Easy Vegetarian Indian Recipes

If you are looking for vegetarian food to cook at home, Indian food is a great place to look as it involves plenty of vegetables and quality plant-based protein like chickpeas, lentils, and paneer. The array of easy vegetarian Indian recipes that are in this article will be an access point for you to learn all about the flavors and ingredients commonly used in Indian cuisine.

The two dishes that my non-Indian friends always ask for me to make are Chana Masala and Vegan Dal Makhani. These are the dishes that they are familiar with from eating out at Indian restaurants and they are amazed by how flavorful and good the home cooked clean and vegan versions are. Paneer Bhurji is also requested as that is something they enjoy and is not served at Indian restaurants.

My journey to cooking and cooking Indian food started out as a necessity. At 17, I had moved to the U.S. and started my undergraduate studies in Oregon. I was a poor student who craved home cooked Indian food – pasta and bread were just not cutting it. At the time, I would call my mom (there was no WhatsApp or free calling service then) and while the meter was running, I would get a recipe to make. I started with a simple Peas Pulao and Chana Masala as it was easy to find majority if ingredients in an American supermarket. There was no Amazon delivery in 1995.

And that is how it all started. One weekend, I was really craving samosa and that day happened to be my call day home. I asked my mom for the recipe and she walked me through the recipe on how to make the potato filling. Then, the big question was how to make the dough, which is a time-intensive and long process. However, after I got off the phone, I had a brilliant idea – why not use flour tortillas as a base/shell for the samosas? That Sunday morning, my brunch was samosa made with tortilla shells. And that is also the recipe that I shared with this young Indian guy (who was also away from home and missing home cooked meals) and that recipe sharing lead to conversations and now, we are been happily married for over 30 years. Crazy!

Most weekend nights and during the week, we keep it really simple with some of our favorite Indian vegetarian dinner recipes such as a dal (for protein), subzi (for vegetables) and rice (for carbs). We tend to have Yellow Moong Dal or Chana Dal as they tend to cook fast and are super easy. And then, often, I will make vegetables like Curried Carrots & Potatoes, Baked Cauliflower & Potatoes, or Cabbage & Coconut Stir Fry. Meanwhile, for rice dishes, I will make Peas Pulao or Roasted Vegetable Rice Curry Indian if I have some extra time.

Table of Contents

• Why Indian Vegetarian Food is Perfect for Weeknight Dinners
• Indian Vegetarian Pantry Essentials
• Quick Weeknight Dinners (Under 30 Minutes)
  • Pav Bhaji
  • Indian-style Curry Roasted Vegetable Rice Bowl with Chickpeas
  • Paneer Bhurji
• Dal and Lentil Dishes
  • South Indian Style Dal
  • Easy Vegan Dal Makhani
  • Instant Pot Dal Makhani
  • Curried Adzuki Beans
  • Yellow Moong Dal Soup
  • Instant Pot Chana Dal
• Rice and Grain Dishes
  • Peas Pulao
  • Indian-style Curried Quinoa
  • Khichdi (Lentil & Vegetable Rice)
• Indian Breakfasts That Work for Dinner
  • Curried Tofu Scramble
  • Aloo Parathas
• Weekend and Special Occasions
  • Vegan Indian Rice Pudding
  • Delhi-style Paneer Biryani with Chutney
• Tips for Success with Indian Vegetarian Cooking
• FAQ

Why Indian Vegetarian Food is Perfect for Weeknight Dinners

Indian vegetarian food is surprisingly uncomplicated and accessible for any day of the week, even when you are particularly busy. Here are all the reasons why vegetarian Indian recipes are perfect to include for your weeknight dinners:

• Protein-rich Without Meat: Using dal, chickpeas, paneer, or lentils, which have plenty of protein, no substitutes are needed. These ingredients cook quickly and are often part of one-pot recipes, which is great for reducing cleanup time.
• One Spice Pantry, Many Dishes: Once you have the basic spices that you will need to produce Indian dishes at home, weeknight cooking will be fast and easy.
• Most Classic Dishes are 30 Minutes or Under: Many of the Indian dishes in this article are cooked in a single pot with quick-cooking ingredients. Unlike meat recipes, which can sometimes require an hour or longer to cook, using a mixture beans, legumes, tofu, and paneer means that you won’t have to cook vegetarian Indian recipes for as long.
• Naturally Gluten-free and Easily Made Vegan: With a focus on plant-based protein, Indian spices, and fresh vegetables, many of the following Indian recipes are naturally gluten-free and vegan. In the case of recipes that use paneer, tofu can often be used as a replacement for a vegan alternative.

Indian Vegetarian Pantry Essentials

Spices, lentils, beans, tomatoes, and rice are essential components of Indian cuisine, resulting in flavorful, nutritious, and filling dishes. Every Indian kitchen has these ingredients on hand to easily prepare delicious healthy vegetarian Indian recipes throughout the week:

• The Five Spices You Will Need for Almost Every Indian Recipe: Cumin seeds, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, and red chili powder are essential spices to Indian cooking.
• Dal (lentils): These include masoor dal, moong dal, and chana dal, which are the most versatile. All three can be used for saucy spiced dal dishes and served with rice and naan. Masoor dal is red lentils which are often used for a creamy dal infused with ingredients like onions, chilis, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, and turmeric. Meanwhile, moong dal are hulled mung beans which result in a creamy yellow spiced soup, and chana dal is hulled black chickpeas which can be used in dal soups or curries.
• Canned Chickpeas and Canned Tomatoes: These ingredients help with pulling together quick meals on weeknights as they don’t need much cooking. You can simply open the tins to add to your Indian dishes so you can get dinner on the table fast.
• Basmati Rice: It is worth buying a large bag as it accompanies so many different dishes in Indian cuisine from spicy curries to saucy dal.

Quick Weeknight Dinners (Under 30 Minutes)

Weeknights are when dinners need to be fast. Easy vegetarian Indian recipes are made for the nights when everyone is busy and you want something flavorful, nourishing, and hearty to add to the table. From a vegetable rice bowl full of high protein chickpeas to a spiced paneer scramble, these Indian recipes are quick and easy to whip up.

Pav Bhaji

Pav bhaji is a delicious type of Indian street food which originated in Mumbai, but it is incredibly easy to make at home as well which makes it excellent to make on a weeknight. It is basically a spiced mashed vegetable mixture (cauliflower, potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes, beans, kale, ginger, pav bhaji masala, and more) that is served on whole wheat buns. The original version usually contains plenty of salt and fat, but my version is leaner with just nutritious whole food ingredients.

Indian-style Curry Roasted Vegetable Rice Bowl with Chickpeas

This Indian-style curry roasted vegetable rice bowl with chickpeas is a wonderful blend of fragrant basmati rice, carrots, eggplant, curry powder, cumin, cilantro, pine nuts, and more. The rice becomes yellow from the curry spices while the pine nuts add some crunch and the vegetables add a roasted flavor. The vegetables in this dish were chosen for color and the fact that they roast quickly, but this recipe is easily modifiable with other vegetables; just make sure they will be visually appealing in the finished dish.

Paneer Bhurji

Bhurji is something that every Indian family has their own version of and mine is this one, which includes paneer cheese, peas, onions, tomatoes, spices, and a cilantro garnish. Paneer bhurji is a spiced paneer cheese scramble that kind of has the appearance of scrambled eggs and is studded with diced tomatoes and onions, along with bright green peas. It comes together in 20 minutes making it ideal for a weeknight dinner.

Dal and Lentil Dishes

Dal and lentils are staples of Indian cuisine, and in particular, Indian vegetarian food as they are high in protein and fiber, and very versatile. Often, these ingredients will be turned into creamy soups or stews that are enriched with savory spices like curry powder, cumin, ginger, chilies, and more. Here are the best vegetarian Indian recipes containing these wonderful legumes.

South Indian Style Dal

South Indian style dal is special because it is creamy from red lentils and is well-spiced and has some heat from fresh chopped jalapenos. It only takes around 40 minutes or so to make from start to finish and could simply be served with naan and a salad to round out the meal. This dal has all the goodness of South Indian flavors and it is super clean. It’s my go-to recipe for the evenings that I crave those South Indian flavors of coconut, mustard, and curry leaves.

Easy Vegan Dal Makhani

Traditionally, dal makhani, which is made with black dal, is served for special occasions in India after being simmered for hours, and it has plenty of cream and butter. My version, which is a vegan dal makhani, is a little lighter to fit in with a vegan lifestyle, focusing more on the dal, spices, and tomatoes. It is a family favorite and a crowd pleaser; I don’t mind making it as it takes only 5 minutes to assemble and an Instant Pot does all the work. My son, who is in college, now makes it once a week.

Instant Pot Dal Makhani

Dal makhani is an Indian lentil dish that is buttery and rich with tomatoes, spices, black lentils, and red kidney beans. Traditionally, dal makhani can take between 7 to 8 hours to cook for special occasions, but this Instant Pot dal makhani means that you will be able to make it any night of the week. While the original is naturally vegetarian, this Instant Pot version is vegan as it uses coconut oil and plant milk in place of the usual dairy.

Curried Adzuki Beans

These curried adzuki beans are a high protein dish with traditional curry spices and the nutty taste of adzuki beans. The fact that you can make this recipe in either an Instant Pot or stovetop gives you options for when you need to make dinner fast. From start to finish, this dish should only take around 45 minutes which will give you plenty of time to cook some rice to serve on the side.

Yellow Moong Dal Soup

A brilliant yellow color with a simple blend of spices like garlic, ginger, and garam masala, yellow moong dal soup is creamy and comforting. Since it is uncomplicated, requiring few ingredients and a very small amount of chopping, it is the type of dish you can cook when you need something flavorful and nourishing fast. This is go-to comfort food for me and my husband. When we come back from our work or vacation travels, our first meal is almost always yellow moong dal with peas pulao.

Instant Pot Chana Dal

Instant Pot chana dal is a creamy dish that is made with dried split garbanzo beans and commonly served with rice. It is the epitome of simple as it is mostly just chana dal, tomatoes, onions, and spices, and it only takes around 25 minutes to make. Despite its seeming simplicity, it has a wonderfully complex flavor from the combination of spices, fresh ginger, and bright lemon.

Rice and Grain Dishes

Both rice and grains play an important role in Indian cuisine whether they are served alongside curries to soak up the sauces or are made in a pilaf style similar to peas pulao. Here are a mixture of simple vegetarian Indian recipes containing rice and other grains.

Peas Pulao

Peas pulao, otherwise known as matar pulao, is a vegan rice dish containing peas, basmati, onion, and spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and cumin. The results is a side dish that pairs beautifully with other healthy vegetarian Indian recipes like curries or other side dishes like vegetable salads.

Indian-style Curried Quinoa

Quinoa’s delicious nutty taste and protein content has made it a signature grain in vegetarian and vegan cuisine, and it pairs beautifully with Indian spices as well. This Indian-style curried quinoa recipe is a warm salad that can be whipped up for a main meal or served alongside other dishes as a side dish. It has an array of colors (green peas, yellow corn, and red tomatoes) along with a mixture of textures from crunchy cashews or peanuts and fluffy quinoa.

Khichdi (Lentil & Vegetable Rice)

This khichdi recipe is a dish where lentils and rice are cooked to a porridge-like consistency, topped with vegetables like grilled cauliflower and wilted kale. While it is a dish that is easy to prepare, this version is plated in such a way that it looks suitable to serve for a dinner party with the yogurt on the bottom, a cup of rice on top, and the kale and cauliflower served on the side. This is a Thanksgiving tradition in our family. It’s served on a large platter and everyone loves it.

Indian Breakfasts That Work for Dinner

Indian breakfasts tend to be savory rather than sweet, making them perfect to translate to dinner. Here are some of the best savory Indian breakfast recipes that you could serve for dinner.

Curried Tofu Scramble

This curried tofu scramble is an excellent replacement for eggs as the tofu crumbles nicely and has a texture that is reminiscent of cooked eggs. The curry spices make the tofu yellow while imparting a delicious warmth and spiciness. The fact that this scramble can be cooked up quickly makes it a win for any busy night through the week; you can even have all your spices pre-measured and veggies pre-chopped to make the process go even faster when you need dinner fast.

Aloo Parathas

Aloo parathas are basically a flatbread that is stuffed with a spiced mashed potato mixture, which makes them very delicious and fluffy. While the dough will require an hour of rising time once mixed, after it has risen, it should only take around 30 minutes for you to assemble and cook them for a quick meal. It is best to have pre-cooked potatoes on hand as it will cut down your prep time and the starches will have settled, making them easier to work with.

Weekend and Special Occasions

If you are looking for vegetarian Indian recipes that are a little more special to serve on the weekend or at as part of a special occasion dinner, the following recipes will likely inspire you. One is a dessert and the other is an elegant rice dish, and both will likely wow anyone you serve them to.

Vegan Indian Rice Pudding

Vegan Indian rice pudding, otherwise known as kheer, is a creamy spiced rice pudding that includes chopped nuts, raisins, and saffron. While it is an accessible dessert to prepare in your home kitchen, it is commonly served for special occasions and looks stunning when it is dish up in dessert glasses. My husband’s favorite dessert is kheer and so I experimented and perfected the traditional kheer recipe to be made vegan with various plant-based milks.

Delhi-style Paneer Biryani with Chutney

This Delhi-style paneer biryani with chutney is a classic Delhi dish that is often served for weddings, parties, and other special occasions. It is a spiced rich dish that contains tofu or paneer, fresh cilantro and mint, onion, and green bell pepper along with a slightly sweet and very savory chutney that offers a bomb of flavors. This is an indulgence meal for us and I usually only make it on special occasion and holidays as it requires a lot of time and effort – but it is so worth it.

Tips for Success with Indian Vegetarian Cooking

• Toast the Spices: Toast the whole spices in oil before adding the onions as this is where the base flavor comes from.
• Build Your Dal Pantry First: Chana dal, moong dal, and masoor dal cover most recipes.
• Batch Cook Dal and Freeze in Portions: Most dals freeze well and reheat in 5 minutes.
• Garam Masala Goes in at the End, Not the Beginning: It is a finishing spice mixture, not a base spice.
• Fresh Ginger and Garlic Make a Real Difference: Both offer a complex undertone of flavor to Indian dishes. Using a store-bought or prepared paste is fine for weeknights but use fresh for weekends.
• Substitute Turmeric with Curry Powder: If you don’t have turmeric powder on hand, you can use curry powder which is a blend of different spices including turmeric.

FAQ