Vegetarian Fare

Since tomorrow is Wesak Day, some of us might observe a vegetarian fare for the day. We're not as lucky as our PM to have Gordon Ramsay to cook for us on such occasion. So, here's a compilation of vegetarian ideas, recipes and places you can go for some hearty vegetarian food.

For pure vegetarian dishes that do not contain onions, garlic, egg and dairy products, there are Braised Dao Gan (a type of layered beancurd skin), Stir-Fried Kei Chi Mix Vegetables (just sub the oyster sauce with the vegetarian kind), and Stir-Fried Snowpeas and Eryngii Mushrooms (just remove garlic and wine from the recipe). My many versions of Tzai Choy that I normally cooked on the first day of Chinese New Year.



Simple one dish noodles like this fried bee hoon will keep your hunger pangs at bay. Did you know you can cook pak gor meen or Shanghai nian gao into this delicious noodle dish? Have you tried olives leaves? If not, try this Vegetarian Olive Leaves Fried Rice.

No time to cook? No worries, just chuck these yummy Veaty Bites' Pandan "Chicken" Style into your oven. There's a plain version which some cooking need to be done. They're very versatile where you can practically use this in your curry, soup, rendang or how about a tangy sweet and sour style?



Dong Zhi is coming soon and if you're a lover of karn shui tzung/kee chang (Alkaline Glutinous Rice Dumpling), Kawan manufactures a nice frozen mini dumplings. I hope Kawan still makes them today! Kawan also manufacture really good chapati that is great to go with their instant vegetable curry or dhall curry (but do check the label as it might contain garlic and onions).

One of my favourite restaurant that serves really good Chinese vegetarian cuisine is Yin Futt Kuok. Loved their assam fish and yam ring basket here! Check out Gopala Vegetarian Restaurant for some decent Indian and Malaysian vegetarian cuisine. Food in this restaurant are not cooked with onions or garlic as they practice Hare Krishna belief here.



For some new age vegetarian cuisine, one must check out Kechara Oasis. This restaurant has a nice ambiance apart from having a healthy alternative vegetarian food.

When I'm hankering for vegetarian hawker food, I would naturally head to Blue Boy Food Centre. Ah Wah can certainly fry up a mean plate of char kuey teow and it's fantastic to be able to savour yong tau foo, assam laksa, curry laksa, mixed rice, burger and chee cheung fun at this hawker centre.



Trouble finding vegetarian cakes, buns, onigiri and western cuisine? Try MG's Cafe or Tian Yian Cafe & Restaurant!

If you can partake onions, garlic, egg and dairy products, I have some lovely tapas recipes here such as Avocado Dip, Aubergine in Tomato Sauce and Marinaded Mushrooms. EggPlant Fritters with Spiced Yoghurt is a great dish to hide vegetables away from the prying eyes of children. And I have to say, Marcella Hazan's Tomato Sauce is one of the best pasta sauce I've ever tasted.

p/s: plus there's an egg free chocolate cupcake!!!