Dairy Free Chinese Food without cheese is surprisingly hard to find in almost any restaurant, but thankfully some great websites offer vegan and dairy-free recipes.
From tofu dishes like General Tso’s Tofu to eggplant with sesame paste, these vegan Chinese recipes will surely dazzle your taste buds and have you craving more.
What is Dairy Free Chinese Food?
Dairy-free Chinese food uses dairy (milk, cheese, and cream) taken out of certain Chinese dishes. Substituting these ingredients is usually just swapping out soy milk for cow’s milk.
What are Some Tofu Dishes?
Some great tofu dishes that are good with a more traditional recipe style would be General Tso’s Tofu, Sesame Tofu, and the Crispy Mapo Tofu.
General Tso’s Tofu
The original General Tso’s Chicken is created by Tei-An restaurant in Manhattan, New York City, in the 1980s. It features chicken chunks fried and then coated with a tangy sauce flavored with egg, rice vinegar, and chili peppers.
The sauce is believed to have been created in Taiwan and brought to the United States by immigrants. The dish later became popularized by Chef Peng Chang-Kuei after he also moved to New York City.
How to make Dairy Free Chinese Food
Ingredients:
- Sesame oil – 1 tbsp
- Cornstarch – 1 tbsp (for thickening the sauce)
- Vegetable oil – 2 tbsp
- Soy sauce – 3 tbsp
- Rice vinegar – 3 tbsp (reduce to 2 if you prefer a less intense vinegar taste)
- Chili sauce – 1 tsp (or more if you like spicy food or want to reduce the soy sauce taste)
- Garlic powder – ½ tsp or more (to taste)
- Black pepper powder – ½ tsp or more (to.
Directions:
Step 1: Warm 1 tbsp of sesame oil in a large skillet.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in another skillet over medium-high heat.
Step 3: Add the chicken pieces and sauté for about 3 minutes on each side (adding the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil if needed).
Step 4: Add all the sauce ingredients to a blender, including half a cup of water.
Step 5: Blend the mixture until smooth, transfer the sauce to a large bowl and whisk in the cornstarch.
Step 6: Add the sauce to the skillet and heat it over medium-low heat (by which time, it should thicken a bit. Reduce heat if needed).
Step 7: Pour the sauce over your stir-fry chicken pieces, and Enjoy!
Best 7 Healthy Benefits of Dairy Free Chinese Food
1. Dairy Free Chinese Food can get you into the habit of eating more vegetables and rice (both are important in dieting)
2. Dairy Free Chinese Food is an easy way to increase your intake of potassium and vitamin C, which benefit your eyes, skin, bone growth, and heart health
3. Dairy Free Chinese Food is healthy for you because it has more protein than regular American cuisine
4. Dairy Free Chinese Food contains fewer calories than most other options, which makes it good for people who are trying to lose weight
5. Dairy Free Chinese Food is healthy for you because of the whole food ingredients that are used, which leads to more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
6. Dairy Free Chinese Food can help you lose weight because of the low calories and high protein content
7. Dairy Free Chinese Food is low in salt and cholesterol, so that it can be good for your blood pressure
Vegan Reactions to Dairy Free Chinese Food
Many people have gone vegan because they fear dairy products are bad for them. This is not true. A vegan diet can be just as healthy and nutritious as a non-vegan diet.
Some vegans say that dairy products are great for them and are even more nutrient-rich than regular milk, which is a plus for those who are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein.
Some vegans that only eat dairy-free Chinese food say that the soy milk easily gets old after a while, but they still believe in the health benefits of eating vegan Chinese food daily. Heat some of your favorite Chinese dishes today!
Is sweet and Sour chicken dairy free
Yes, it is. The chicken you will find in sweet and sour chicken is not real. It’s a concoction made of cornstarch, water, vegetable oil, and flavorings.
The sauce in the “chicken” portion of sweet and sour is made of pineapple juice, vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar. The meat that goes with it is white meat which may have come from a farm animal, but the recipe itself is dairy free.
How does sweet and sour fish taste without milk?
My family loved eating sweet and sour fish as a kid. I remember it being delicious. I tried making it again, using soy sauce, and it tasted terrible. It turned out very salty. I don’t know how to make it without milk, but it will likely taste salty.
The good news is that there are other dishes out there that are dairy free and still taste incredibly delicious. You can always try another dish if you can’t find a dairy-free sweet and sour fish recipe you like.
Conclusion
Dairy free Chinese food is not only vegan, but it’s also healthier than non-dairy Chinese dishes because soy milk is a much better replacement for cow’s milk than cow’s milk itself.
Furthermore, dairy free Chinese food can be a good way to try new dishes instead of old favorites. So take advantage of having more options, and enjoy your rice and vegetables with a side of delicious tofu.
FAQ
Is Chinese food dairy free?
Yes, it can be. If you’re avoiding cow’s milk, you’ll want to stick with tofu and vegetable dishes or egg dishes with no dairy in them. You can also eliminate the dairy in sauces by replacing them with soy sauce.
How do you make sweet and sour chicken without milk?
It’s possible to make sweet and sour chicken without milk, but it won’t taste like the classic sweet and sour you’re used to.
Does Chinese cooking use dairy?
Yes, they use milk and cream in many Chinese dishes. These are not vegan. As with most cuisines, you’ll have to be careful what you’re eating is dairy free.
Are key ingredients in Chinese food vegan?
Yes, many of the more common ingredients are vegan. They include soy sauce, rice wine and vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and onion powder. Even condiments you can use to coat your dishes are safe for a vegan diet. Some brands of traditional Chinese food are made without dairy or gluten ingredients.
