Japanese Vegetarian Dishes


  • Miso soup – A simple broth soup made of dashi and miso paste. Sometimes veggies and soy tofu are added.
  • Onigiri – Balls of sticky rice, usually bound together with a piece of seaweed and flavored with bonito flakes and miso.
  • Tofu – Tofu is a must in Japanese cooking, and is prepared in many different ways. Sometimes it is grilled, sometimes it is deep friend and served with a sweet miso dipping sauce, and sometimes it is pan fried and served in any number of light sauces. Simmered tofu topped with green onions is also a popular favorite.
  • Egg dishes – If you are a vegetarian who eats eggs, there are many Japanese delicacies to try, from egg pancakes to omelets to sweet egg custard.
  • Noodles – Noodle dishes play an important role in Japanese cooking. Udon noodles, which are made of white flour, and soba noodles, which are made of buckwheat flour, are used in soups and sometimes mixed with veggies, tofu and sauces to form a dish. Sometimes the noodles themselves are deep friend and served with a sweet mirin dipping sauce.
  • Seaweed – Most people are familiar with seaweed used in sushi, but it has many other uses in Japanese cuisine. You’ll find it in seaweed and cucumber salads, seaweed based soups, and deep fried and served on its own.
  • Pickles – The Japanese are known for their pickled vegetables, and they can make great additions for other meals. Some pickles are sweet and some pickles are spicy. The most popular veggies to use in pickles are carrots and cucumbers, though most recipes allow for a little bit of creativity.
  • Stews – Rich stews with veggies, tofu and sometimes seafood like oysters are also popular. Some are served alone, and some are served over noodles and rice.
  • Rice – Rice is a part of almost every Japanese meal. Sometimes it is simple served alone, sometimes with a light sauce, and sometimes it is served with other vegetables, tofu, and other cooked foods as a base.
  • Edamame – These young soybeans are served steamed and seasoned and make a healthy, low calorie, addictive snack.