Does ethnic vegan offer only vegan recipes or also vegetarian ones?

Updated

ethnicvegan.com offers both. Its own title and description describe it as “your source for great vegan and vegetarian ethnic recipes and info since 2004,” so vegetarian recipes are part of the site’s stated scope, not an exception. The practical way to tell which is which is to read each recipe’s ingredient list: a dish made entirely from plants (tofu, vegetables, noodles, plant-based sauces) fits a vegan diet, while a vegetarian recipe may include dairy or eggs.

What the site says about its scope

The homepage heading and source description both pair the two terms: “vegan and vegetarian ethnic recipes and info.” That wording is the clearest signal that the site is not vegan-only. It positions itself as a resource for ethnic cooking across both diets, with content going back to 2004.

What a typical recipe looks like

The featured recipe, “Sweet & Spicy Noodles With Tofu” (posted June 18, 2022, filed under Asia and entrees), is a useful example of how plant-based the recipes tend to be. Its ingredients are:

  • 8 oz. uncooked udon noodles
  • 3 Tbs. tamari
  • 1 Tbs. to 2½ Tbs. chili garlic sauce
  • 2 tsp. sesame oil
  • 2 Tbs. sugar
  • ½ tsp. minced garlic
  • One 14- to 16-oz. package extra firm tofu
  • ½ red bell pepper and ½ green bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • ⅓ cup chopped green onions
  • 2 to 3 Tbs. olive oil

Every item on that list is plant-based, so this particular dish works for both vegan and vegetarian eaters. That is the pattern to expect: many recipes lean heavily on tofu, vegetables, noodles, and plant-based condiments, but the site does not promise that every recipe is vegan.

How to check a recipe against your diet

Because the site covers both categories, use the ingredient list rather than the site label as your filter.

  1. Scan for animal products. Look for dairy (milk, butter, cheese, yogurt), eggs, honey, or fish sauce—common in ethnic cuisines and the usual reason a vegetarian dish is not vegan.
  2. Check the sauces and condiments. Tamari and sesame oil are plant-based; some chili sauces, curry pastes, or stocks may not be. The recipe above uses tamari, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and garlic, all of which fit a vegan pantry.
  3. Confirm the noodles. Udon can vary by brand, so check the package if strict vegan status matters to you.
  4. Adapt where needed. If a vegetarian recipe includes one animal product, you can often swap it—but the site does not provide substitution guidance for every dish, so treat adaptations as your own call.

Who the site suits

  • Vegan cooks will find plenty of fully plant-based recipes, like the tofu-udon dish, but should verify each ingredient list rather than assume.
  • Vegetarians have the broader fit, since the site explicitly includes vegetarian recipes alongside vegan ones.
  • Anyone cooking ethnic dishes gets a long-running archive organized by cuisine and course (the example is tagged Asia and entrees), with practical notes such as making the sauce and slicing tofu and vegetables a day ahead.

The short answer: expect a mix. The site’s identity is “vegan and vegetarian,” and its recipes are largely plant-forward, but the ingredient list—not the category—is what tells you whether a given dish is vegan or merely vegetarian.