Tofu Veggie Pancakes are crisp around edges and smooth and silky smooth in the centre with plenty of fresh vegetables and crunchy fresh bamboo with a zingy dipping sauce. (Gluten-free, egg-free, vegan and lactose-free)
Chi Lin Nunnery and Vegan Dim Sum
Have you ever visited the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens in Diamond Hill, Hong Kong? Once you step inside this beautiful monastery and gardens you will have stepped into a tranquil, peaceful and quiet place away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The Chi Lin Nunnery is a large temple complex of elegant wooden architecture, treasured Buddhist relics and soul-soothing lotus ponds.
The attached Nan Lian Gardens are for me the most stunning part of the experience. They say it is Tang dynasty style but after living in Japan I think the there is a large Japanese influence in the flora and rock formations.
After you spend a couple of hours soaking in the beauty, you can enjoy a lovely vegetarian dim sum lunch right under the waterfall. The Chi Lin Vegetarian Restaurant 龍門樓 - 志蓮素齋 is a beautiful place with a lovely menu. I was enjoying a 5 course set lunch menu. Oh my goodness they give you so much food and even if you are a meat eater you will find these little dim sum dishes satisfying.
I noticed across the crowded dim sum dining room a book for sale and it was their own Chi Lin Vegetarian cookbook so I snagged one up and I was off try some of these delicious vegetarian dim sum dishes.
Tofu Veggie Pancakes and Crunchy Vegetables
The recipe book is written in both Chinese and English and after experimenting with their recipe I have added a few ingredients. You can really add any vegetables you like to the mix but Chinese vegetables are delightful if you are serving this as a dim sum. The ingredient that makes this dish so fresh and lovely is the orange zest, it really brightens the dish. In addition, I highly suggest the addition of crunchy fresh bamboo or even water chestnuts as it is nice to have the fun textures with the silky tofu pancake.
I used my Star Anise Braised Bamboo and a little 5 spice powder to the tofu veggie pancake mix and it was really nice. Some things that I learned along the way is that using well-drained soft tofu works best and I had to adjust the recipe and add 2 heaping tablespoons of cornstarch to get the batter a real thick pancake mix texture, almost like small cottage cheese.
Keeping this recipe Light
Depending on how well you drain your tofu, you may need to add more cornstarch to get the texture desired. I also opted to make my version lighter as instead of frying my pancakes in oil I just used a little cooking spray (Pam) on the bottom of my non-stick frying pan and it worked like a charm.
Tips for Recipe Success
I also cooked more than one pancake at a time but kept a bigger distance between each in the frying pan so it was easy to flip them over and it really made the whole process go faster. You just drop about one heaping tablespoon in the pan and lightly flatten with the back of your spoon and gently cook until lightly brown on each side, just like cooking a pancake but these are much more fragile.
Be patient during the flipping process and take your time. The first couple of flips might be the cooks snack but I promise you after you do one to do you will be a pro.
Dipping Sauce
I also made a zippy little dipping sauce to serve on the side made simply with a little tamari (soy) sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and grated diakon radish. If you do not have access to diakon radish, no worries, as it is great without too. Maybe instead just add a couple of slices of fresh chillies to the dipping sauce if you like a little heat.
Tofu Veggie Pancakes is a great little vegetarian dim sum dish. You could also serve this as an appetizer or even a midnight snack.
More Delicious Recipes with Tofu
Vegetable Tofu Ricotta Lasagna
Thai Curry Turkey Tofu Meatballs
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Tofu Veggie Pancakes
Ingredients
- 10 oz tofu soft
- ¼ tsp salt
- 2 to 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp bamboo shoots cooked and chopped
- 2 tbsp bell peppers (red and yellow) finely chopped
- 1 tbsp leek chopped (or garlic chives would be nice too)
- 2 tbsp enoki mushrooms chopped fresh (not dried)
- 1 tbsp tamari (soy) sauce
- ¼ tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp five spice powder
- 1 tsp orange zest (or crushed dried tangerine peel)
- salt
to taste - cooking spray
as needed
Dipping Sauce
- 1-2 tbsp tamari (soy) sauce
- 1 clove garlic
peeled and chopped finely - 1 tsp ginger peeled and grated - fresh
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp daikon radish (white Asian radish) grated- optional
Instructions
- Place your drained tofu in a bowl with salt and sprinkle on the salt. Let the tofu marinate for about 5 minutes (This process helps the water escape from the tofu, a tofu press if you have one of those would also be a great option). Drain the water from the tofu and mash with fork. Add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and mix well. You may need to add a little more cornstarch to get the right consistency, depending on how well you drained the water. You are looking for it to be the same consistency as super thick ricotta cheese or if you held your spoon on a tilt it stays on the spoon. Set aside.
- Heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in wok and sauté the bamboo shoots, bell peppers, leeks, mushrooms just until the vegetables start to become aromatic or about 1 minute. Add tamari (soy) sauce, white powder, 5 spice powder, and orange zest and stir until well incorporated.
- Add the cooked vegetable mixture to the tofu puree, add salt to taste and mix well.
- Spray your non-stick frying pan with cooking spray and heat up to medium. Drop tablespoon of the tofu mixture into the pan and flatten gently. Fry gently about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown on each side. Be very careful when you turn them as they are very fragile. Also do not put your tofu veggie pancakes to close to one another in the pan or it will make it difficult to flip over. (If your first tofu veggie pancake was too difficult to turn, you need to add more cornstarch to your tofu veggie pancake batter and try it again.)
- Make your dipping sauce. In a small bowl add tamari (soy) sauce, garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil and some grated diakon. Mix and serve with Tofu Veggie Pancakes. Enjoy!
My stomach is actually growling because of these pancakes!!! I've never seen the technique for ridding tofu of excess water. Interesting. But did you know that the firmer the tofu, the less water is in it? I'm sure you do.... Anyway, I can't wait to make these pancakes. Truly wonderful.
Hi there Mimi! So glad you liked this recipe. We like to add in crunchy vegetables to give the pancakes a fun texture. Sure, you can use firm tofu for this recipe as well. We used to go to the fresh market to get freshly made homemade tofu (silken tofu) still warm in Aberdeen, Hong Kong but oh so delicious. Hope you are staying well. Take Care
Oh Bobbi - this did sound familiar and I am thrilled to find my comment going way back and those of so many others who now have become firm friends ! A then unexpected side benefit of visiting food posts ! Yes, still think this an absolutely beautiful recipe, not made for awhile . . . still use more firm than silken tofu but thank you for the reminder of something truly delicious ! . . . hope you are well . . . the US tragedies are truly alarming . . .
Eha, so delighted to have you comment a second time. Totally blessed to have met you dear friend. Sure, please go ahead and use firm tofu and adjust the cornstarch to the desired effect. We are all about using what you have on hand. The loss of lives around the world is heartbreaking. However, we must stand strong and get this world's economy back and up running. With a family member working on the front lines in the hospital, I can say this is going to be one tough battle. Stay well, stay strong and take care.
What beautiful gardens - I love the Asian style - so peaceful. And the veggie pancakes - yummy!!
would love to visit HK one day - have heard there are pockets of absolute beauty [such as this one]. And these veggie pancakes look delish.
This recipe sounds so interesting. Pinning it! and those trees look so beautiful. I am pretty amazed to hear about an all vegetarian chinese place, but would love to look it up if I am ever in those parts.
Living in HKG for so long...and I don't think I've been to Chi Lin Nunnery! The view is gorgeous. There are so many buildings in HKG and those greens are much appreciated. 🙂 Your Tofu Veggie pancakes are just as beautiful. I can't wait to try them as my kids love tofu and veggies. This will be a great way to serve them both in a cute little package.
I'll fess up here and now, I've never cooked with tofu, I've fried and grilled it many a time but never used it in say pancakes. Time to redress that !
I meant to say the gardens look stunning, I know I'd spend MANY a happy hour in there soaking up the greenery 🙂
This looks delicious, I bet this will go well with a popular Filipino spicy vinegar dip.
Nice one and thanks for sharing, now I have a replacement for a similar recipe which uses prawns
Hello Raymond, oh yes I bet a little Filipino spicy vinegar would be delightful as the dip. I will have to take a look at your recipe with the prawns in it. Can you please attach the link so that others can take a look as well? Sounds delicious. Have a super day! Take Care, BAM
The crepe post didn't have comment open, so let me tell how much I love your crepes and that will make my kids stay in focus on study if I use it as a bait. 😀 And this tofu & veggie pancakes!!! Oh yum! Since it's light, I feel I can eat extra to enjoy! Looks fabulous!
I would definitely buy tofu (a rarity for me!) to make these pancakes. They look amazing!
I love visiting today, the photos of the garden brought back lovely memories of my Gran's home in Lethbridge. We used to walk the Japanese garden there and coming back there was a sign that said that everything looks different on path going back and to take note. I see some Japanese influence in your garden too. What a perfect place for a vegetarian dim sum lunch! I'm craving a lunch like that but it's too late here to go.. but you've got a pretty recipe here that will fix that craving! xx
These veggie pancakes look amazing! I'm going to make them for my vegetarian daughter. She will love them!
Your lovely pictures of Hong Kong are making me want to jump on a plane!
Yum! These veggie pancakes look so delicious! We are big on tofu in my house. I will have to make this soon!
HK is so beautiful! I visited in 1990 and absolutely fell in love with it. I really hope I get to visit it again.
The nunnery and gardens are beautiful; what a serene environment. I confess to never having cooked with tofu, but these pancakes and the sauce sound wonderful. I think I will have to take the plunge. It all sound so tempting and tasty.
Hello Adri! Tofu is so abundant in Asia. Tofu is in every wet market and you watch them make it fresh every morning. I might have to feature that one day on Healthy World Cuisine. Have you ever tried a black sesame soy milk drink? It is so delicious. Take Care, BAM
Beautiful gardens and delicious pancakes... what else can we look for?!! the photo of the garden are so relaxing and lovely.
These look really delicious! I love the fact there is no flour or eggs in this.
These pictures are just absolutely beautiful. Especially those three beautiful trees, oh goodness, I'd just sit there and stare at them! Lovely post Bam!
These pancakes sound awesome. They look like a really satisfying vegetarian meal.
We both have tofu on the brain! I never thought to turn tofu into pancakes...brilliant idea and I definitely have to try it! These look delicious. 🙂
These look gorgeous, Bam. I love the look of your pancakes. I'll have to give these a try as they look highly addictive xx
The nunnery looks serene with all the lovely trees! Your tofu pancake is a must-try for a perfect healthy snack!
Julie
Gourmet Getaways
Gorgeous photos, Bam! I'm always looking for ways to cook tofu. This veggie pancake recipe has inspired me to give it a try!
Serene monastery and garden. Love those awesome pancakes.
Yet another wonderful recipe! I really have to make this. My in laws are vegetarian, they will enjoy these veggie pancakes. And also, I love the beautiful snaps you posted of Buddhist monastery and garden.