This Filipino Vegan Bopis is loaded with nutritious ingredients and bold flavors! It's usually made with pork and other meats, but to veganize the recipe, we used tofu and shitake mushrooms without losing the authentic taste. Try making this plant-based version for a heathy option!

Are you interested to try more vegan Filipino recipes? Check out my Filipino Vegan Corned Beef Hash, Vegan Binakol, and Vegan Chicken Afritada recipe!

delicious and Filipino vegan bopis on a blue plate

Jump to:

Variations
Substitutions
Storage
Ingredients
Top Tips
FAQ
More Recipes
Vegan Bopis

What is Vegan Bopis?

Bopis is a unique Filipino recipe that uses body parts of the pig that many people wouldn't think they can be made into a recipe. It is mainly made with pig's lungs and heart, finely minced. It is considered a go-to meal with alcoholic beverages during Filipino gatherings but as years passed, it has turned into a main dish.

For a plant-based version, I used shiitake mushrooms and tofu to replace the meat of the recipe but it still has the goodness of the authentic taste. Feel free to serve this healthy and savory vegan bopis with steamed rice or use lettuce leaves to wrap it!

Discover more of this easy Filipino dish below. Enjoy reading!

vegan bopis on a blue plate with fresh lettuce leaves and red chili on top

Variations

Spicy flavor: If you love spicy bopis, add more chili peppers, siling labuyo, a dash of chili oil, or diced jalapeños.
Sweet flavor: To add sweetness, use a little pineapple juice and diced pineapple.
Dry texture: You can omit adding the water or decrease the water quantity if you prefer a dry bopis.

Substitutions

Coconut Oil: For a neutral option, use olive oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil.
Water: Bicolanos love coconut milk in their bopis, so you can also add coconut milk as a replacement for water. It makes a creamier bopis.
Ginger: Substitute with galangal or turmeric for a similar aromatic and earthy flavor.
Annatto Powder: Use turmeric for color and paprika or smoked paprika for a slight smoky flavor.
Firm Tofu: Replace with tempeh for a firmer, nuttier texture, or seitan for a chewy, meaty texture.

Storage

To keep vegan bopis fresh, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze it in portioned containers for up to three months for extended storage, and reheat it completely before serving.

Ingredients

These are the ingredients that you will need:

ginger
coconut oil
garlic
onion
chili peppers
firm tofu
dried shiitake mushroom
soft tofu
annatto powder
vinegar or calamansi
soy sauce
bay leaves
water
carrots
radish

Instructions

In a saucepan over medium heat, preheat oil and saute the garlic and ginger:

Add onion and saute until translucent, for about 1 minute:

sauteing onion with garlic for bopis recipe

Add chili peppers:

adding chili to the garlic and onions for bopis recipe

Then add in ¾ cup of diced tofu and the diced shitake mushroom:

At this point, also add the mashed tofu then mixed and stir for 2-3 minutes:

mixing the soft tofu to the ingredients of vegan bopis

Then add 1 tablespoon of annatto powder and mix:

Add vinegar or calamansi:

pouring in calamansi juice to the vegan bopis

Add soy sauce and mix:

Add bay leaves and allow it to simmer for 2 minutes:

Next, add water:

Then add in the carrots and radish then mix until well combined:

adding carrots and radish to the vegan bopis in the pan

Allow it to simmer for 2-3 mins then add salt and pepper:

seasoning the vegan bopis with salt and pepper

Mix well and serve with steamed rice.

mixing the vegan bopis with a wooden ladle

Enjoy a healthy meal!

Top Tips

It is important to mince or slice the ingredients into the same sizes as it is one of the characteristics of the bopis recipe.
For a fancier presentation and of course, taste, top with grated vegan cheese before serving.