Plant-Based Chinese Recipes — 中式素食食谱

Main Dishes

White Asparagus & Morel Mushroom Risotto — 白蘆筍羊肚菌燉飯

This creamy vegan risotto brings together the finest spring ingredients — tender white asparagus, earthy morels, and sweet peas — in a luscious coconut milk-infused broth. One pot, one season, pure magic. 春天最令人期待的限定美味,白蘆筍的清甜與羊肚菌的鮮美,在椰香高湯中完美融合。

📹 Watch the Recipe

Recipe by Chu’s Vegan

🥘 Why This Recipe Works

White asparagus is one of spring’s most prized vegetables — sweeter and more tender than its green cousin, with a refined, slightly bitter herbal finish. Paired with dried morel mushrooms (rehydrated to intensify their earthy umami), sweet peas, and a velvety coconut milk-infused risotto, this dish is a celebration of the season. The stock is made from the asparagus trimmings and morel soaking liquid, ensuring zero waste and maximum depth of flavor.

10 key ingredients, one pot, 45 minutes — a restaurant-worthy vegan main that requires patience but rewards with every creamy, fragrant bite.

🛒 Ingredients

Ingredient Amount Notes
White asparagus (白蘆筍) 10 stalks Diced, blanched 20 sec
Button mushrooms (口蘑) 6 Half sliced, half diced
Dried morel mushrooms (乾羊肚菌) 18 Soaked in warm water 30 min
Carrot (胡蘿蔔) 60g Diced
Fresh peas (鮮豌豆) 80g Blanched 15 sec
Rice (大米) 160g Soaked 20 min first
Warm stock (高湯) 500ml See stock ingredients
Coconut milk (椰漿) 70ml Optional
Vegan cheese (素芝士) To taste Optional
Salt & black pepper To taste

For the Stock (高湯)

Ingredient Amount
Asparagus ends (蘆筍根部) From the stalks
Half carrot (胡蘿蔔半根)
Celery (西芹) 1 small piece
Bay leaf (月桂葉) 1
Ginger (生薑) 2 slices
Morel soaking liquid (泡羊肚菌水) 400ml
Water (清水) 400ml

👨‍🍳 Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

  • Snap off the woody asparagus ends and reserve them for stock
  • Peel the middle section of asparagus, dice it, and set the tips aside
  • Blanch diced asparagus in boiling water for 20 seconds, then ice bath
  • Soak dried morels in warm water for 30 minutes, reserve the liquid
  • Soak rice in water for 20 minutes, then drain
  • Blanch fresh peas for 15 seconds

Step 2: Make the Stock

  • Heat olive oil in a pot and sauté the stock vegetables (asparagus ends, carrot, celery, ginger)
  • Add morel soaking liquid (400ml) and water (400ml)
  • Add bay leaf and simmer on low heat for 30 minutes
  • Strain and keep warm

Step 3: Sauté the Aromatics

  • In a large pan, heat olive oil and sauté diced carrot and half the mushrooms until fragrant
  • Add diced asparagus, peas, and rehydrated morels — stir well
  • Season with salt and pepper

Step 4: Cook the Risotto

  • Add the soaked and drained rice to the pan, stirring to coat with oil
  • Begin adding warm stock one ladleful at a time, stirring frequently
  • Continue adding stock as each addition is absorbed, about 18-20 minutes
  • When rice is tender but still has a slight bite, stir in coconut milk for creaminess
  • Add vegan cheese if using, adjust seasoning
  • Serve immediately, garnished with reserved asparagus tips and fresh pepper

💡 Tips & Substitutions

Problem Fix
Can’t find white asparagus? Use green asparagus — skip peeling, blanch 30 sec
No morel mushrooms? Sub shiitake or king oyster mushrooms
Not a fan of coconut milk? Use extra stock + oat cream
Risotto too thick? Thin with warm stock — should flow slowly

📊 Nutrition

Per serving (serves 2): ~420 kcal | Protein 12g | Fat 14g | Carbs 62g | Fiber 8g

White Asparagus & Morel Mushroom Risotto — 白蘆筍羊肚菌燉飯

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 2 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Fusion

Ingredients
  

White asparagus (白蘆筍)
Button mushrooms (口蘑)
Dried morel mushrooms (乾羊肚菌)
Carrot (胡蘿蔔)
Fresh peas (鮮豌豆)
Rice (大米)
Warm stock (高湯)
Coconut milk (椰漿)
Vegan cheese (素芝士)
Salt & black pepper

Method
 

Prep Vegetables
    Make Stock
      Sauté Aromatics
        Cook Risotto

          🌱 Why This Dish

          Risotto, while Italian in origin, has been warmly embraced by Chinese home cooks who appreciate its gentle cooking method and adaptability to local ingredients. White asparagus (白蘆筍) is particularly treasured in Chinese cuisine for its short spring season and delicate flavor — it appears in soups, stir-fries, and now this fusion risotto. Morels (羊肚菌) have been used in Chinese cooking for centuries, prized in traditional medicine for their immune-boosting properties. This dish represents the beautiful convergence of Italian technique and Chinese seasonal ingredients.

          You may also like...

          Leave a Reply

          Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

          Recipe Rating