Published . Updated
From kimchi to noodles, this list features a nice variety of recipes for your Korean vegan table or healthy eating!
Even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, these recipes are perfect for incorporating more plant-based foods to your diet for a healthier New Year.
If you think Korean food is all about BBQ meat and fried chicken, think again! Traditionally, Korean cuisine relies heavily on grains, legumes, and vegetables. Meat was scarce, so our ancestors didn’t eat so much meat as we do in modern days.
Also, Korean temple cooking is entirely plant-based, using seasonal ingredients which are mostly grown in temple grounds or harvested from fields and mountains. No meat or seafood is allowed! Because of the long history of Buddhism in Korea, temple cuisine (사찰음식) is deeply incorporated into traditional Korean cuisine.
For these reasons, so many classic Korean dishes are naturally vegan (or vegetarian) or can easily be veganized!
For more vegan side dishes, check out my 15 Korean Vegetable Side Dishes.
1. Vegan Kimchi
2. Nabak Kimchi (Mild Water Kimchi)
3. Beoseot Gangjeong (Sweet Crispy Mushrooms)
4. Hobak Buchim (Zucchini Pancake)
5. Gamjajeon (Potatoe Pancakes)
6. Zucchini Dumplings with Mushrooms (Hobak Mandu)
7. Dubu Jorim (Braised Tofu)
8. Oi Muchim (Spicy Cucumber Salad)
9. Gamja Jorim (Braised Potatoes)
10. Eggplant Rolls (Gaji mari)
11. Tofu Gimbap
12. Kongnamul Japchae
Or simply omit the meat from my classic Japchae recipe.
13. Tofu bibimbap
Or simply omit the meat and egg from my classic Bibimbap recipe.
14. Deulkkae Soondubu Jjigae (Soft Tofu Stew with Perilla Seeds)
15. Beoseot Jeongol (Mushroom Hotpot)
16. Mu Doenjangguk (Radish Soybean Paste Soup)
17. Kimchi Bibim Guksu
Also try my classic Bibim Guksu without the optional egg.
18. Stir-fried lotus roots with peppers and mushrooms
You may also like soy braised lotus roots (Yeongeun Jorim).
19. Miyeok Muchim (Seaweed Salad)
20. Jangajji (Vegetable Pickles)
More vegan recipes
Oi Naengguk (Chilled Cucumber Soup)
Dongchimi (Radish Water Kimchi)
Kongguksu(Chilled Soy Milk Noodle Soup)
Oiji (Korean Pickcled Cucumbers)
Yeongeun Jorim (Sweet Soy Braised Lotus Roots)
Doraji Namul (Sautéed Bellflower Roots)
Chwinamul Bokkeum (Stir-fried Aster Scaber)
Danpatjuk (Sweet Red Bean Porridge)
Hobakjuk (Pumpkin Porridge)
This list of Korean vegan recipes was originally posted in January 2021. I’ve updated it here with more recipes for 2024.
You may also like:
- Yeongeun jorim (Sweet Soy Braised Lotus Roots)
- Oi Naengguk (Chilled Cucumber Soup)
- Jaengban Guksu (Cold Noodles and Vegetables)
- Kongguksu (Chilled Soy Milk Noodle Soup)
« Sundubu Gyeran Guk (Soft Tofu and Egg Soup)
LA Galbi (Korean BBQ Short Ribs) »
Reader Interactions
Comments
Lea says
Thank you for these! I recently moved across the country and I don’t get to have my grandmother’s Korean food anymore so I am really excited to try these to cure some homesickness.
Reply
craig wier says
Lovely new site…
Reply
mio says
Thank you very much for these wonderful recipes.
I tried #4 and #7 tonight – both were so delicious. The recipe instruction is also very clear as well. I appreciate your taking your time to prepare them.
I plan to make rest of the items on this page!Reply
Adhira says
this was really helpful for me cause I am a vegetarian (vegan) and I also got know more about korean food
Reply
Huiying Chin says
I love all your recipes!! Thank you for making these super yummy vegan versions of my favorite korean side dishes
Reply
liz says
I’m so excited to find this page. I’ve been happily making your Hobak Gochujang Jigae without the crab for a couple of years now. I’ll explore these now happily too. Thank you!
Reply
Bkhuna says
This is the year where I have begun the journey of eating more plant based food into my diet. I lived in the Tokyo metropolitan area for 11 years when I was in my 30’s and was much healthier. I also made frequent trips to Korea and fell in love with the food.
Unfortunately, in the last 20 years, my diet and my health issues have deteriorated to the point that I’m an overweight Westerner with high blood pressure, gout, and type 2 diabetes.
I was inspired to do something about it when I watched the documentary “Miso Hungry”. I remembered back to the healthier times when I enjoyed the many varieties of tofu, seaweed, miso, pickles and fish.
Thank you for these recipes. I look forward to trying each of them and incorporating them into my life.
Reply
Ae3nn says
While some of these recipes are vegan, quite a few are vegetarian but not vegan. Vegetarian refers to dishes which don’t contain any meat. Vegan means that they don’t contain any animal products, including eggs, milk, and honey.
Reply
Hyosun says
Hmm which ones have eggs, milk, and/or honey? The only thing I meant to correct for a vegan recipe was hobak buchim, but forgot to do before posting this. It’s been corrected to omit the egg for a vegan version. Please let me know the specific ones you see so I can fix any mistakes. Thanks.
Reply
AE3nn says
That was the one I noticed. Glad it has been corrected!
Reply
