Buddha’s Delight - Lo Han Jai
Buddha's Delight, also known as Vegetarian Lo Han Jai, is a traditional Chinese dish made with an assortment of vegetables, tofu, and mushrooms simmered in a light, savory sauce, embodying the principles of Buddhist vegetarian cooking.
Ingredients
- 3 14 oz packages tofu, cut into squares and deep fry
- 3 Tbsp avocado oil, or any neutral oil
- 2 large shallots, thinly sliced
- 2 Tbsp garlic, chopped
- 1 cup dry shiitake mushroom, soak in 1 ½ cup warm water (save water to use for later), cut into slices
- ¼ cup dried wood ear mushroom, soak in warm water, sliced
- 8 oz. button mushrooms, cut in half
- 15 oz can straw mushrooms, drained
- ¼ cup vegan fish sauce , plus 2 Tbsp
- 4 cups carrots, sliced ½ inch thick
- 2 chayote, cut into one inch pieces
- 6 inch daikon, cut into one inch pieces
- 2 cups green bean, cut in halves, horizontally
- 1 cup dried lily flowers, soak in warm water
- 1 bundle bean thread vermicelli noodles, soak in warm water, then cut into one inch strands
- 3 bean curd sticks, soak in warm water, then cut in one inch pieces
- ½ head cabbage, cut in one inch pieces
- 14 oz can bamboo shoots, sliced, drained
- 14 oz can baby corn, drained
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- ¼ cup Maggi, or soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp mushroom powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Cut tofu into squares and deep fry until golden brown.
- In a pot, over medium high heat, add oil, shallots and garlic and cook for a few minutes until they are soft.
- Add mushrooms and 2 Tbsp vegan fish sauce and stir fry until the mushrooms are coated evenly.
- Then add water from soaked shiitake mushrooms.
- Cook mushroom until the water evaporates, approximately 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
- Add carrots, chayote and daikon and thoroughly combine them.
- Turn heat down to medium, cover with lid and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After 10 mins, remove lid, add remaining ingredients (except for tofu) and thoroughly toss all the vegetables together until coated evenly.
- Lastly, add the tofu and gently mix together.
- Put lid back on and cook for another 10 minutes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1portion | Calories: 392kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Sodium: 1566mg | Potassium: 967mg | Fiber: 13g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 14692IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 229mg | Iron: 5mg
Equipment
- 8 quart pot