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    Home » Food Collections » Indian Vegan Recipes

    33 Indian Vegan Recipes (Plant-Based)

    Published: May 12, 2021 by Sangeetha Vel | Updated: October 4, 2022 Leave a Comment

    6 shares

    Indian vegan recipes are flavorful, aromatic, and filled with full of taste. From savory breakfast to delicious lunch and dinner meals the plant-based Indian recipes have endless variations. So I have created a list of tasty and flavorful Indian vegan recipes to easily try and enjoy at home. This collection covers most of the restaurant, street, and home-style foods that one should never miss. These recipes can be best for a regular day craving, lunch box, or a food party. And this list of recipes will give clear step-by-step written instructions with video, and pictures.

    Indian Vegan Recipes
    Indian Vegan Recipes
    Jump to:
    • What is a Vegan diet?
    • Types of Vegan diets
    • What is best about Indian Vegan recipes?
    • Are all Indian vegetarian recipes Vegan?
    • How can I modify Indian veg recipes to vegan?
    • What are the best vegetables to mock like meat?
    • Protein-rich foods for a Vegan diet
    • What you can expect from this post?
    • Appam
    • Rava Dosa (Suji Ka Dosa)
    • Roti (Chapati)
    • Upma Recipe (Rava Upma)
    • Delicious Ragi Balls | Kali | Mudde
    • Khichdi
    • Semiya Upma (Vermicelli upma)
    • Basmati Rice
    • Pudina Rice (Mint Pulao)
    • Vegetable Fried Rice
    • Tomato Chutney
    • Sambar Recipe
    • Vatha Kuzhambu (Vathal Kulambu)
    • Gutti Vankaya Curry (Kura)
    • Vegetable Korma (Veggie Kurma)
    • Meal Maker Curry (Soya Chunks Curry)
    • Aloo Gobi (Alu Gobi)
    • Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
    • Chole
    • Kadala Curry
    • Bhindi Masala
    • Chana Masala
    • Rasam Recipe
    • Fried Tofu With Vegetables
    • Vegan Shredded Jack Fruit Fry
    • High Protein Minced Soya Chunks
    • Pan Fried Spicy Tofu Chili
    • Chickpea flour omelette
    • Samosa Recipe
    • Medu Vada
    • Vazhaipoo Vadai
    • Street Style Mushroom | Kalaan
    • Vegetable Soup

    What is a Vegan diet?

    Vegan diet is foods that are free from all animal products that include meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, and honey. People choose to switch to vegan diets based on so many reasons. They usually start from environmental concern to aspire to promote good health as well. The term vegan is derived from the first two and last two letters of vegetarian.

    Types of Vegan diets

    There are various diet category in veganism. Some of them are,

    Dietary vegan- It is a category where people choose to eat plant-based ingredients. They prefer to avoid animal products in foods but continue to use them in other products like regular day accessories.

    Whole food vegan- prefer to choose wholesome foods like grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds

    Raw food vegan- Savour only raw foods or cooked in low-temperature

    Junk food vegan- people who prefer junk foods like fries, alternate meats, and desserts

    Low fat, raw food vegan- prefer to choose low-fat foods and mostly consume fruits and they are also called fruitarians.

    What is best about Indian Vegan recipes?

    India is a diverse country and so as the food habits of people. The country has plenty of vegetarian-vegan recipes from North to South and East to West that are traditional, healthy, and easy to make. Whether it is a simple dal or a full platter meal, these recipes are hearty and comforting.

    Usually, North Indian Style vegetarian recipes have a lot of creams, ghee, yogurt in their recipes but they can be easily modified to vegan recipes with plant-based ingredients.

    At the same time, there are endless recipes in the South Indian region where most of the vegetarian dishes are purely vegan. Even though there are many variations, each recipe has its own uniqueness and authenticity. And each recipe is definitely worth trying at home.

    Are all Indian vegetarian recipes Vegan?

    No, most of the Indian vegetarian dishes have milk, cream, ghee, butter, curd/yogurt in their recipe list. A vegan diet is all about food prepared with purely plant-based ingredients. In other words, it should be dairy-free, meat-free, and any other by-products of animals. So it is best to check the ingredient list before trying a new recipe or enjoying an Indian vegetarian dish in a restaurant.

    How can I modify Indian veg recipes to vegan?

    There are tons of substitutes available in the market for dairy-free and meat-free options. The typical Indian ghee, butter, curd, and other ingredients can be substituted with some of the following ingredients.

    • Milk, heavy cream - substitute with soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, oats milk, hazelnut milk. If you want to try nut-free milk then coconut milk is the best alternates. Especially for Indian curries and sides it really enhances the taste and flavor of the dish.
    • Ghee and butter - Coconut oil is one of the best alternates and has a unique flavor and aroma that elevates the taste and flavor of most Indian dishes. You could also substitute with other vegan butter that is easily available in the market.
    • Curd/Yogurt - Coconut milk yogurt, almond, cashew, and oat milk yogurts are some of the best substitutes for vegan-friendly Indian dishes.

    What are the best vegetables to mock like meat?

    Certain vegetables taste similar to fish, meat when it is cooked perfectly with Indian masalas and spices. Some of them are,

    • Brinjal or Indian Eggplant - this vegetable tastes similar to seafood when seasoned with fenugreek seeds, onion, tomatoes, and Indian masala
    • Mushrooms/Kalan - Gives the perfect flavor of any non-veg dishes when stirred with Indian masalas, and herbs. I have also inserted one pot mushroom biryani in the vegetarian lunch recipes collection that delivers an irresistible flavor, taste, and aroma. But I have added ghee and yogurt in that particular recipe which can be easily substituted with coconut oil and coconut cream respectively.
    • Tender Jack fruit - This vegetable is an ultimate keeper when you really crave spicy chicken dishes. We can mimic most Indian chicken curries with this tender jackfruit and it will make you lick your bowl. I have also got vegan shredded chicken on this list for you to try and enjoy.
    • Cauliflower- Whether it is a curry or deep-fried snack this veggie delivers a super delicious dish that you will try over and over again.

    Protein-rich foods for a Vegan diet

    It is important to add protein-rich foods to a vegan diet when you are away from dairy and animal products especially ghee, meat, yogurt, and eggs. Scientists and researchers say protein-rich foods are much needed for the following health reasons.

    • To maintain and develop strong immunity
    • For healthier hair, nails, and skin
    • Growth and development of body
    • To repair cells and regenerate new ones
    • Helps the red blood cells to oxygenate throughout the body

    Some of the protein-rich foods to add to your vegan diet are,

    • Dals or lentils
    • Legumes
    • Oats
    • Quinoa
    • Peanuts
    • Almonds
    • Spinach
    • Brussel sprouts
    • Broccoli
    • Potatoes
    • Sweet Potatoes
    • Asparagus
    • Chia seeds
    • Soy milk

    An important fact is that most protein-rich foods will also create high gastric problems. In Indian cuisine, people would like to add ginger garlic paste which decreases the gas in them. So if you like the flavor feel free to add it to your foods.

    What you can expect from this post?

    Collection of popular Indian vegan recipes that are,

    • Healthy, easy, and instant breakfast dishes to fuel up your day
    • One-pot meals for busy days
    • Wholesome foods that is much needed for our body
    • Popular restaurant-style recipes to satisfy the cravings
    • Streetstyle dishes that are pure vegan
    • Rich and aromatic Indian curries to enjoy with the Main course meals
    • Soups, snacks, and starters to make your meal extra special

    So let's check this collection, to plan and prepare delicious vegan dishes for your next meal or party. And I would be updating this list, whenever I make a new vegan-friendly dish. So stay tuned and get ready to try and enjoy these lip-smacking dishes.

    You could also find the collections of Indian Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes and Indian Vegetarian Lunch Recipes for more options if you have no strict vegan preferences.

    Appam

    Appam is a traditional South Indian dish made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk. It is a popular dish in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and also in the country of Sri Lanka. It is also called Vellayapam or palappam in the same region. The appam recipe shared here is an instant, vegan-friendly, and gluten-free dish and it is usually served for breakfast and dinner. It tastes great with tomato chutney, veg kurma, egg curry, chicken curry, and similar other side dishes.
    Kerala Style Appam/Vellayappam

    Rava Dosa (Suji Ka Dosa)

    Rava or Suji Ka Dosa is a traditional and popular South Indian instant crepe made of semolina, maida, rice flour, onion, Indian spices, and herbs. It is a perfect vegan-friendly dish and it is usually served for breakfast, dinner with tomato chutney, coconut chutney, and similar other dishes.
    Instant Rava or Sooji/Suji Dosa Restaurant Style

    Roti (Chapati)

    Roti / Chapati is an Indian soft flatbread made with wheat flour, water salt, and oil. The roti dough is usually rolled into a circular shape which is cooked in tawa and puffed to soft roti. It is one of the staple food of India and it is typically served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And it tastes great with veg korma, chicken korma, tikka masala, paneer masala, salna, and similar dishes.
    Roti /Chapathi, A soft Indian Bread

    Upma Recipe (Rava Upma)

    Rava upma is a flavorful, delicious, soft, and fluffy South Indian breakfast dish. The traditional upma recipe is prepared by roasting and simmering the rava in spicy tempering water. This dish can be served as breakfast or dinner with chutney, sambhar, and sugar.
    rava upma soft and moist

    Delicious Ragi Balls | Kali | Mudde

    Ragi balls is a tasty, melt in the mouth, nutritious South Indian meal that can be enjoyed for breakfast/lunch or dinner.
    ragi balls

    Khichdi

    khichdi is a tasty, quick and healthy one-pot Indian dish. It is prepared with dal, cracked wheat, Indian whole spices, tomato, ginger garlic paste, chili powder, and Indian herbs. This Khichdi is a perfect vegan-friendly dish and can be served for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
    Broken Wheat tomato khichdi / Cracked wheat bath

    Semiya Upma (Vermicelli upma)

    Semiya upma or vermicelli upma is a simple and healthy popular south Indian dish made with Indian vermicelli, veggies, and garnished with peanuts, cashew nuts, and coriander leaves. It is served for breakfast or dinner with coconut chutney, idli podi, or jaggery powder.
    output vegetable vermicelli semiya upma

    Basmati Rice

    Basmati Rice is aromatic, and long-grained rice that is popular in Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern cuisine. It is widely used to make biryani, pulao, and other flavored rice. The recipe I have shared here shows you how to perfectly cook Basmati Rice with easy step-by-step instructions for you to try and enjoy at home. The method shared here to cook Basmati Rice delivers fluffier, light, and long-grained rice. It pairs perfectly with Indian curries and side dishes for lunch and dinner. And the best part is it comes in under 30 minutes.
    Cooked Basmati Rice in a black bowl with lemon slices and greens, blue towel around.

    Pudina Rice (Mint Pulao)

    Pudina rice or Mint pulao is a wholesome one-pot Indian meal. This rice dish is usually prepared with fresh mint leaves, ginger, garlic, Indian spices, and masalas. And it is a perfect vegan-friendly dish that can be served for lunch, dinner, and as a lunch box meal. This Pudina/mint rice tastes great with side dishes like vegetable korma, chicken Chettinad, egg curries, and similar other dishes.
    Pudina Rice Recipe / Mint Pulao Recipe

    Vegetable Fried Rice

    Vegetable fried rice is a simple, irresistibly delicious, and flavorful Indo- Chinese meal that one could indulge in and it is a perfect dish for lunch, dinner, and as a party meal.
    veggie fried rice south indian style

    Tomato Chutney

    Tomato Chutney is a simple, tasty, and delicious South Indian sidedish or dips. It is prepared with onion, tomato, a few Indian spices, and herbs and it is usually served with South Indian breakfast dishes like Idli, dosa, upma, Pongal, and rotis. This can also be prepared with garlic, tamarind, coconut, peanuts, coriander leaves, mint leaves, and without onion.
    South Indian Style Tomato Onion Chutney Output

    Sambar Recipe

    Sambar is an authentic and tasty side dish from south India. It is usually prepared with varieties of vegetables, cooked dal, tamarind pulp, and a special spice blend called sambar powder. It is a healthy, protein-packed vegan-friendly dish that is usually served as a side dish with South Indian breakfast dishes like idli, dosa, Pongal, uttapam, and also part of a full-course meal with plain rice.
    Tamilnadu style Mixed vegetable sambar

    Vatha Kuzhambu (Vathal Kulambu)

    Vatha Kuzhambu or Vathal Kulambu is a tasty and authentic vegetarian curry dish from Tamilnadu, a South Indian state. It is usually prepared with special spice powder, Sundakkai (sundried turkey berries), Tamarind water, jaggery, and Indian spices. This vatha Kuzhambu is usually served as a side dish with steamed rice for lunch and dinner.
    Sundakkai Vatha Kuzhambu / Vathal Kara Kulambu

    Gutti Vankaya Curry (Kura)

    Gutti Vankaya curry or Kura is a stuffed brinjal curry authentic to Andhra, South India. Gutti vankaya curry is usually prepared with special peanut masala powder that is stuffed in brinjal and then simmered in onion tomato curry. It is a simple, rich, and vegan-friendly dish that makes a perfect side dish for roti, parotta, chapati, rice, and biryani.
    Gutti Vankaya Kura/Koora, Andhra Sytle Brinjal Curry

    Vegetable Korma (Veggie Kurma)

    Vegetable Korma or Veggie Kurma is a delicious and flavorful Indian side dish. It is usually prepared with fresh vegetables, Indian spices along with coconut and nut-based paste. This Vegetable korma is a popular and common dish across Indian restaurants and households. It is a perfect vegan-friendly and gluten-free side dish for naan, basmati rice, jeera rice, parotta, chapati biryani, poori, idli, dosa, idiyappam, and similar other dishes.
    Hotel style vegetable kurma south indian style

    Meal Maker Curry (Soya Chunks Curry)

    Meal maker curry or Soya chunks curry is a protein-rich Indian dish made with soya or meal maker with spices which is a perfect substitute for meat. This curry can be served with roti, chapati, or rice dishes.
    soya chunks curry

    Aloo Gobi (Alu Gobi)

    Aloo Gobi (Alu gobi) is a tasty and flavorful one-pot vegetarian side dish popular in most restaurants and households of India. It is prepared with minimal ingredients like cauliflower, potato, and Indian spices. This alu gobi is a perfect vegan-friendly side dish that be can be served with naan, chapati, roti, jeera rice, or ghee rice.
    Indian Aloo Gobi Masala | Potato Cauliflower Dry

    Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

    Roasted Chickpeas are a crispy, spicy, and healthy protein-packed nutritious snack either made in the oven, pan, or air fryer. It is usually prepared with cooked chickpeas and basic seasoning powders. These crispy Roasted Chickpeas are one of the best healthy vegan-friendly dishes that can be served as a snack to munch in the mid-afternoon or evening or to use in recipes like salad, or wraps.
    Roasted Chickpeas in a white bowl placed on a table

    Chole

    Chole is a spicy, tangy, and flavorful Punjabi Style Indian curry dish. It is usually made with chickpeas, Indian spices, herbs, and flavor-bursting Chole masala powder. This homemade Chole Masala is one of the finger-licking curry dishes that taste great with bhatura, poori, roti, naan, or rice.
    Chole in a bowl

    Kadala Curry

    Kadala curry is one of the popular Indian side dishes from the state of Kerala. It is a classical curry made with black chickpeas(chana), fresh ground garam masala paste that are seasoned in coconut oil. This kadala curry is a staple food prepared in most of the Kerala restaurants and households of the state. And it is a vegan-friendly side dish served with puttu, appam, idiyappam, Kerala matta rice, or vadi matta rice.
    Kadala Curry Kerala Style

    Bhindi Masala

    Bhindi Masala is a popular and healthy Indian side dish made with okra (ladies fingers), onions, tomatoes, Indian spices, and herbs. It is one of the easiest and flavorful dishes that tastes great with roti, chapati, rice, or naan.
    Bhindi Masala

    Chana Masala

    Chana masala is a tasty, hot, and spicyIndian side dish prepared with white chickpeas, indian spices and herbs. It is typically served with rice, flatbread/roti, or just as a snack topped with crushed puri, onions, and cilantro/coriander leaves.

    Rasam Recipe

    Rasam is a tasty and tangy authentic South Indian soup-like dish made by simmering tomato water, garlic, Indian spices, and herbs. This rasam act as comfort food for cold, cough, and helps for easy digestion. It tastes best when served with white rice for lunch or dinner.
    Tomato Garlic Rasam Recipe Without Dal and Rasam Powder

    Fried Tofu With Vegetables

    Fried tofu with vegetables is a nutritious and healthy vegan dish that is easy to make with minimal ingredients and can be served as an appetizer or side dish for any meal.
    garlic green beans tofu

    Vegan Shredded Jack Fruit Fry

    Vegan shredded Jack Fruit fry is a great alternative for any meat in which the tender jack fruit plays an important role in giving a unique flavor of meat recipe that you might have tried in restaurants.

    High Protein Minced Soya Chunks

    Minced Soya Chunks is a flavorful Indian dish made with the combination of caramelized onion, ginger, garlic, and other spices that gives a similar taste to the meat recipe that can be served for lunch and dinner.

    Pan Fried Spicy Tofu Chili

    The pan-fried spicy Tofu chili recipe is a great alternative for meat and will go as a side dish with fried/jeera/plain rice or just as a starter.

    Chickpea flour omelette

    Chickpea flour omelet is a great alternative from regular egg omelet which is fully packed with protein and filling ingredients. This plant-based omelette is healthy, fluffy, and adds good nutritional value to our breakfast menu.

    Samosa Recipe

    Samosa is a tasty, flaky, and crispy street-style fried snack dish popular across India, Central Asia, and Middle Eastern countries. It is typically made with potato, vegetables, or meat. This samosa recipe shared here is a vegan-friendly snack dish that is served as a starter for parties, lunch buffets, or as a tea-time snack.
    Vegan Samosa Recipe Street Style With Dough Making

    Medu Vada

    Medu vada or uzhunu vada is crispy, fluffy, soft, and delicious south Indian tea time snack or side dish for breakfast. This is also called Ulundu Vadai in that region. This Medu vada can be best served for breakfast with Idli, sambhar, chutney, or enjoyed as it is as a snack.
    Soft and crispy medu vada

    Vazhaipoo Vadai

    Vazhaipoo vadai is a healthy, crispy, and high in protein south Indian snack that can be served with a cup of hot tea or coffee.
    Vazhaipoo Vadai

    Street Style Mushroom | Kalaan

    Street style mushroom/kalaan is a hot/spicy, and creamy Coimbatore special street food dish which is a perfect snack served along with tea or coffee.
    kovai special kalan

    Vegetable Soup

    Vegetable soup is a healthy one-pot wholesome meal filled with full of nutrition and flavor. This vegetable soup is great for winter and acts as comfort food for cold and throat infection. This can also be consumed for weight loss. The best part is it can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
    healthy and comforting vegetable soup

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    Sangeetha Vel Yellow Chili's

    Hi, I'm Sangeetha Vel! the author, recipe researcher, creator, and cooking hands behind Yellow Chili's. A realistic, friendly, empathetic, and enthusiastic foodie who loves to share authentic, easy, quick, healthy, instant, and kids-approved recipes.

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