15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (2024)

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With lots of veggies, spices, and of course heaps of peanut sauce, there's a lotto love about Thai cuisine. But the best part? It's SO vegan and vegetarian friendly! Here are 15 delicious vegan Thai recipes you need to try!

15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (1)

I'm about to make a bold statement: Thai food is my absolute favorite. I have lots of favorites (so much good food in the world!) but I'm pretty sure Thai is up there at the top.

So, what's so special about Thai cuisine? First off, so much flavor! It's all about the spices, and delicious Thai dishes come in both mild and spicy varieties, but all are full of flavor. And the richness. With loads of peanuts, cashews and coconut milk, Thai cuisine always feels like a super indulgent treat.

But what I love the most is how so many Thai dishes are either vegan by default or easily veganized.

Watch out though — lots of seemingly vegan Thai dishes you'll see on restaurant menus actually contain fish sauce or shrimp paste other non-vegan seasonings. The solution: cook your own. Here are 15 delicious vegan Thai recipes to get started with!

Golden Spring Vegetable Thai Curry

This spin on yellow curry packs in the veggies, with asparagus, bell peppers and golden potatoes. Feel free to switch it up by using your favorites, or whatever happens to be in season. Get the recipe here.

Northern Style Thai Coconut Soup

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Spicy Thai red curry paste is the perfect way to season up this creamy coconut milk-based soup from Choosing Chia. Get the recipe here.

Thai Massaman Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Tofu

With lots of spices and a heavy hit of peanut butter, massaman curry is a proven crowd pleaser. This vegan curry puts a twist on traditional versions with the inclusion of sweet potatoes.Get the recipe here.

Easy Vegan Pad Thai

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Swap tofu for meat and miso paste for fish sauce to make this veganized version of a Thai classic from My Darling Vegan.Get the recipe here.

Thai Red Curry with Tofu and Eggplant

I couldn't call a collection of vegan Thai recipes complete without everyone's favorite! Red curry packs in the heat and goes great with crispy tofu and eggplant in this easy vegan stew.Get the recipe here.

Thai Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

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Crispy veggies and fresh herbs make these healthy spring rolls from Yummy Mummy Kitchen as pretty as they are delicious.Get the recipe here.

Thai Lemongrass Soup

This refreshing soup is made with a gingery lemongrass broth, tofu, shiitake mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes. It's full of flavor and light enough to be enjoyed year round.Get the recipe here.

Seitan Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce

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Yes, this dish is vegan! Seitan makes an amazing meat substitute in these spicy Thai skewers from Sunny Side Hanne.Get the recipe here.

Red curry paste and a splash of coconut milk serve as a spicy stir-fry sauce in this easy vegan spin on a Thai favorite.Get the recipe here.

Thai Mango Sticky Rice Summer Rolls

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Like savory summer rolls? It's time to try this sweet version from Quite Good Food. These rolls are stuffed with fresh mint, juicy mango slices, and creamy coconut rice.Get the recipe here.

Cilantro, basil and jalapeño peppers pack the flavor into the homemade vegan green curry paste that's used to season up this spicy stew.Get the recipe here.

Vegan Thai Basil Fried Rice

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Have you ever had Thai basil? It's warmer and spicier than the Italian basil most of us are used to. Get your hands on some so you can make this flavor-packed Thai fried rice from Vegan Richa.Get the recipe here.

Five Spice Drunken Noodles

...and if you absolutely can't get ahold of some Thai basil, try this hack: use regular basil and add a bit of Chinese five spice. The flavor profile is similar and it works great in these vegan drunken noodles.Get the recipe here.

Thai Green Papaya Salad with Tofu

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Be sure to use unripe (green) papaya for this salad: it needs to be nice and firm so you can shred it. Recipe from May I Have That Recipe.Get the recipehere.

Portobello Panang Curry

Panang curry is basically red curry with the addition of some peanut butter. So basically the best idea ever. This vegan version uses portobello mushrooms in place of the steak you'd find in many traditional versions.Get the recipe here.

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15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (17)

About Alissa Saenz

Hi, I'm Alissa! I'm a former attorney turned professional food blogger. I love creating vegan recipes with bold flavors! You can read more about me here.

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Comments

  1. 15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (18)Hanne says

    I am completely inspired to have a Thai themed summer party now. My boy is currently in Thailand living in a monastery and out of contact for a few months. Each morning he and another monk walk (barefoot) through the countryside to a village where they are given a bit of food to take back to the other two monks.
    Thank you for including my Seitan Satay recipe. xox

    Reply

    • 15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (19)Alissa Saenz says

      That's so cool! I hope to make it to Thailand some day. :) And your seitan satay sounds absolutely delicious!!

      Reply

  2. 15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (20)Sylvia Ramos says

    Hi, all of these recipes look great! Can you do a best Japanese vegan recipes post?

    Reply

    • 15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (21)Alissa Saenz says

      Thank you! I will add vegan Japanese recipes to my list - thanks for the idea!

      Reply

  3. 15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (22)Maria Garcia-Rojas says

    Thank you Alyssa for all the wonderful vegan dishes. I use your recipes all the time and my husbands loves them too!

    Reply

    • 15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (23)Alissa Saenz says

      Thanks so much Maria! I'm so glad you're enjoying them!

      Reply

  4. 15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (24)Nancy says

    I made asil fried rice recipe, taste was so good.

    Reply

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15 Essential Vegan Thai Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What Thai dish is vegan? ›

19 Scrumptious Vegan Thai Recipes
  • Easy Curry Noodles with Veggies. ...
  • Vegan Pad Thai with Tofu. ...
  • Thai Vegetable Noodle Soup. ...
  • Thai Rice Salad Bowls. ...
  • Thai Red Curry Sauce. ...
  • Thai Green Curry Rice. ...
  • Thai Fruit Skewers with Coconut and Lime. ...
  • Easy Thai Noodles.
Feb 9, 2022

Are most Thai curries vegan? ›

Many of these curries are made using shrimp or fish paste and are cooked with meat or seafood BUT they are also made with plenty of vegetables and they can easily be veganized.

What vegetables are used in Thai food? ›

Thai eggplant and pea eggplant are also traditional vegetables that are often served in red and green curries. In addition, ingredients such as pak choi, daikon, Chinese broccoli, beansprouts, lotus root, bamboo shoots and even long beans are very often used in Thai cuisine, including many Thai vegetable side dishes.

Which island in Thailand is the most vegan friendly? ›

Thailand, renowned for its breathtaking islands and vibrant culture, has become a hotspot for travellers seeking diverse experiences. Amongst these gems, Koh Phangan stands out as a haven for vegans, offering not just natural beauty but also a plethora of plant-based delights.

What is the Thai symbol for vegan? ›

By using gin jae when ordering food, the locals will be able to understand that you don't want them to add fish sauce, meat based broth, and other non-vegan ingredients to your food. Also be on the lookout for the Jae symbol. The symbol looks like a 17 and is always written in red on a yellow background.

What is the white vegetable in Thai food? ›

Even if it doesn't have as high a profile as cabbage or Chinese broccoli, no discussion of the vegetables used in Thai kitchens is complete without mention of the long, white root vegetable known in Thai as <i>hua pakad</i> or <i>hua chai thao</i>.

Is vegan food common in Thailand? ›

Thailand is known for its delicious food, and, in general, it is also a country that is quite vegan-friendly. The abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables makes it easy to find vegan options, and the use of coconut milk and tofu as substitutes for animal products is common in many traditional dishes.

How do you ask for vegan in Thai? ›

Useful Thai phrases
  1. Vegetarian: mungsawirat.
  2. Vegan: jay.
  3. I only eat vegetarian/vegan food: di-chan kin jay ka (female) / pom kin jay khap (male)
  4. I only eat vegetables: di-chan kin tae pak ka (female) / pom kin tae pak khap (male)
  5. Restaurant: raan ahaan.
  6. Vegetarian restaurant: raan ahaan mungsawarit/jay.
  7. Fish sauce: nam plaa.

What is the best vegetarian Thai dish? ›

Five Vegetarian Thai Dishes You Must Try
  • Laab Jay (Vegan Laab)
  • Pak Boong (Morning Glory)
  • Pad Phak (Stir-Fried Vegetables)
  • Tao Hoo Song Kreung (Mixed Tofu)
  • Som Tum (Papaya Salad)
Aug 21, 2019

Which curry is usually vegan? ›

Common vegan-friendly North Indian curries are chana masala (chickpea curry in a ginger tomato garlic sauce), aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower in a ginger garlic turmeric sauce), and aloo matar (potatoes and peas in a spiced tomato sauce).

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