10+ Indian Food Recipes Vegetarian: Delicious Dishes to Try Today!

Indian vegetarian food is famous for its rich flavors and diverse ingredients. You’ll find a variety of dishes that suit different tastes.

Many Indian recipes use lentils, vegetables, and spices that are both nutritious and tasty. Whether you are an experienced cook or just starting out, these dishes can bring new tastes to your kitchen.

1) Vegetable Pulao

Vegetable Pulao is a simple and tasty one-pot dish. It’s made with basmati rice, mixed vegetables, and spices.

Gather your favorite vegetables like peas, carrots, and beans. Add spices such as cumin and cloves for extra flavor.

Sauté the vegetables, add the rice, and cook everything together. You’ll get a delicious and aromatic meal.

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, beans)
• 2 tablespoons oil or ghee
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2-3 whole cloves
• Salt to taste
• 2 cups water

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the basmati rice in water until it runs clear.
2. Heat oil or ghee in a pot over medium heat (350°F or 175°C).
3. Add cumin seeds and whole cloves; sauté until fragrant.
4. Add sliced onion and garlic; cook until onions are soft.
5. Stir in mixed vegetables and cook for a few minutes.
6. Add the rinsed rice and salt; mix well.
7. Pour in water and bring to a boil.
8. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes or until rice is done.
9. Fluff the rice and serve hot.

2) Sambar

Sambar is a flavorful South Indian dish with lentils and vegetables in a tangy broth. People often serve it with rice or dosa.

Use toor dal (pigeon pea lentils) and cook them until soft. Add tamarind for a unique taste.

Sambar powder gives the dish its signature flavor. Add carrots, potatoes, and okra to make it even better.

Ingredients

• 1 cup toor dal (pigeon pea lentils)
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, potatoes, okra)
• 2 tablespoons tamarind paste
• 2 tablespoons sambar powder
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 2 tablespoons oil
• Salt to taste
• Water as needed

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the toor dal in water until soft.
2. Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds until they splutter.
3. Add chopped vegetables and sauté briefly.
4. Mix in tamarind paste, sambar powder, and cooked dal.
5. Add water to reach your desired consistency and salt.
6. Simmer for a few minutes and serve hot.

3) Chana Masala

Chana Masala is a hearty Indian dish made with chickpeas. It’s full of flavor and ready in about 30 minutes.

Spices like garam masala give it a warm taste. Pair it with rice or naan for a complete meal.

Ingredients

• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• Salt to taste
• Fresh cilantro for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (350°F/175°C).
2. Sauté the chopped onion until golden brown.
3. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1 minute.
4. Stir in chopped tomatoes and spices; cook until tomatoes are soft.
5. Add chickpeas and water; simmer for 10-15 minutes.
6. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

4) Daal Makhani

Daal Makhani is a classic Indian dish with creamy black lentils and kidney beans simmered together. Butter and cream give it a rich flavor.

You only need a few simple ingredients. You can adjust the spices to your taste.

Ingredients

• 1 cup black lentils (urad dal)
• 1/2 cup kidney beans (rajma)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, pureed
• 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
• Spices (cumin, garam masala, salt)

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak the lentils and kidney beans overnight.
2. Cook them in water until tender.
3. Melt butter in a pot and sauté onions until golden.
4. Add garlic, ginger, and spices; cook for 2 minutes.
5. Stir in the tomato puree and cook for another 5 minutes.
6. Add the lentils and beans with some cooking water.
7. Simmer for 30 minutes, then stir in cream before serving.

5) Paneer Jalfrezi

Paneer Jalfrezi is a colorful dish made with paneer, vegetables, and spices. It adds a spicy touch to your meal.

Bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes cook in a rich tomato-based sauce. You can add other vegetables if you like.

This recipe is easy to prepare and comes together quickly.

Ingredients

• 200 grams paneer, cubed
• 1 bell pepper, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander for garnish

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pan over medium heat (350°F or 175°C).
2. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle.
3. Add onions and sauté until golden brown.
4. Stir in bell peppers and cook for 3-4 minutes.
5. Add tomatoes, salt, and garam masala. Cook until tomatoes soften.
6. Gently fold in the paneer and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
7. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot.

6) Veg Biryani

Veg Biryani is a flavorful Indian rice dish packed with spices and vegetables. It’s perfect for family gatherings or special occasions.

Start by sautéing onions, garlic, and ginger. Add mixed veggies like peas, carrots, and potatoes.

Layer the rice and add spices such as cumin and cardamom. You can add saffron for a lovely color.

Cook everything together until the rice is fluffy.

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, potatoes)
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 2 tablespoons biryani spices
• ½ teaspoon saffron (optional)
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the basmati rice until water runs clear.
2. Heat oil in a pot and sauté onions, garlic, and ginger until golden.
3. Add mixed vegetables and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Stir in biryani spices and saffron.
5. Add the rinsed rice and enough water (1.5 cups).
6. Season with salt and bring to a boil.
7. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
8. Fluff rice before serving.

7) Mushroom Bhaji

Mushroom Bhaji is a quick and easy Indian dish. It features mushrooms cooked with onions, tomatoes, and spices.

Use simple ingredients like garlic, cumin seeds, and olive oil. You can choose any mushrooms you prefer.

Ingredients

• 400g mushrooms (exotic mix works well)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 large garlic bulb, minced
• 5 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• Salt to taste
• Red chili powder (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat (approximately 350°F or 180°C).
2. Add the cumin seeds and sauté for a minute.
3. Add the chopped onion and garlic. Cook until they soften.
4. Add the mushrooms and cook until tender.
5. Season with salt and chili powder before serving.

8) Black Eyed Pea Curry

Black Eyed Pea Curry is a hearty dish perfect for family meals. You’ll enjoy the blend of spices, tomatoes, and creamy textures.

Use black eyed peas for protein and flavor. Serve the curry with rice or flatbreads.

Ingredients

• 1 cup black eyed peas
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 inch ginger, grated
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• Salt to taste
• Water as needed

Cooking Instructions

1. Soak the black eyed peas in water for about 6-8 hours.
2. Heat oil in a pot and add cumin seeds.
3. When they splutter, add onion, garlic, and ginger. Sauté until golden.
4. Add tomatoes and cook until soft.
5. Stir in spices, then add black eyed peas and water.
6. Simmer for 20-25 minutes, until peas are tender.
7. Serve hot with rice or bread.

9) Butternut Squash Curry

Butternut squash curry is a warm and comforting dish. It is perfect for a cozy dinner and packed with flavors.

The sweetness of the squash blends well with spices. You can easily make this dish vegan by replacing butter with oil.

This recipe usually takes about 30 minutes to prepare. For extra protein, add chickpeas.

Coconut milk gives the curry a creamy texture.

Ingredients

• 1 – 1½ lb Butternut Squash, peeled and diced
• 3 tbsp Cooking oil
• 1 large Red Spanish onion, chopped
• 4 large Garlic cloves, minced
• 3-inch Fresh ginger, minced
• 1 can Coconut milk
• Spices to taste (cumin, coriander, turmeric, salt, and pepper)

Cooking Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion and cook until soft.
3. Stir in garlic and ginger and cook for another minute.
4. Add butternut squash and spices. Cook for a few minutes.
5. Pour in coconut milk and simmer until squash becomes tender.
6. Serve hot with rice or bread.

10) Paneer Kulcha

Paneer Kulcha is a delicious Indian flatbread stuffed with spiced paneer. It has a soft and crisp texture.

This dish is popular in North India. People often serve it with chole, a spicy chickpea dish.

You will need simple ingredients like flour and paneer. You can add your favorite spices to enhance the flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup paneer, crumbled
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon fresh coriander, chopped
• Water (as needed)
• Ghee or oil (for cooking)

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix flour and salt in a bowl.

2. Gradually add water.

3. Knead the mixture until the dough becomes smooth.

4. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes.

5. In another bowl, mix crumbled paneer, cumin seeds, and coriander.

6. Divide the dough into balls.

7. Flatten each ball and stuff it with the paneer mixture.

8. Gently roll out the stuffed dough.

9. Cook on a hot tawa (griddle) at 350°F (175°C) until golden.

10. Brush with ghee before serving.