t know why prawn crackers can’t manage it.
Kung Pao Chicken made with seitan is lovely. I find most Chinese places use tofu and that tastes kinda bland, but the places that use a meat substitute have dishes that taste closer to the meat options.
Vegetable chowmein with a sauce on the side
Vegetables in blackbean
Anything with bean curd
Mushroom chow mein?
Tofu vermicelli noodle with either a satay, sweet and sour or another side sauce.
Love salt and pepper tofu
Prawn crackers have prawn in them! I am the same, but I quite like tofu and don’t mind having several dishes to pick at. The best which is often available is a Thai green or red curry.
Singapore Vermicelli is really good. You will just have to remove the meat or have a substitute
Note that a lot of dishes may have fish sauce in it.
There seems to be an influx of vegan/vegetarian only takeaways, one popped up near me and it’s got everything on a Chinese takeaway menu but vegan. It’s incredible.
I’ve really missed “chicken” satay skewers and now I can have them again.
Have a look in your area! It’s the only way to guarantee it will be vegan
My local Chinese does an amazing vegetable Singapore chow mein. They also do a great vegetable curry too. But I prefer the chow mein.
Depending on where the chefs at your local are from, understanding may vary. When I lived in China I worked with a vegetarian guy, and the locals never understood it at all. The way around it to make them get it was to say ‘like a monk’ and the staff understood and cooked meals accordingly.
I always order vegetarian chow mein with satay sauce. I’ve tried others but this is the one I always come back to.
I’ve found that it really depends on the restaurant as to what veggie options are good – my local Chinese takeaway has a large vegetarian/vegan menu and everything I’ve had so far has been great, but when I’ve ordered dishes with the same name from other takeaways they’ve been disappointing. Particular favourites from my local have been “chicken” chow mein, “duck” pancakes and tofu in black bean sauce.
I noticed from your post history that you’ve got some connection to Norwich. Get yourself to Falafel & Friends on the market – despite the name, a lot of the menu is East Asian and it’s all vegetarian.
Aubergine in black bean sauce, it will change your life
Just ask them, people could suggest things that their local place sells but there’s no guarantee yours will have the same vegetables in. Just ask what sauces they have that are veggie friendly and I’m sure they will make you something.
Hey OP, you know prawns aren’t a vegetable … right?!
Singapore noodles/chow mein. As a meat eater, it’s still the first dish on my list. Large tray, mild spice and absolutely delicious.
I like tofu in black bean sauce or tofu with mixed veg. I’ve found that if you go for a lot of veggie dishes then they just chuck in extra spice, so these work for me!
I doubt a takeaway will have this dish but morning glory stir fried in fermented bean curd if you ever get a chance to try it
Salt and pepper aubergine or sechzuan aubergine is the tits. I’m not veggie but will often get this for main. If you like tofu also salt and pepper/chilli tofu is nice.
Tofu and Black bean sauce is my go to.
Tofu and peppers in black bean sauce, tofu with cashews, and salt and chilli tofu are my faves. If I’m getting the salt and chilli tofu sometimes I get a little pot of curry sauce on the side with my rice for some added moisture
Vegetables in salt and chilli pepper
Mushroom egg foo yung
Deep fried vegetables with chilli and garlic
Mushrooms in satay sauce
Vegetables in garlic butter
Singapore vegetable chow mein
Loads of great veggie dishes being suggested so I thought I’d list some of them:
– Salt and pepper tofu
– Szechuan tofu
– Kung Pao Chicken made with seitan
– Tofu with black bean sauce
– Egg rolls
– Spring rolls
– Salt and pepper aubergine
– Sechzuan aubergine
– Veg chow mein
– Salt and chilli tofu
– Mapo tofu (minus the pork)
– Vegetarian Kung Po
– Fried tofu & peppers in black bean sauce
– Tofu and cashews in yellow bean sauce
– Aubergine in black bean sauce
– Vegetable Singapore chow mein
– “Chicken” chow mein
– “Duck” pancakes
– Tofu in black bean sauce
– Mushroom chow mein
– Morning glory stir fried in fermented bean curd
Also a recommendation for M&S vegan prawn crackers.