Best 3 Lo Han Jai Buddhist Vegetarian Stew Recipes

Lo han jai is a traditional Chinese Buddhist vegetarian stew consisting of 18 different types of dried ingredients and often served during special occasions or festivals. It symbolizes good luck, fortune, and longevity, and each ingredient has a special meaning and significance. The stew is typically made with a variety of vegetables, mushrooms, and nuts, and is often served with rice or noodles. Lo han jai is also believed to have medicinal properties and is said to be good for the digestion and overall health. If you're looking for a flavorful and auspicious dish to serve at your next gathering, lo han jai is a great option.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT (VEGETARIAN LO HAN JAI)

Buddha's Delight (Vegetarian Lo Han Jai) image

Buddha's delight, or lo han jai, is a vegetarian dish well-known in Chinese and Buddhist cuisine. Use our family recipe for an authentic take on this dish.

Provided by Bill

Categories Fish and Seafood

Time 1h15m

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

2 tablespoons canola oil
3 slices fresh ginger
3 tablespoons red fermented bean curd ((hong fu ru))
3 cloves garlic ((sliced))
1 medium leek ((cut into 2 inch pieces))
5 dried shiitake mushrooms ((soaked in warm water and sliced))
¼ cup dried wood ears ((soaked in warm water; yields about 1 cup))
¼ cup dried lily flowers ((soaked in warm water with the tips cut off))
2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine
3 cups Napa cabbage ((cut into 2-inch pieces))
1 cup fried tofu puffs
2 sticks dried bean threads ((soaked in warm water and cut into 2-inch pieces))
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1 cup water or vegetable stock
1 small bundle mung bean noodles ((soaked in warm water, drained and cut into shorter pieces with kitchen shears))

Steps:

Heat your wok over medium-high heat, and add the oil and ginger. Let the ginger caramelize for about 30 seconds without letting it burn. Add the red fermented bean curd and break it up with your spatula. Add the garlic, the white portions of the leeks (reserve to green portion for later), mushrooms, wood ears, and lily flowers. Stir fry for 1 minute. Add the Shaoxing wine and stir fry for another minute.
Next, add the napa cabbage, fried tofu, and bean threads, and crank up the heat as high as it will go. Stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the remaining green portion of the leeks, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar and water or vegetable stock. Stir everything together, cover the wok, and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Uncover the wok and turn the heat back up to high. Add the mung bean noodles, which should soak up most of the liquid. Keep stirring until most of the liquid has evaporated. Transfer to a large bowl and serve with steamed rice!

LO HAN JAI - BUDDHIST VEGETARIAN STEW

Lo Han Jai - Buddhist Vegetarian Stew image

Lo Han Jai, also known as "Buddhist Vegetarian Stew," is traditionally served on the first day of the lunar Chinese New Year, to cleanse the body. Since ingredients for Lo Han Jai are not easily available in most food markets, this is a simplified version. Although the list of ingredients appear lengthy, once everything is gathered, the cooking is easy. This recipe comes from the Wok Wiz (San Francisco, CA) website and is copyrighted by Wok Wiz -- the URL is http://www.wokwiz.com/recipes/lo_han_jai.html

Provided by Gandalf The White

Categories Stew

Time 40m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 16

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
8 Chinese black mushrooms
1/2 cup dried black fungus (cloud ears)
1/2 cup bamboo shoot, sliced
8 fresh water chestnuts, peeled and cut into quarters
1 carrot, peeled & julienned lengthwise
2 cups napa cabbage, torn into small pieces
1 cup vegetable broth or 1 cup chicken broth
2 ounces rice noodles (bean thread, Chinese vermicelli)
1 cup firm tofu, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8 snow peas
2 cups fresh bean sprouts
2 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium preferred)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons cold water
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Steps:

Soak the mushrooms in hot water for 10 minutes; squeeze out the excess water; then remove stems and leave the mushrooms whole. Reserve the soaking water.
Soak the cloud ears in warm water until soft (about 10 minutes), then cut into smaller pieces.
Boil the bean thread in water to cover for 5 minutes, then drain.
To prep the snow peas, remove the strings, then cut into thin slivers.
Mix the water and cornstarch to form a slurry for thickening. The cornstarch will continue to settle out, so you'll need to stir this again just before you use it.
Heat wok until smoky. Add vegetable oil. Stir-fry mushrooms, cloud ears, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, carrot, cabbage and cook for 3-4 minutes over high heat.
Add bean thread and broth. Cover and cook for 5 minutes over low heat.
Add tofu, bean sprouts, snow peas and soy sauce. Cover and simmer for two minutes.
Stir the water and cornstarch mixture, then add to the pan to form a light gravy, adjusting if necessary.
Drizzle with sesame oil.
Note: Traditional Lo Han Jai ingredients include: ginkgo nuts, lotus root, dried oysters, lily stems, seaweed hair, fried tofu, and dried bean curd sticks. If you live near an oriental market, you may be able to get these; if not, this simplified recipe will give you a sense of the dish.

VEGETARIAN IRISH STEW

Vegetarian Irish Stew image

Make and share this Vegetarian Irish Stew recipe from Food.com.

Provided by That is Dr House to

Categories Stew

Time 30m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

Ingredients

2 medium onions
1/4 cup unbleached flour
4 cups water
2 cups mushrooms, thickly sliced
1 cup carrots or 1 cup parsnip, sliced
1 cup turnips or 1 cup rutabaga
1 cup celery, diced
1/2 cup split red lentils
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/4 cup Braggs liquid aminos or 1/4 cup soy sauce
3 vegetable bouillon cubes
1 bay leaf
2 teaspoons marmite
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
1/4 teaspoon marjoram
pepper
1 cup textured vegetable protein, chunks

Steps:

In a large, lightly oiled pot steam fry the onion until it begins to soften [that means cook it in a bit of water] Add flour and stir around completely.
Add the remaining ingredients, mix well, bring to boil. Cover and simmer on low for 30 minutes or until vegetables are done.
Taste and season.
Note: The turnips should be large dice. The carrots round sliced. You may use other yeast extract than marmite.
Also look in speciality or finer food stores for the Marmite. It is a British product. I find mine in Wegmans in PA/NY.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 117.4, Fat 0.5, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 54, Carbohydrate 22.8, Fiber 7.3, Sugar 5.2, Protein 6.5

Tips for Making a Perfect Lo Han Jai

- Use a variety of vegetables: Lo Han Jai is all about the vegetables, so make sure to use a variety of colors, textures, and flavors. Some good options include carrots, celery, bell peppers, mushrooms, and bok choy. - Cut the vegetables into uniform pieces: This will help them cook evenly. - Blanch the vegetables: Blanching helps to brighten the colors of the vegetables and keep them crisp. To blanch, bring a pot of water to a boil and then add the vegetables. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender-crisp. Then, drain the vegetables and rinse them with cold water. - Use a flavorful broth: The broth is what gives Lo Han Jai its flavor, so make sure to use a good one. A vegetable broth or chicken broth both work well. - Add some protein: If you want to add some protein to your Lo Han Jai, you can add tofu, tempeh, or seitan. - Serve with rice or noodles: Lo Han Jai is traditionally served with rice or noodles.

Conclusion

Lo Han Jai is a delicious and healthy Buddhist vegetarian stew that is perfect for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. With its variety of vegetables, flavorful broth, and optional protein, Lo Han Jai is a dish that everyone can enjoy. So next time you're looking for a hearty and flavorful soup, give Lo Han Jai a try!