Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (2024)

Enjoy an amazing meal with these vegan Indian recipes! You can cook Indian food at home, choose one or more of these dishes to cook and get started!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (1)

Indian food has a great reputation for vegetarian eating, but isn’t as friendly to vegans. With cream, butter, and ghee in just about everything at Indian restaurants, it can be a challenge to figure out just what’s ok on the menu!

Luckily these ingredients are easy to work around when cooking at home thanks to ingredients like cashew cream, coconut milk, vegan butter, coconut oil, and tofu!

Now if you do want to go out for Indian food, you certainly can order vegan food. Just make sure to order dishes without cream and ask for no ghee to be added to your food.

And if you can find a South Indian restaurant, chances are a lot more of the menu is already vegan!

A Proper Sindhi Indian Meal:

I grew up with Sindhi Indian culture, and in Sindhi traditions if you’re serving an Indian dinner it must include:

  1. A dal, also spelled daal or dhal. This dal can be ‘wet,’ meaning soupy, or ‘dry,’ or thicker–containing little to no liquid at the end of cooking.
  2. A dry subzi. Subzi means vegetable dish, and dry just means that there is little to no liquid left at the end of cooking!
  3. A wet subzi. This refers to a vegetable dish that is more of a stew consistency.
  4. Rice. This is going to be basmati rice, and it can be plain rice, jeera rice (rice made with cumin), saffron rice, or a simple rice pulao with some lentils or vegetable.
  5. Flatbread. This could be something like chapati, naan, puri, paratha (pronounced parantha in my house), or roti.
  6. Yogurt, or dahi. You want fresh, thick, tangy yogurt for the most traditional experience. It can be served plain or it can be jazzed up to make raita. This is a cooling counterpart to the spicy dishes.

There are exceptions to these ‘rules’ of course. For example, if I made a biryani, the meal isn’t going to include 5 other dishes! And a dish like kofta might replace one of the subzi dishes.. or all of the dishes but rice or bread.

And when I’m cooking an Indian meal for myself and my husband it doesn’t usually include all of these! We’ll often just make one or two recipes with some rice and enjoy that for dinner (and the leftovers for lunch/future dinners!). But if you ever want to impress, then tick off a recipe from each of these categories. ?

Indian meals are best served family style so are perfect for big family dinners or any dinner party.

Enjoy any of these vegan Indian recipes on their own or alongside any other!

Incredible Vegan Indian Recipes

Enjoy a delicious Indian meal without the dairy, meat, and eggs with these vegan recipes!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (2)

Vegan Dal Makhani

This vegan version of the popular Indian dish, dal makhani is absolutely mouth watering and delicious. It's a creamy butter sauce curry made with urad dal and kidney beans.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (3)

Vegan Malai Kofta: Indian Dumplings in Curry Tomato Cream Sauce

Potato and tofu-ricotta dumplings are fried or baked until crispy on the outside and soft inside, then served with a flavorful curried tomato cream sauce. Enjoy with some Indian flatbread or basmati rice.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (4)

Sindhi Vegetable Biryani

This Sindhi vegetable biryani is a popular and traditional dish, with layers of spiced vegetables and chickpeas and basmati rice. It's said that biryani is the food of the gods, and it's easy to understand why when you eat this delicious recipe!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (5)

Vegan Homemade Restaurant Style Naan

This vegan homemade restaurant style naan is incredibly easy to make. The flatbread comes out soft and bubbly and is perfect for scooping up delicious Indian curry!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (6)

Baingan Bharta

Baingan bharta is a smoky Indian eggplant dish that is naturally vegan and gluten free. It's easy to make and so delicious! Serve it with basmati rice and/or Indian flatbread. And it's great with a side of raita!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (7)

Cauliflower Moilee Curry

Moilee curry is classic South Indian curry, typically made with fish. This spicy version is filled with cauliflower for a delicious vegan take. Serve it with some basmati rice or enjoy it as a stew!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (8)

Bhindi Masala - Dry Fry Indian Okra

This is a dry fried Indian okra recipe, called bhindi masala. It's quick to make and delicious!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (9)

Cocktail Chana Samosa

These finger food sized cocktail chana samosa are the perfect appetizer or snack! You make them using spring roll wrappers and can bake them or fry them to cook.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (10)

Garlic Urad Dal Fry

This delicious Indian dal is so easy to make! It's uses a tadka to infuse the dish with bold flavors and is a perfect part of any Indian meal!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (11)

Vegan Palak Tofu Paneer

Cheesy tofu is fried until golden and smothered in a creamy spiced spinach gravy in this veganized version of the Indian dish palak paneer.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (12)

Masoor Dal Tadka - Indian Red Lentil Dal

Masoor dal tadka is a delicious Indian lentil curry made with red lentils. It's easy to make, naturally vegan and gluten free, and full of flavor.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (13)

Restaurant Style Chana Masala

This restaurant style chana masala recipe is incredibly easy to make and so flavorful and delicious. It's a stewed chickpeas in a richly flavored tomato gravy. One of my favorite Indian dishes!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (14)

Restaurant Style Aloo Matar

This mouth watering Indian curry is made with potatoes and peas and cooked in a spiced tomato sauce. It's so quick and easy to make! Serve with basmati rice, naan, and if you like alongside other Indian recipes. It serves 4 as a main dish, or 6-8 as a side dish.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (15)

Kale Pakoras

These kale pakoras make a great appetizer or snack. Enjoy them with chutney for dipping. They are naturally vegan and gluten free!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (16)

Homemade Tamarind Chutney

Tamarind chutney is a mouth watering sweet and tangy sauce. Serve it with Indian curries, samosas and other Indian snacks, or use in place of tamarind concentrate for extra flavor in any recipe!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (17)

Homemade Cilantro Chutney

This cilantro-mint chutney is easy to make and so delicious! It's best enjoyed in the first week after making, but can be frozen for longer storage.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (18)

Black Lentil (Urad) Dal

A refreshingly gingery and curry spiced black lentil (urad) dal. This recipe is easy to make, has a pantry friendly ingredient list, and is super healthy!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (19)

Vegan Mattar Tofu Paneer

A garam masala spiced tomato sauce is made creamy with cauliflower and coconut milk and is simmered with tofu and green peas for a delicious, medium spicy, Indian dish reminiscent of mattar paneer.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (20)

Vegan Raita: Indian Cucumber and Mint Yogurt Sauce

Raita is a cooling yogurt-based Indian sauce with cucumber and mint. This vegan version is quick and easy to make and tastes just like the original!

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (21)

Kale Kofta Kadhi

This Indian dish hides an entire bunch of kale in these tantalizing veggie kofta, which are served in a tangy, creamy spiced vegan yogurt sauce (kadhi).

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (22)

Vegan Mango Lassi

Smooth and creamy, sweet and lightly sour, mango lassi is a delicious and refreshing summertime beverage.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (23)

Tandoori Cauliflower and Seitan

Tandoori cauliflower and seitan is a plant based version of the popular Indian curry. Smothered in an ultra flavorful, mouth-watering spiced-tangy yogurt based sauce, this one pot meal is sure to join your regular dinner rotation.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (24)

Indian Spiced Chickpeas and Greens

This recipe for Indian spiced chickpeas and greens is a quick and easy dry curry. It's delicious with kale or whatever greens you have on hand! Pantry- and weeknight-friendly.

For Some Indian-Inspired Recipes

Indian food doesn't have to be traditional! Enjoy the flavors of curry in some of these recipes.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (25)

Tamarind Red Lentil Soup

A creamy and tangy tamarind red lentil soup.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (26)

Vegan Masala Curry Mac and Cheese

This masala curry mac and cheese takes the best of Indian and Western cuisines to make one deliciously epic dish! The cheesy, velvety sauce even has hidden cauliflower for an extra nutritious meal.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (27)

Golden Chickpeas and Curried Cauliflower

Curried chickpeas and curry roasted cauliflower are served over basmati rice in this delicious, healthy Indian-inspired meal.

Delicious Vegan Indian Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Which Indian dishes are typically vegan? ›

Indian Menu Items that are Consistently Vegan
  • Chana masala.
  • Kitchari.
  • Dosas.
  • Pakoras and Vegetable Samosas (as appetizers)
  • Basmati Rice.
  • Idlis.
  • Roti and Chapati (but avoid ghee chapatis, which contain milk, and ask that they be served without butter)

Which famous Indian is vegan? ›

  • 1 Richa Chadha. Actor, producer, and political activist Richa Chadha is passionate about meat-free living. ...
  • 2 & 3 Riteish & Genelia Deshmukh. ...
  • 4 Alia Bhatt. ...
  • 5 Malaika Arora. ...
  • 6 Jacqueline Fernandez. ...
  • 7 Esha Gupta. ...
  • 8 Sonakshi Sinha.

What is the most delicious vegan food in the world? ›

Top 100 Vegan Dishes in the World
  • Rice Dish. Diri ak pwa. HAITI. shutterstock. ...
  • Dip. Guacamole. MEXICO. shutterstock. ...
  • Appetizer. Zeytoon parvardeh. Gilan Province. Iran. ...
  • Appetizer. Maakouda. MOROCCO. and 2 more regions. ...
  • Dip. Hummus. LEBANON. and 7 more regions. ...
  • Vegetable Dish. Yemista. GREECE. ...
  • Dip. Muhammara. Aleppo. ...
  • Snack. Tempe goreng. INDONESIA.

What is the most delicious Indian dish? ›

In the following paragraphs, let us discuss some of the most delicious Indian cuisines.
  • Butter Chicken. Butter chicken is mouth-watering, delicate chicken cooked in spiced pureed tomatoes and milk cream over a pan. ...
  • Samosas. ...
  • Matar Paneer. ...
  • Rogan Josh. ...
  • Tandoori Chicken. ...
  • Masala Dosa. ...
  • Hyderabadi Biriyani.

Why is India so vegan? ›

Indians typically pray to god in the form of animals and nature and see harming animals as unethical. This belief is especially strong in Hinduism in particular.

What percent of India is vegan? ›

According to a survey conducted by Rakuten Insight in February 2024, more than 48 percent of respondents in India said they had consumed plant-based food products due to their concerns regarding animal welfare in food production. Furthermore, about 46 percent did so to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Which country is #1 for vegans? ›

United Kingdom. Compared to all the countries in the world, the UK has the most vegans.

Are most vegans wealthy? ›

Veganism has often been associated with wealth, but this stereotype isn't accurate: people who make under $50,000 a year are three times more likely to be vegan than those who make more than that, according to a 2023 Gallup poll.

Is curry traditionally vegan? ›

Often menus will give you the option of ordering a curry with tofu instead of meat. The curry paste is usually the ingredient to look out for, as many of them are made with shrimp paste. In addition, some curries may be seasoned with fish sauce. It really depends on the chef's preference, so be sure to ask!

What Indian food doesn't have dairy in it? ›

South Indian dosas and idlis: Indulge in the beloved South Indian delicacies of dosas and idlis, which are naturally lactose-free. Dosas are thin, crispy fermented rice and lentil crepes often served with chutneys and sambhar, a flavorful lentil and vegetable stew.

Are Hindu meals vegan? ›

A Hindu airline meal is a non-vegetarian meal type that is suitable for Hindu people. This meal type is available for Hindus who are not entirely vegetarian. The meal will often include some type of meat or fish, as well as dairy, but will never contain beef or pork.

What is vegan in Indian culture? ›

Vegetarianism is deeply ingrained in Indian culture, with vegetarian cuisine being widely available and widely accepted across the country. This cultural acceptance extends to veganism as well, as many Indians are familiar with and respectful of dietary restrictions related to animal products.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Margart Wisoky

Last Updated:

Views: 5540

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Margart Wisoky

Birthday: 1993-05-13

Address: 2113 Abernathy Knoll, New Tamerafurt, CT 66893-2169

Phone: +25815234346805

Job: Central Developer

Hobby: Machining, Pottery, Rafting, Cosplaying, Jogging, Taekwondo, Scouting

Introduction: My name is Margart Wisoky, I am a gorgeous, shiny, successful, beautiful, adventurous, excited, pleasant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.