> Vegetarian Recipes

Gobhi Aaloo Mutter Ki Subzi - Cauliflower Peas and Potatoes
This is a simple, wholesome dish that is perfect when served with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) or Parathas (pan fried Indian flatbread). It makes for a quick and easy meal on those days when you can't be bothered spending hours in the kitchen.

Paneer Recipes - Indian Cottage Cheese Recipes
In India, cottage cheese is the perfect alternative for vegetarians! Paneer (the name it is known by in India), is often homemade in big blocks (not runny as in the rest of the world) and then cut into cubes or slices. Its delicate milky flavor easily absorbs and adapts to the flavors of other ingredients used in a dish with it. As a result, it is very versatile. Here are a few of my favorite Pan…

Papad Ki Sabzi - Poppadum Curry
This unusual dish from Rajasthan in western India, is one of those foods you can cook when you're in a hurry and want a hot, cooked meal. It tastes great with plain boiled rice!

Daal-Baati - Rajasthani Lentils and Dumplings
This almost staple dish from the cuisine of Rajasthan in western India, is simple and nutritious. It is even served on special occasions!

Makkai Bharvaan Tamatar - Stuffed Tomatoes with Corn and Capsicum Filling
This is a delicious side dish to serve with any meal. Learn how to make it.

Chilli Paneer - Hot and Sour Stir Fried Cottage Cheese
This delicious dish is an Indian adaptation of a Chinese recipe! Here's the recipe...

Bharvaan Karela - Stuffed Bitter Melon - Stuffed Bitter Gourd
Karela (bitter gourd/ melon) stuffed with a tangy filling! The best part? The bitterness of the karela is more or less removed with a 'special treatment'!

Karela Chips - Bitter Gourd Chips - Bitter Melon Chips
Bitter Gourd just has to be my least favorite vegetable. Inspite of this, I have to admit it is one of those "good for you" foods! In India, karela (bitter gourd/ melon) is often prescribed to those with diabetes as it is believed to have properties that lower blood sugar levels. It is also thought to be an excellent blood purifier and also often used to treat problems like acne.

Baingan Recipes - Eggplant Recipes - Brinjal Recipes
This is my absolute favorite vegetable! I cook it by itself and add it to other dishes to enhance their flavor and nutritional value. Eggplant is made in numerous different ways in India. Here are just a few of them...

Bhindi Recipes - Indian Okra Recipes
Bhindi, also known as Okra and Ladyfinger, is a versatile and easy vegetable to cook. You can fry it, curry it, stuff it.... It is also one of my top favorites veggies. Here are some delicious dishes you can make with it.

Shahi Baingan - Eggplant Curry with Dried Fruit
I love eggplant and Shahi Baingan takes this humble veggie to another level! The nuts and raisins add a regal touch to the dish making it fit to serve a king!

Sheila's Sai Bhaaji - Sai Bhaji - Sindhi-Style Spinach and Mixed Vegetables
Sai Bhaaji is a typical Sindhi (western Indian) food. I got this recipe from my Editor (at my first job!) Sheila Shahani. This is how she makes it in her home. The greens and veggies in it make it a healthy meal choice. Serve Sai Bhaaji with hot Chapatis.

Mukhmali Kofta - Cheese Balls in Thick Indian Gravy
These melt-in-your mouth cheese balls submerged in a thick Indian gravy, are a treat to eat! Serve them with Naans, Parathas or Jeera Rice. This recipe makes 32 cheese balls.

Rogani Kumbh - - Mushrooms in Rich Onion Tomato Gravy
This delicious North Indian dish gets its name Rogan (meaning red) from the redness of its gravy. Don't let the color scare you though, because this is not a particularly hot dish. The red color comes from the tomatoes in the gravy!

Palak Ki Daal - Moong Lentils with Spinach
I love this Daal for two reasons - it's tasty and filled with good stuff!

Sookhi Moong Ki Daal - Dry Moong Lentils
Serve this tasty lentil dish with hot Chapatis or Parathas and your favorite pickle for a simple yet very fulfilling meal.

Shahi Daal - Mixed Lentil Curry
This soup-like dish combines five different kinds of Daals (lentils) and is therefore also known as Panchratan Daal. Serve it with Naans or plain boiled rice and a salad.

Warm Moong Bean Salad
Yummy, very healthy and made in a jiffy! This is my Aunt's recipe for Moong Bean Salad...

Navratan Korma - Nine-gem Curry
This delicious Mughlai dish gets its name Navratan (meaning nine gems) from the nine different veggies, fruit and nuts used in it! Serve it with hot Naans and you're sure to impress!

Gherkin Stir Fry - Tendli Bhaaji
My favorite way to eat Tendli Bhaaji is with hot Chapatis. This simple, Konkani recipe for cooking gherkin turns out a really tasty dish!

Paneer Bhurjee
A tasty version of Anda Bhurjee (stir-fried eggs), Paneer Bhurjee is also a great breakfast dish. It also makes a quick and easy dinner dish when teamed with hot Chapatis or Parathas.

Tandoori Paneer Tikka
Soft, juicy chunks of paneer marinated in Tandoori masala and then grilled with veggies! This is a great dish to serve at your next barbeque.

Butter Mutter Paneer
This dish is the vegetarian version of the popular Butter Chicken!

Mutter Mushroom Ki Subzi
Want a tasty, wholesome meal you can cook in minutes? Try Mutter Mushroom Ki Subzi!

Bharvaan Simla Mirchi
This is another one of those foods that look like they take a lot of time and effort to make but in truth, are easy to prepare. Bharvaan Simla Mirchi can even be stuffed with Masala Kheema (see recipe below).

Bharvaan Baingan
Baby eggplants stuffed with a delicious, tangy spice mix! Serve this really easy-to-cook dish with plain white rice and Lehsuni Daal (garlic-flavored yellow lentils).

Baingan-Aaloo Ki Subji
I have never met an eggplant I didn't love! Eggplant is one of my favorite vegetables. The nice thing is you can make it so many ways. This recipe is really easy and turns out a delicious dish that tastes great when served with hot Chapatis.

Tadka Daal
This easy to cook dish is so tasty it is among the most popular Daal dishes in India. Cook it and you'll see why...

Zucchini Ki Bhaji
This delicious recipe is courtesy my dear friend Lekha Menon. It's easy to cook and so tasty, I for one could eat it all by itself. You of course, can choose to combine it with hot Chapatis or rice and your favorite Daal!

Sookha Kala Chana
Sookha Kala Chana is easy to make and tastes really nice as a snack or side dish in a main meal. The Chana is also an excellent source of protein.

Palak Ki Subzi
Quick to make and good to eat is the perfect caption for Palak Ki Subzi! This is a tasty vegetable dish and it is full of good nutrients too.

Aaloo Shepoo Chi Bhaaji/ Aaloo Sowa Ki Subji
I love this tasty vegetable dish from Maharashtra in western India, for its sheer simplicity. It takes just 10-15 minutes to make from start to finish but the results are very satisfying indeed. Serve Aaloo Shepu Chi Bhaaji with hot Chapatis and a bowl of your favorite Daal (lentils).

Most Popular Indian Vegetarian Dishes
Veggie foods we love..and you will too! These are some of most searched for and most loved Indian vegetarian recipes. They are not just favorites among Indians. People all over the world enjoy them and some of them have iconic status...well almost.

Masala Daal
This tasty dish goes just as well with hot Chapatis as it does with plain boiled rice. Throw in a salad or a veggie dish and you've got the perfect vegetarian meal!

Bharvaan Bhindi (stuffed okra)
Serve Bharvaan Bhindi as the perfect crunchy accompaniment to plain boiled rice and a Daal (lentil dish) of your choice.

Dahi Bhindi (okra in yoghurt sauce)
This tangy dish tastes great with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) and Lehsuni Daal (garlic flavored lentils).

Paav Bhaaji
A well-loved food all over India, Paav Bhaaji is western Indian in origin. Paav Bhaji is so wholesome you can have it as a meal. It is also a hot favorite Indian street food! Here's the recipe...

Mirchi Ka Saalan (hot-sour green peppers)
Mirchi Ka Saalan is a hot, tangy dish best eaten with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) or Parathas (layered Indian flatbread).

Sarson Ka Saag
This typically Punjabi (North Indian) dish tastes really nice with Makki Ki Roti (Indian maize flatbread) and a dollop of fresh butter.

South Indian Kadhi
Unlike the Kadhi made in North India, this dish does not include Pakodis (gram flour fritters) and turmeric. This dish must be eaten as it is made because reheating will cause the yoghurt in it to curdle.

Tomato Kadhi
Tangy, tasty and so simple to make, Tomato Kadhi goes really well with plain boiled rice. It's also full of veggies, so it's good for you too.

Sindhi Kadhi
This tangy curry is traditionally made by the Sindhi community. Serve it with a long-grained, fragrant rice like Basmati. Since it's full of vegetables and made with tomatoes and gram flour, it's also nutritious.

Pakodi Kadhi (yoghurt and gram flour curry with fritters)
Serve this nutritious dish with piping hot plain boiled rice. Versions of this Kadhi are made in both Northern and Western India. Kadhi can also be made without the Pakodis (fritters).

Lentil Recipes
Lentils form an important part of any Indian meal. Here are the recipes for some of the most popular ones.

Sookha Aaloo-Simla Mirch (dry potato-capsicum/bell pepper)
Baby potatoes and crunchy bell peppers make this dish subtle yet tasty. Serve it with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) or plain boiled rice and Kaali Daal (black lentil curry).

Kaddu Ki Subji (pumpkin)
In this dish, the slightly sweet flavor of the pumpkin is offset by the heat from the chillies and the tanginess from the raw mango powder. Serve it with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread).

Pyaaz Ka Bharta (seasoned onions)
Rustle up this dish when you want something tasty but don't have time to get elaborate. It tastes great with plain or stuffed parathas.

Bund Gobhi Ki Subji (stir fry cabbage)
Serve this simple veggie with hot Chapatis (Indian flatbread) and a tangy pickle.

Aaloo Ka Bharta
Aaloo Ka Bharta or seasoned, mashed potato Indian-style has its home in the state of Bihar in North India. Serve it with hot chapatis (Indian flatbread) topped with ghee.

South Indian Stir-fried Potato
This easy-to-make potato dish tastes great as a filling in Dosas (crispy rice batter pancakes) or eaten with hot chapatis (Indian flatbread) or parathas (pan-fried Indian flatbread).

Kashmiri Dum Aaloo
A typical Kashmiri recipe, Dum Aaloo is cooked under Dum or pressure. In this cooking method, the food is cooked under pressure in its own juices.

Sambar
Serve Sambar piping hot with Idlis, Vadas or just plain and simple boiled rice.

Lobia (black-eyed bean curry)
Serve this tasty and healthy bean dish with piping hot plain boiled rice, Kachumbar and your favorite pickle.

Chole (chickpea curry)
Serve this crowd pleaser piping hot and accompanied by pooris/bhatooras (fried Indian bread).

Hara Bhara Kabab
A tasty alternative for those who love kababs but are vegetarian, Hara Bhara kabab gets its name and green colour from the healthy spinach in it.

Daal Bukhara (Bukhara-style black lentils)
Bukhara-style cooking is from the North West Frontier Province of what used to be India before the partition happened at independence. NWFP is now in Pakistan but this rich style of cooking still happily straddles the border and is well loved on either side!

Gobhi Methi (cauliflower with fenugreek)
Team this dish with plain boiled rice or hot chapatis (Indian flatbread).

Achaari Baingan (pickle-style baby eggplant)
Hot and tangy, Achaari Baingan tastes great with hot chapatis (Indian flatbread).

Kurkuri Bhindi (crispy okra)
Eat this okra dish with plain boiled rice and Lehsuni Daal (garlic-flavored lentils) and you've got a tasty and nutritious meal.

Dahi Vada
Dahi Vada can just as easily be a main dish on a hot day as it can be the perfect accompaniment to other meat or vegetable dishes on a special occassion. You can also eat it as a snack!

Vegetable Kolhapuri
From the state of Maharashtra in western India, this popular dish is traditionally spicy but you can adjust the heat to your tastebuds. Serve it with plain boiled rice or hot chapatis (Indan flatbread).

Kaali Daal (black lentils)
Another popular North Indian dish, Kaali Daal is also known as Ma Ki Daal (mom's lentils) since it is wholesome and delicious! Serve Kaali Daal with a vegetable side dish and Naans (tandoor baked flatbread) or Butter Chicken and Naans.

Malai Kofta (vege-balls in a thick sauce)
A dish for special occassions, Malai Kofta is the vegetarian alternative to meatballs. It goes very well with naans (tandoor-baked flatbread) or Jeera Rice.

Khatta Meetha Baingan (sweet-sour eggplant)
If you thought eggplant was a boring vegetable you haven't eaten this dish. Try it, you'll definitely like it.

Baingan Ka Bharta (seasoned roast eggplant)
This dish has a distinctive flavour thanks to the mustard oil used in it. Baingan Bharta is a healthy food - eggplant that is the main ingredient, is low in fat and sodium and high in dietary fiber, vitamins C and B6 magnesium, phosphorus and pottasium. Add to that the tomatoes, green chillies, garlic and onion and you've packed a mighty nutritional punch in one single dish!

Chatpati Arvi (hot and sour, crispy fried colocasia/taro)
Very similiar to potatoes in both texture and taste, colocasia is easy to cook. It goes really well with meat dishes. This dish from North India tastes especially good with plain boiled rice and Lehsuni Daal (garlic flavored lentils)or Rajma (red kidney bean curry).

Palak Paneer (spinach and cottage cheese)
Another hot favorite North Indian dish! This mildly flavored dish is super healthy too. If Paneer is not on hand or you want a dairy-free option you can also use tofu or veggies like cauliflower or potato.

Bhindi Ki Subji (stir-fried okra)
This simple dish tastes great with hot chapatis (Indian flatbread) or parathas (pan-fried Indian flatbread). Team with a dish like Rajma (red kidney bean curry) and you've got a terrific vegetarian meal.

Rajma (red kidney bean curry)
This dish is extremely popular not just in North India but elsewhere as well. Serve Rajma with plain boiled rice, Kachumbar salad and your favourite pickle.

Baigun Bhaja (fried eggplant)
Baigun Bhaja (fried eggplant) from the state of West Bengal is a great side dish for any meal. You won't believe how easy it is to make!

Lehsuni Daal (garlic flavoured lentils)
Made with masoor daal (orange lentils) this dish is simple and very tasty. It is in fact almost a staple in most homes. It makes a great accompaniment for plain boiled rice and a vegetable or meat dish. The recipe makes enough for 2-3 servings.

Paneer Kabab (cottage cheese kabab)
This simple dish can be made ahead of time and grilled quickly when you're ready to eat. It also makes a great appetizer.

Beans Foogath
Foogath is the term used for any vegetable dish made with coconut and curry leaves. The ingredients are few and the recipe simple as can be.

Aaloo Mutter (peas and potatoes)
If you're in a rush but want something tasty and wholesome to eat, this is the dish for you. You can cook it quickly in a pan and even quicker in a pressure cooker.

Mutter Paneer
This North Indian curry made with mutter (peas) and paneer (cottage cheese) is an all time favourite in most Indian restaurants. Make it in your home and you've got a sure crowd pleaser!