Best 7 Buddhas Delight Recipes

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Indulge in a delightful culinary journey with Buddha's Delight, a harmonious fusion of flavors and textures. This classic Chinese vegetarian dish is a symphony of fresh, seasonal vegetables, each contributing its unique character to create a wholesome and satisfying meal. From the earthy sweetness of carrots to the crisp crunch of bell peppers and the tender embrace of broccoli, every bite unveils a new layer of taste and texture.

Dive into the diverse recipes presented in this article, each offering a unique interpretation of Buddha's Delight. Discover the traditional stir-fried version, a vibrant medley of vegetables tossed in a flavorful sauce. Explore the simplicity of steamed Buddha's Delight, where the natural flavors of the vegetables take center stage. Embark on a culinary adventure with the baked variation, where vegetables are roasted to perfection, exuding a caramelized sweetness. And for a lighter option, immerse yourself in the refreshing flavors of Buddha's Delight salad, a crisp and colorful assembly of vegetables dressed in a zesty vinaigrette.

Savor the essence of Buddha's Delight, a dish that embodies balance, harmony, and the beauty of nature's bounty. Let your taste buds dance with joy as you embark on this culinary exploration, discovering new depths of flavor and delight.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

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

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!

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT (JAI, CHINESE VEGETARIAN STEW)



Buddha's Delight (Jai, Chinese Vegetarian Stew) image

An epic vegetable stew that features colorful vegetables, tender vermicelli noodles and fried tofu braised to perfection in a savory earthy sauce. Whether you're making this as the centerpiece of your dinner party or Chinese New Year celebration, or you simply want something hearty and healthy for dinner, this is the dish for you! {Vegan, Gluten-Free Adaptable}

Provided by Maggie Zhu

Categories     Main

Time 1h5m

Number Of Ingredients 21

25 g (1/2 cup) dried lily flowers
25 g (8 medium) dried shiitake mushrooms
10 g (2 tablespoons) dried wood ear mushrooms
40 g (1 small bundle) mung bean vermicelli noodles ((yield about 1 cup once rehydrated), or other types of vermicelli noodles)
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 tablespoon vegetarian oyster sauce ((or regular oyster sauce))
1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup soaking water from the lily flower and mushroom ((*Footnote 2))
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons peanut oil ((or vegetable oil))
4 green onion (, chopped)
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 carrot (, sliced)
10 pieces deep fried tofu puffs (, halved)
4 heads baby bok choy (, quartered)
230 g (4 cups) napa cabbage (, chopped)
1/2 cup bamboo shoots (, sliced)

Steps:

  • Prepare the dried lily flowers, shiitake mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms: Place each ingredient in a separate medium-sized bowl and pour boiling water on top to cover by at least 1" (2.5 cm). Press the ingredients down to submerge into the water. Rehydrate for 20 minutes, until they turn soft throughout.
  • After the lily flowers turn soft, remove the tough ends if needed (*Footnote 1). If the lily flowers are very long, cut them in half lengthwise. Drain and set aside. Measure out 3/4 cup of the soaking water for later use.
  • For the shiitake mushrooms, gently squeeze the water from the mushrooms, then slice into halves. Measure out 1/4 cup of the soaking water and pour into the same bowl with the lily flower rehydrating water.
  • For the wood ear, mushrooms, once rehydrated, cut into small bite-sized pieces.
  • Place the vermicelli noodles in a medium-sized bowl and add boiling water to cover. Let sit for 3 to 5 minutes (or according to the package instructions), until the noodles turn al-dente. Drain and set aside.
  • Combine the sauce ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, stir to mix well and set aside.
  • Mix the ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Heat the oil in a large skillet (at least 13 inches) or a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. When oil turns hot but not smoking hot, add ginger and green onion. Stir a few times until fragrant.
  • Add the carrot, lily flowers, and dried shiitake mushrooms. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms. Stir and cook for 1 minute.
  • Add fried tofu and pour in the sauce. Add the napa cabbage and bok choy. Cover and cook over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes, until the vegetables are cooked through. Uncover and stir in between, to mix the vegetables with the sauce.
  • Add bean thread noodles and let them soak in the liquid. Stir and cook for another 30 seconds. Stir the cornstarch slurry again to dissolve completely and pour into the pan. Stir until the sauce thickens. Transfer everything to a large platter. Serve hot as a main dish.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 212 kcal, Carbohydrate 22.6 g, Protein 9.8 g, Fat 10.5 g, SaturatedFat 1.8 g, Sodium 726 mg, Fiber 4.1 g, Sugar 5.3 g

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT



Buddha's Delight image

Categories     Ginger     Mushroom     Sauté     Vegetarian     Lunar New Year     Tofu     Sherry     Vegan     Noodle     Soy Sauce     Lettuce     Gourmet

Yield Makes 8 servings (as part of a Chinese meal)

Number Of Ingredients 15

12 large dried black mushrooms (3 oz)
5 cups boiling-hot water plus additional for soaking bean curd skins
2 dried bean curd skins (2 oz total)
1/2 lb fresh or thawed frozen large bamboo shoots
2 to 3 oz very thin bean thread noodles (2 small skeins; also known as cellophane, glass, or mung bean noodles)
1 (1/2-lb) firm fresh tofu cake, or 1/2 cake from a 14- to 16-oz package, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
1 (1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and very thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup peeled shelled fresh or frozen ginkgo nuts
1/3 cup vegetarian oyster sauce
1/4 cup light soy sauce (preferably Pearl River Bridge brand)
1/4 cup Chinese rice wine (preferably Shaoxing) or medium-dry Sherry
3/4 teaspoon sugar
2 cups fresh soybean sprouts (1/4 lb)
2 romaine hearts, trimmed and quartered lengthwise, then cut into 2-inch pieces (6 cups)

Steps:

  • Soak mushrooms in 5 cups boiling-hot water in a bowl, keeping them submerged with a small plate and turning mushrooms over occasionally, until softened and cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes. Squeeze excess liquid from caps back into bowl and reserve liquid, then cut out and discard stems from mushrooms. Cut caps into 1-inch wedges.
  • While mushrooms soak, carefully break bean curd skins in half crosswise, then halve each portion crosswise again. Transfer to a bowl, then add enough boiling-hot water to cover and soak, turning occasionally, until softened, about 30 minutes.
  • If using fresh bamboo, trim bottoms of shoots, then halve shoots lengthwise with a sharp heavy knife. Pull off and discard leaves from shoots, then remove any blemishes with a sharp paring knife (don't worry about natural dotted pattern along base of shoots).
  • Cover fresh or frozen bamboo with cold water by 1 inch in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes, then drain in a colander and rinse under cold water. Repeat boiling and rinsing, then arrange bamboo halves, cut sides down, on a cutting board and cut bamboo lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
  • Soak noodles in cold water to cover until softened, about 5 minutes, then drain in colander and transfer to a bowl.
  • Drain bean curd skins in colander. When cool enough to handle, squeeze dry and cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces.
  • Halve tofu lengthwise, then cut each half crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
  • Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart wide heavy pot over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Add ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add mushrooms, bean curd skins, bamboo, and ginkgo nuts and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in oyster sauce, soy sauce, rice wine, and sugar and simmer 1 minute. Add reserved mushroom-soaking liquid and bring to a boil. Gently stir in tofu and soybean sprouts, then reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 15 minutes. Gently stir in noodles and simmer, covered, 5 minutes. Add romaine hearts (pot will be full) and turn to coat, then simmer, covered, until romaine is tender, about 5 minutes.

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT VEGAN STIR-FRY



Buddha's Delight Vegan Stir-Fry image

Buddha's Delight or Lo Han Jai is the ultimate vegan stir-fry with delicate flavors and wholesome goodness! Serve with rice.

Provided by VeggieCravings

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Stir-Fry

Time 44m

Yield 3

Number Of Ingredients 25

2 cups water
2 fermented bean curd blocks
3 tablespoons vegetarian mushroom oyster sauce
1 teaspoon mushroom seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon sesame oil
½ teaspoon white sugar
ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 (1/2 inch) pieces fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
4 ounces fried tofu, cut into 4 pieces
2 ounces lotus root, peeled and thinly sliced
2 ounces ginkgo nuts
1 ounce dried lily flowers, soaked in hot water
8 dried red dates
5 fresh shiitake mushrooms, diced
1 carrot, sliced
7 ounces napa cabbage, cut into small pieces
2 ounces snow peas
2 ounces fresh black fungus
1 (2 ounce) package cellophane noodles
1 tablespoon goji berries, soaked in water
½ teaspoon salt
1 ounce dried black moss (nostoc), rehydrated

Steps:

  • Mix water, fermented tofu blocks, oyster sauce, mushroom seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cornstarch, sesame oil, white sugar, and pepper together in a bowl until fermented tofu has dissolved.
  • Cook vegetable oil and ginger in a skillet over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add tofu, lotus root, ginkgo nuts, lily flowers, red dates, shiitake mushrooms, and carrot. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add cabbage, snow peas, black fungus, noodles, goji berries, and salt. Cook for another 3 minutes. Add moss and fermented tofu mixture; bring to a boil. Remove from heat and transfer to a serving dish.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 542.3 calories, Carbohydrate 98.6 g, Cholesterol 0.1 mg, Fat 14.5 g, Fiber 11 g, Protein 13.4 g, SaturatedFat 2.2 g, Sodium 1321.1 mg, Sugar 52.4 g

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT



Buddha's Delight image

A buddhist vegetarian dish eaten on the first day of the Chinese New Year. It traditionally contains 18 ingredients that are considered auspicious. The servings are as part of a Chinese banquet for 6-8 people. If you are making just this I have no idea how many people it would feed! Some info about the more Asian ingredients: Dried lily buds aka golden needles. They are the dried flower of the day lily. soak before using. Dried black fungus aka wood ear fungus or cloud ear fungus Tofu puffs = golden squares of fried tofu found in the refrigerator section.

Provided by Missy Wombat

Categories     Vegetable

Time 35m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 11

30 g dried lily buds (optional)
15 g dried black fungus (wood ear or cloud ear)
8 dried shiitake mushrooms, stalks discarded
100 g halved tofu, puffs (2 cm)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 carrot, sliced diagonally thinly
4 stalks Chinese celery or 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced diagonally
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely grated
150 g bean sprouts
60 ml oyster sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Steps:

  • Place the lily buds, black fungus, Shiitake mushrooms and tofu in separate bowls. cover each with boiling water and soak for 30 minutes. Drain the bowls and squeeze the excess water from the tofu. Cut the fungus into bite-sized pieces and halve the shiitake.
  • Heat the oil in a wok over high heat. Stir-fry carrot, celery and ginger for 30 seconds. Add soaked ingredients, remining ingredients and 1/4 cups water. Mix well. cover with a lid and cook for 3 minutes or until heated through. Serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 89.9, Fat 6, SaturatedFat 0.8, Sodium 345.1, Carbohydrate 7.9, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 2.7, Protein 2.6

BUDDHA'S DELIGHT



Buddha's Delight image

Provided by Diana Kuan

Categories     Wok     Soy     Stir-Fry     Vegetarian     Dinner     Lunar New Year     Tofu     Advance Prep Required     Vegan     Pescatarian     Kosher

Yield serves 4 as part of a multicourse meal

Number Of Ingredients 18

8 dried shiitake mushrooms
8 dried lily buds
1/4 cup bamboo shoots (fresh or canned)
1/2 cup snow peas
1/4 cup canned water chestnuts
4 ounces bean thread noodles
1/2 pound extra-firm tofu
sauce
2 cups vegetable broth
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon peanut or vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1 cup shredded napa cabbage
special equipment
Wok with lid, Dutch oven, or a deep 14-inch skillet

Steps:

  • 1. Soak the shiitake mushrooms and lily buds in a bowl of warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water. Discard the stems from the mushrooms and thinly slice the mushroom caps. (For extra mushroom flavor, reserve the soaking liquid and add it to the dish.) Slice the rough black ends off the lily buds and discard, cut the lily buds in half, and pull apart the strands.
  • 2. Rinse the bamboo shoots and thinly slice them. Trim and discard the hard ends from the snow peas and cut the snow peas lengthwise. Drain and finely chop the water chestnuts.
  • 3. In a large bowl, soak the bean thread noodles in enough warm water to cover for 10 minutes to soften them. Drain, shake off the excess water, and set aside.
  • 4. Drain and rinse the tofu, then pat dry with paper towels. Slice the tofu into 1-inch cubes.
  • 5. Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the vegetable broth, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and brown sugar. Set aside.
  • 6. Heat a wok, Dutch oven, or deep 14-inch skillet over medium heat until a bead of water sizzles and evaporates on contact. Add the peanut oil and swirl to coat the bottom. Add the ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms, lily buds, bamboo shoots, snow peas, water chestnuts, cabbage, and tofu. Add the sauce and the mushroom soaking liquid (if using) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the lid, add the drained bean thread noodles, re-cover the wok, and simmer for about another 5 minutes, or until the noodles are cooked. (Don't worry if the dish looks a little soupy; the noodles will absorb the remaining broth.) Ladle everything into a deep serving dish and serve hot.

CHINESE BUDDHA'S DELIGHT



Chinese Buddha's Delight image

I always order this dish when we go to Chinese restaurants, so I was so excited to find this recipe in the Jan. 2005 issue of Cooking Light! This is the recipe, with a few of my variations. If you're craving tons of spice, this isn't for you; however, its subtle, healthy flavor is something I quite enjoy. Cook time includes marinating time. (NUTRITION PER SERVING CALORIES 378(28% from fat); FAT 11.6g (sat 1.6g,mono 4.7g,poly 4.7g); PROTEIN 15.8g; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 129mg; SODIUM 698mg; FIBER 9.3g; IRON 4.4mg; CARBOHYDRATE 55.9g)

Provided by hannahactually

Categories     Corn

Time 1h25m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 19

3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sugar
1 (14 ounce) package water-packed extra firm tofu, drained and cut into 1-inch cubes
5 cups small broccoli florets
1 1/2 cups carrots (1/4-inch diagonally sliced)
1/2 cup peeled chopped broccoli stem
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 1/2 cups sliced green onions
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup snow peas, trimmed
1 (14 ounce) can whole baby corn, drained
1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups hot cooked brown rice

Steps:

  • Combine first 5 ingredients, tossing to coat.
  • Cover and marinate in refrigerator 1 hour.
  • Drain in a colander over a bowl, reserving marinade.
  • Cook broccoli florets, carrot, and broccoli stems in boiling water 1 1/2 minutes.
  • Drain these vegetables.
  • Plunge into ice water.
  • Drain.
  • Heat canola oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add tofu.
  • Stir-fry 5 minutes or until lightly browned on all sides.
  • Stir in onions, ginger, and garlic.
  • Stir-fry 30 seconds.
  • Stir in broccoli mixture, snow peas, corn, and water chestnuts.
  • Stir-fry 1 minute.
  • Combine broth and cornstarch, stirring with a whisk.
  • Add cornstarch mixture, reserved marinade, and salt to pan.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Cook 2 1/2 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly.
  • Serve over brown rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 403.7, Fat 12, SaturatedFat 1.6, Sodium 559.8, Carbohydrate 65.4, Fiber 7.9, Sugar 6.9, Protein 14.7

Tips:

  • Use fresh, seasonal vegetables. Fresh vegetables are more flavorful and contain more nutrients than frozen or canned vegetables.
  • Cut the vegetables into uniform pieces. This will help them cook evenly.
  • Don't overcrowd the pan. If you overcrowd the pan, the vegetables will steam instead of sautéing.
  • Sauté the vegetables over medium-high heat. This will help them retain their color and flavor.
  • Add the sauce or glaze towards the end of cooking. This will prevent the sauce from burning.
  • Serve the vegetables immediately. Vegetables are best served hot and fresh.

Conclusion:

Buddha's Delight is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. It is packed with fresh vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. This dish is also very versatile, so you can easily adjust it to your liking. Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat-eater, Buddha's Delight is a great option for a healthy and satisfying meal.

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