Suggestions for light, flavorful vegetarian dishes for Vu Lan season

From filial piety to the art of healthy living with vegetarian cuisine

The seventh lunar month is not only the Vu Lan season to show gratitude to parents, but also an occasion for everyone to turn to purity through simple, light vegetarian meals. Nowadays, vegetarian dishes are no longer limited to tofu and simple vegetables, but have been elevated with sophisticated processing techniques, combining pure ingredients with beautiful presentation.

Below are some suggestions for vegetarian dishes that are easy to make, delicious, nutritious, and suitable for every family meal during Vu Lan season.

Vegetarian Pho - Traditional flavors in a light version

The secret to vegetarian Pho that still retains the soul of Vietnamese Pho lies in the clear, sweet broth made from white radish, pear and sugarcane, combined with mushrooms, white pepper, cinnamon, star anise and cardamom. The pho noodles are soft and chewy, with the aroma of new rice. Without meat, the bowl of pho is still full of layers of aroma, natural sweetness, warming the heart on a rainy day.

Vegetarian Banh Xeo and Banh Khot - Crispy, rich in flavor, full of hometown flavor

The cake dough is made from finely ground rice mixed with coconut milk and turmeric powder. The filling is a blend of mushrooms, green beans, coconut tubers, carrots... The cake crust is crispy, the filling is rich, served with raw vegetables and a light sweet and sour dipping sauce, reminiscent of the meals my mother made in the old kitchen.

Sesbania flower salad - A refreshing country salad

The salad has the bright yellow color of the wild flowers, combined with herbs, roasted peanuts and a mild sweet and sour dressing. Each piece of salad is crispy and cool like a fresh breeze in the Vu Lan season, soothing the soul and awakening the taste buds.

Vegetarian Southern Sour Soup - Leading the way back to a family meal

The mild sourness of tamarind and pineapple blends with the spiciness of chili, mixed with the sweetness of mushrooms and vegetables. This simple soup evokes warmth and intimacy, very suitable as the main dish in a vegetarian family meal.

Braised chestnuts with pink pepper - A rich, fatty vegetarian braised dish

Sweet chestnuts are braised with fragrant pink pepper, seasoned with soy sauce and vegetarian spices to create a savory, flavorful dish. This dish can be eaten with white rice, or used as the main dish in a vegetarian tray, both delicious and nutritious.

This Vu Lan season, let each vegetarian meal be a quiet gratitude, a moment of contemplation, a connection between tradition and modernity, between taste and soul.