Chinese fried noodles (like Chow Mein or Lo Mein) are often not vegan because the noodles themselves usually contain eggs, and sauces frequently use non-vegan ingredients like oyster or fish sauce, but you can find or make vegan versions by checking labels for egg-free noodles and using soy sauce, vegetarian oyster sauce, or hoisin sauce. Always ask at restaurants or check recipes for egg-free noodles (wheat/rice/mung bean) and vegan sauces.
Authentic Chinese/Cantonese lo mein is not vegan-friendly because it's made with egg noodles and meat. The good news is that lo mein recipes are very flexible, so you can easily swap the traditional ingredients for plant-based alternatives, like rice noodles and lots of extra veggies or tofu.
Common vegan dishes in China
They're basically deep-fried egg noodles (or fried wonton wrappers or egg roll wrappers). Golden brown and crunchy, they're often served in little wooden bowls as a restaurant appetizer with duck sauce and Chinese hot mustard on the side.
Noodles and Rice
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The term 'chow mein' means 'stir-fried noodles', also loosely translated as "fried noodles" in English, chow (Chinese: 炒; pinyin: chǎo) meaning 'stir-fried' (or "sautéed") and mein (simplified Chinese: 面; traditional Chinese: 麵; pinyin: Miàn) meaning "noodles".
Egg, lye, and cereal may also be added to noodles made from wheat flour in order to give the noodles a different color or flavor. Egg whites, arrowroot or tapioca starch are sometimes added to the flour mixture in low quantities to change the texture and tenderness of the noodles' strands.
Lucky Boat No. 1 Thick Noodles are a staple in Chinese Restaurants and Takeaways in the UK. Perfect for stir-fries, salads and curries, the noodles are versatile whilst also providing excellent mouthfeel and taste. The noodles are firm and elastic, separate easily with no clumping, so there is no waste.
Miley Cyrus stopped being strictly vegan because she experienced health issues, feeling malnourished and that her brain wasn't functioning properly after six years on the diet, leading her to reintroduce fish and omegas for better brain function, though she still values animal welfare. She noted feeling "much sharper" and healthier after adding animal products like fish back into her diet, which was a difficult transition emotionally, but a necessary one for her body.
10 Primarily Vegan Cultures/Cuisines
However "素sù" is often used interchangeably to mean both vegan and vegetarian in Chinese. Are there words that are more precise? Technically yes... 1️⃣纯素 chún sù OR 全素 quán sù are generally understood to mean no animal ingredients (including gelatin, dairy, eggs, honey...)
Many types of noodles are vegan by default because they are made from plant-based flour. The main exception is egg noodles.
Ramen, udon, somen, soba, glass noodles, naengmyeon, and rice noodles are all typically made vegan-friendly, but naturally, there may be some variation between brands so always check the ingredients list just to be safe!
Traditionally, soy sauce includes just the four core ingredients – soybeans, salt, wheat, and water – making it suitable for vegans. While there are a variety of different ways of making soy sauce, the majority use plant-based ingredients and processes.
Lo mein and Chow mein are the most common types of Chinese wheat noodles. The thickness of these two types of noodles is closer to 1/4th of an inch. Both of them are cylindrically shaped and are made with wheat flour and egg. They are available in both fresh and dried varieties.
The main difference is that noodles labeled "Hong Kong" or "pan-fried noodles" are par-cooked in boiling water, which makes them ready to stir-fry. Use this variety for dry stir-fried noodle dishes, like this stir-fried chow mein with four vegetables and whenever you want the noodles to be slightly (or very) crispy.
Wonton noodles is a springy egg noodle, usually found in the classic wonton noodle soup. These noodles can also be used in stir fry recipes. Made with wheat flour, eggs, water, cornstarch, potassium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and salt.
Fried crunchy wonton noodles – deep-fried strips of wonton wrappers, served as an appetizer with duck sauce and hot mustard at American Chinese restaurants.
What are those crunchy things in your stir-fry? They're water chestnuts, and they're surprisingly good for you! You probably already know a few things about water chestnuts. They're white and crunchy, and you'll find them in a ton of Asian-style stir fry dishes.
At my local Chinese, they call this Crispy Chow Mein Noodles. It's a Hong Kong / Cantonese style dish, and there are a lot of variations but the core of it is a bed of deep fried crunchy noodles topped with a saucy stir fry.
Miley Cyrus stopped being strictly vegan because she experienced health issues, feeling malnourished and that her brain wasn't functioning properly after six years on the diet, leading her to reintroduce fish and omegas for better brain function, though she still values animal welfare. She noted feeling "much sharper" and healthier after adding animal products like fish back into her diet, which was a difficult transition emotionally, but a necessary one for her body.
The 30-30-30 diet for vegans involves eating 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, followed by 30 minutes of low-intensity cardio (like walking), aiming for fat loss and better metabolism by boosting protein intake and steady exercise early in the day. To make it vegan, focus on soy products (tofu, soy milk), legumes (lentils), nuts, seeds, protein powder, and whole grains for that crucial 30g protein breakfast, pairing it with fruits and healthy fats, and then doing your walk or gentle bike ride after.
Potatoes have a bad rap as an "unhealthy" food -- probably because they're often fried or saturated with butter and oil. But the truth is potatoes absolutely can be part of your healthy plant-based diet.