Vegan Noodles: 8 Plant-Based Recipes From Around the World

No matter where you grew up, there’s nothing like digging into a bowl filled with oodles of noodles. From the texture to the taste to the slurpable shape, noodles are a favorite in cultures around the world. While noodles might be paired with meaty ingredients, it’s by no means the standard anymore. 

There are plenty of options for enjoying this classic comfort food while keeping it plant-based. (Bonus: You can also keep it low-carb and high-protein with just a few simple tweaks.) From Asian-inspired recipes like Korean japchae to a bowl of classic Mexican fideo to a Middle Eastern stir-fry, we’re sharing some temptingly good ideas for making homemade vegan noodle dishes. 

A Word About Vegan Noodles

When it comes to noodles, the good news is that many of them are naturally free from any animal ingredients. Of course, there are also plenty of noodles that are made with egg or milk, so read the ingredient list before buying. A growing number of popular vegan noodles are made from chickpeas or lentils, which can be decent if you don’t mind the high carb count. 

For vegan noodles that are also low in carbs, people often turn to spiralized veggies (everything from zucchini to carrots to sweet potato). But let’s be honest — it can be a tedious process trying to drain all the liquid from these vegetable noodles and they usually end up soggy.

That’s partly why we came up with immi noodles. Low-carb, high-protein, and entirely plant-based, these vegan noodles aren’t only good for you, but they have familiar texture and taste as the old-school versions you’ve always loved. To get your hands on the good stuff, be sure to sign up for our email list because we’re rolling out these noodles ASAP.

8 Delicious Recipes Using Vegan Noodles 

Don’t have a ton of time or culinary skills? No problem. We promise you won’t have to crack open a cookbook (or make endless trips to the grocery store) to make these easy vegan recipes come to life. Whether you’re in the mood for vibrant pad Thai, a spicy Italian spaghetti dish, or a bowl of creamy Japanese ramen, these vegan recipes will keep your taste buds happy without forcing you to spend hours in the kitchen. 

Don’t forget: Although these recipes feature a variety of different noodles, immi’s low-carb, high-protein noodles are a tasty and nutritious option that will work seamlessly in all of them.

1. Avocado Miso Ramen Topped With Avocado Tempura

This savory ramen recipe was originally a vegetarian recipe, but you can quickly veganize it with a few easy ingredient swaps. To replace the eggs, simply drain a can of chickpeas and whip up the leftover liquid into a bean foam along with a few other ingredients. Then, you’ll dip avocado slices into the batter to create a crunchy tempura experience. 

Next, saute some garlic and onion over medium-high heat, throw it in the bowl of ramen, and top with green onion, corn, bamboo shoots, and red pepper flakes. Drizzle olive oil (or sesame oil) and you’re in for one incredible meal. Want more? Check out our growing list of ramen recipes. 

2. 30-Minute Vegan Pad Thai

 Image: Nora Cooks

Goodbye, takeout. Hello, homemade! This vegan pad Thai recipe gives you all the sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors you crave any day of the week. Best of all, the total time to get this classic Thai noodle dish on your plate is just half an hour. 

All you need are rice noodles, tofu, peanuts, veggies, and an easy DIY sauce that you can make with just five ingredients — soy sauce (or tamari), rice vinegar, maple syrup, fresh lime juice, and Sriracha. While the recipe suggests carrots, green onions, and cilantro, feel free to toss in whatever vegetables you have on hand. 

3. Vegan Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca

 Image: Cookie + Kate

This deliciously easy vegan pasta alla puttanesca is just what you need on those busy weeknights when you’re in the mood for something satiating, spicy, and just a little salty. (You can thank the Kalamata olives and capers for that distinctively briny flavor.) 

Ready in 30 minutes, the hardest part of this recipe is boiling the noodles, so that gives you a clue about how much effort you really need to put into it. 

There’s no main protein source for this Italian favorite (usually the non-vegan versions use anchovies), so you may want to add tofu or tempeh. Or, you could just swap in high-protein, low-carb, vegan immi noodles to punch up the protein content and replace the high-carb spaghetti all at once. Win-win! 

4. One-Pot Creamy Tahini Noodles

Image: Sweet C’s

If you thought it was impossible to create dinner in less time than it takes to order takeout, then let this one-pot creamy tahini noodle recipe change your mind. Ready in under 15 minutes, this vegan recipe gets its rich flavor from tahini sauce, which is the ground sesame paste you’ll find in numerous Middle Eastern dishes. 

Simply heat up a pan and stir-fry whatever noodles and veggies you have on hand — anything from spinach, broccoli florets, and cauliflower to bell peppers, eggplant, mushrooms, and sugar snap peas. 

While that’s cooking down, create your sauce in a separate bowl with rice wine, soy sauce, chili paste, and tahini. Whisk it together and pour over the stir-fry. Top with sliced green onions and sesame seeds if you like, and boom! Dinner (or lunch) is served. 

5. Sopa de Fideo

6. Vegan Japchae

 Image: Okonomi Kitchen 

For a plant-based twist on a Korean classic, you can’t go wrong with this vegan japchae recipe. Along with the signature stir-fried glass noodles made from sweet potato starch, you’ll need smoked firm tofu, zucchini, carrots, onions, scallions, garlic, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, and sesame seeds. 

The recipe calls for stir-frying the ingredients on a wok over medium-high heat, but you can just as easily use a large skillet with a bit of sesame oil. Either way, you’ll have an awesome meal ready in about 30 minutes. 

7. Vegan Ramen With Creamy Sesame Broth

 Image: Cilantro and Citronella

A vegan version of Japanese tantanmen ramen (usually made with pork), this peppery and creamy vegan ramen is another recipe that takes advantage of the creamy texture of tahini sauce. Along with heating up vegetable stock and boiling bok choy, you’ll be stir-frying tofu and scallions until they get nice and crispy. 

It might sound like a lot of things going on at once, but the total time to create this dish is just about half an hour. To spare yourself more time and effort, use immi instant ramen noodles — the chewy texture is simply perfect for this dish. 

8. Soybean Noodles in Peanut Butter Spinach Sauce

 Image: Ida Hemmingsson-Holl 

For something sweet, savory, and easy as can be, keep this vegan noodle recipe in your virtual back pocket. It’s ready in a matter of minutes with just a handful of ingredients, including sesame oil, tamari, garlic, ginger, peanut butter, coconut milk, baby spinach, fresh lime juice, and peanuts. 

Once you cook the noodles, all you have to do is toss them in the peanut butter spinach sauce. For a zesty finish, squeeze a bit of fresh lime juice over your bowl before serving. 

Load Up on Vegan Versions of Your Favorite Noodle Dishes 

Whether you’ve completely cut out animal products from your diet or you’re simply looking for more plant-based options to include in your meal planning, it’s easier than ever to indulge in vegan noodles. What’s more, because noodles are among the most universal comfort foods, there’s an endless array of cuisines to choose from, be it Thai, Japanese, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and beyond. 

So, give these easy vegan recipes a shot (along with our insanely good vegan Chinese recipes). And don’t forget — if you want to keep it low-carb as well as vegan, you can’t miss when you use immi ramen. For more ideas and information on living that noodle lifestyle, be sure to check out our blog.