Indian
Here are some easy vegetarian Indian recipes from my home kitchen, from everyday dals and sabzis to festive biryani and sweets. Many are naturally vegan, and all of them use ingredients that are available at a regular grocery store or Indian market. For a comforting weeknight bowl, start with my Yellow Moong Dal Soup or my Chana Masala. The Sabudana Khichdi is also delicious, which is a quick tapioca pearl pilaf, and the Bitter Gourd (Karela) recipe shows you how to tame bitter gourd’s bitterness, making it savory and addictive. For something special, make the Delhi Style Paneer Biryani or a stack of Aloo Parathas. New to Indian cooking? My Beginner’s Guide to Indian Spices is a good place to start. Browse all of my Indian recipes below.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For simple weeknight Indian dinners, try the Khichdi (Lentil & Vegetable Rice), the Instant Pot Chana Dal, Tofu Tikka Masala, Peas Pulao or Pav Bhaji. They are all delicious served with rice or my Vegan Naan.
Slice the bitter gourd, scrape out any large seeds, then rub the slices with salt and let them sit so they release their bitter juices. Then, squeeze out the liquid and rinse before cooking. My Bitter Gourd Recipe (Indian Karela Style) walks through each step to removing the bitterness. The bitter gourd is cooked with garbanzo flour, cumin, turmeric, ground coriander and dry mango powder to make it extra savory and satisfying.
Sabudana khichdi is a popular Indian dish that is light and flavorful, and made from soaked tapioca pearls (sabudana, also called sago) stir-fried with potatoes, crushed peanuts, cumin, green chilies and curry leaves. It’s a common fasting food during festivals like Navratri. My Easy Sabudana Khichdi is vegan and cooks in about 15 minutes once the pearls are soaked.
Rinse yellow moong dal and simmer it in water with ginger, garlic and curry powder until soft and creamy. Add halved tomatoes, then finish with a tempering of mustard seeds or cumin seeds in hot oil and a pinch of garam masala. Check out the full recipe for my Easy Yellow Moong Dal Soup.
Most traditional Indian sweets are not vegan because they rely on ghee, milk, khoya or paneer. The good news is that many of them work beautifully with plant-based swaps. Try my Vegan Besan Ladoo (No Ghee), Vegan Rice Kheer, Burfi or browse the full list of Indian Dessert Recipes Made Vegan.