Here’s a fun way to infuse loads of veggies into your life: this tasty Vegan Stir Fry! This mess of vibrant vegetables is just as tasty as it looks. It’s all smothered in a tangy, zingy vegan stir fry sauce that you’ll want to drizzle on just about everything. We love serving with soba noodles, but it’s just as tasty with rice. It’s tricky to find a stand-out stir fry (we think): and this one checks all the boxes.
Ingredients in this vegan stir fry recipe
Want to make a next-level vegan stir fry? You’ll need four components: veggies, protein, stir fry sauce, and noodles (or rice). Here we’ve used all our favorite stir fry vegetables, but of course you can get creative and add or substitute whatever you have on hand. Here’s what you’ll need for this vegan stir fry recipe:
Tempeh (or substitute tofu; see below) Bell peppers Baby bella (cremini) or white mushrooms Shiitake mushrooms (optional) Broccoli Green onions Sesame oil Sesame seeds Soba noodles
We love adding shiitake mushrooms to the mix here: they add even more savory, complex flavor to the mix. However, they’re totally optional! You can also omit the mushrooms entirely if you’re not a mushroom lover, but they do add quite a bit of savory umami to this vegan recipe.
Working with tempeh
Tempeh is a great protein option for a vegan stir fry. Though we often use tofu like in our Tofu Stir Fry, here we opted for tofu’s lesser known but just as delicious cousin. Here are a few notes on working with this ingredient:
Tempeh is a compressed cake of whole soybeans. It can sometimes include seeds like millet or grains like wheat, rice, or barley (many brands are gluten-free). Tempeh originated in Indonesia in the 1500s and is common in Southeast Asian cuisine. It has a hearty texture and slightly nutty flavor. How is it different from tofu? Tempeh is much firmer than tofu and has a flavor of its own, whereas tofu is very soft and flavorless without adding ingredients. Can you use tofu here? Yes! Use the method in this Tofu Stir Fry, then use the method for making the stir fry vegetables here.
For the vegan stir fry sauce
Need a great vegan stir fry sauce? This one is a new favorite of ours, though our Easy Stir Fry Sauce is also a go-to (and vegan). It uses peanut butter for some extra creaminess and hearty flavor, and a few of the more expected stir fry sauce ingredients. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
Creamy peanut butter (unsweetened) Water Rice vinegar Soy sauce (or tamari) Maple syrup Garlic Fresh ginger root Cornstarch
The fresh ginger might not be something you have on hand, but it’s worth seeking out! Fresh ginger adds a spicy, complex undertone that’s not easy to replicate (even with ground dried ginger). A tip for working with it? Use a spoon to peel off the skin, then grate it using a microplane grater.
Extra stir fry vegetable ideas
Want to add more vegetables to this vegan stir fry? It’s simple to customize to your tastes and what you have on hand. Just keep in mind: the amount of sauce is customized for the amount of vegetables, so don’t add too many additional veggies. Also, if you have too many vegetables to the pan at once, they will steam instead of stir fry and be soggy instead of crisp tender. Here are a few other vegetable ideas for a stir fry, including cook times:
Onion (6 to 7 minutes) Carrots, thinly sliced or matchsticks (6 to 7 minutes) Cabbage, thinly sliced (3 to 5 minutes) Snap peas or snow peas (3 to 5 minutes) Bok choy, chopped (3 to 5 minutes) Zucchini or summer squash (3 to 5 minutes) Edamame, frozen and shelled (3 to 5 minutes) Water chestnuts (2 minutes)
Let us know if you try this vegan stir fry, and what veggies you use.
A note on serving size
This vegan stir fry recipe has a relatively modest serving size. We found it made about 3 servings. If you have 4 very hungry eaters, add a side dish or consider making 1.5 or double the recipe. If you double the recipe, make sure to stir fry the vegetables in two batches so they don’t steam instead of stir fry.
More vegan recipes
Looking for more plant-based inspiration? Try these vegan recipes:
Make Vegan Crab Cakes with Vegan Tartar Sauce Try crowd-pleasing Vegan Eggplant Parmesan Make a Crispy Tofu Bowl or Tofu Fried Rice, or give Marinated Tempeh a try Whip up Tofu Broccoli Stir Fry or Vegan Broccoli Soup Make our fan favorite Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies or Vegan Oatmeal Cookies Make a Vegan Chickpea Curry or Sweet Potato Curry Go for Ultimate Vegan Chili
This vegan stir fry recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free. 5 from 3 reviews
1 8 ounce package tempeh, thinly sliced then cut into bite sized pieces 2 bell peppers, sliced 8 ounces baby bella or white mushrooms, sliced 3 ½ ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced (optional) 4 cups chopped broccoli florets (1 large or 2 small crowns) 4 green onions, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided Kosher salt Sesame seeds, for the garnish 3 ounces soba noodles, to serve
For the stir fry sauce
¼ cup unsweetened creamy peanut butter ¼ cup water 2 tablespoons rice vinegar 2 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari) 2 tablespoons maple syrup 1 medium garlic clove, grated 2 teaspoons fresh ginger root, grated 2 teaspoons cornstarch
