By Megan Edwards,
Invite the flavors of India into your home with these tantalizing recipes that feature all the best spices, herbs, and sauces that make the cuisine so popular in the plant-based world. From cozy sweet potato curry to creamy chana masala, our roundup of vegan Indian recipes will transport your taste buds to a whole new level of yum. Plus, once you’ve stocked your cupboards with all the essentials, you can easily mix-and-match your favorite ingredients to create new twists on these classic dishes. Pick a few to start experimenting with, and get ready to fall in love with vegan Indian food!
Indian-Spiced Potato Salad
This tantalizing side dish infuses tender potatoes with a zesty mix of tart lime juice, spicy jalapeño, and warming cumin. Crunchy bell pepper and refreshing cucumber add delicious layers of texture to the taters, which are garnished with a sprinkling of cilantro. Dig in!
Indian Brown Rice Pudding (Kheer)
Perfect for breakfast or dessert, this wholesome vegan Indian recipe stews brown rice in plant-based milk for a creamy pudding that will leave you reaching for a second helping. Saffron adds a delicate earthy flavor that complements sweet raisins, caramel-like dates, and fragrant cardamom. A crunchy topping of pistachios and toasted almonds makes this recipe a 10/10.
Indian-Spiced Cauliflower and Potato Casserole
Warm your belly with this hearty cauliflower and potato casserole, which gets a big flavor boost from traditional Indian spices. Turmeric, ginger, cumin, and cinnamon join forces to enhance the tender veggies and brown rice that make up the bulk of this dish. Green peas add a pop of bright color and plant-based protein so you leave the table feeling satisfied and nourished.
Masala Simmer Sauce
Add this sweet and spicy vegan masala sauce to vegetables and/or beans you have on hand and create your own Indian-inspired dish. Tangy tomato flavor gets perfectly balanced by oodles of onion, a few dates, and a handful of earthy warming spices. Yum!
Baked Vegetable Biryani
With a milky saffron infused sauce and layers of veggie and brown basmati rice, this vegan baked biryani has the yummy flavor of traditional versions but none of the fat. Classic biryani is made on the stovetop and can be technically challenging; thankfully this tasty baked version is much easier and doesn’t sacrifice flavor.
Beet Greens and Spinach Saag with Tofu
Not sure what to do with the leftover leaves at the top of beets? This tasty vegan Indian recipe repurposes the greens to create a savory emerald-hued sauce that enrobes cubes of tender tofu. Sweet corn kernels add extra substance, while a squeeze of lime brings the perfect acidity to balance out the rich flavors. This dish will definitely become a regular in your recipe rotation!
Indian Veggie Burger
Gone are the days of bland plant-based burgers! Curry vindaloo powder and coriander work wonders in these Indian-inspired veggie burgers. Made from a base of chickpeas, brown rice, and fresh veggies, each patty is succulent and satisfying. This recipe will be a hit at any cookout or BBQ you host.
Delhi Chaat
Get all the best Indian flavors in one bite with these delectable delhi chaat appetizers. Potato patties are topped with a creamy chickpea curry, homemade cilantro chutney, and crunchy rice crackers to deliver a symphony of textures and tastes in an easily portable snack. Finger food just got a major upgrade!
Garlic-Jalapeño Naan
No Indian feast is complete without naan to soak up the extra sauces, and making your own at home is easier than you think! The yogurt-free dough in this delicious vegan naan is studded with garlic, jalapeño, and onion to add extra pockets of flavor to complement any main dish. Prep a batch or two in advance, store them in the freezer, and heat them up in the oven when you’re ready to chow down.
Chickpea Saag
This colorful dish transforms tender spinach leaves into a vibrant sauce that’s simmered with a wide variety of tantalizing Indian spices. Chickpeas get delightfully soft in the warm purée and add satisfying heft so your belly stays full for hours afterwards. For an extra spicy kick, sprinkle red pepper flakes over the top of each serving.
Tomato Tamarind Chutney
Whip up this sweet and tangy chutney to serve alongside naan, curry, or any other vegan Indian dish your heart desires. The mouthwatering combination of tomatoes and tamarind paste are further enhanced by black mustard and cumin seeds—two staples in traditional Indian cooking. Scoop a dollop of this onto any dish that needs a little extra oomph!
Curried Chickpeas and Farro with Strawberry Chutney
Break out this eye-catching dish whenever you have guests to impress. Cauliflower, bell pepper, and chickpeas are stewed into a savory curry packed full of Indian flavors and mixed into a base of chewy farro. The jammy strawberry chutney adds delicious sweetness to the warming herbs and a bright pop of color that looks just as yummy as it tastes.
Easy Turmeric Eggplant Curry
Not sure what to do with the extra eggplant in your fridge? Turn it into a super tasty curry that’s ready in 45 minutes and only uses one pot. Mushrooms and red lentils add extra heartiness, while turmeric, ginger, and coconut milk lend this dish all the comforting flavors a good curry should have. One happy reader raves: “Best dish I’ve ever made!”
Chana Masala Burgers
Get your Indian-food fix in the form of a veggie burger with this nutritious and flavor-packed recipe. All the classic ingredients of chana masala—chickpeas, tomato gravy, cumin, mango powder, and ginger—make an appearance in the patties, which get piled with fresh veggies and nestled between whole wheat buns. This is fusion cuisine at its finest!
Vegan Vegetable Korma
Rich and creamy, this easy vegan Indian korma will warm you up from the inside out. The cashew-based sauce is bursting with fragrant spices that seep into the tender carrots, green beans, peppers, and peas. Ladle a big serving of the stew over brown rice or with naan on the side, and you’ve got the perfect dish to cozy up with on a cold night.
Chickpea Curry Stew with Kale
One reader praises this tantalizing recipe as “easy and delicious!” A medley of chickpeas, tomatoes, kale, and potatoes are simmered with curry powder to infuse everything with crave-worthy flavor. Ready in just 25 minutes, this simple stew tastes best served over brown rice and sprinkled with a garnish of fresh cilantro.
Pumpkin and Red Lentil Dal
There are plenty of delicious uses for pumpkin other than a Thanksgiving pie, and this red lentil dal is proof! Mustard seeds, cumin, turmeric, and coriander transform hard pumpkin cubes into melt-in-you-mouth flavor bombs. Red lentils add hearty substance, while fresh spinach brings a dose of nutritious leafy greens to the stew. This recipe is bound to become a family favorite!
Instant Pot Kidney Bean Dal
Hearty kidney beans steal the show in this warming Indian dal, which gets its fragrant flavor from garam masala, cumin, and ginger. Dates add a subtle sweetness that perfectly complements the pungent spices and is further tempered by creamy plant-based milk. Make a big batch in your Instant Pot for the perfect weekday meal prep.
Slow-Cooker Chana Masala
Our version of chana masala, a tried-and-true staple in the plant-based world, is incredibly tasty and completely oil-free. Hearty chickpeas and potatoes are stewed in a delectable tomato gravy that gets more flavorful the longer it simmers. Simply pop all the ingredients in a slow cooker, set it for five hours, and return home to a vegan Indian dish that’s better than takeout.
Potato-Cauliflower Curry
Trying to use up the extra veggies in your fridge and pantry? This scrumptious curry recipe is the perfect way to transform straggler produce into a gourmet meal. Curry powder, cumin, and ginger bring classic Indian flavors to the curry sauce that gets the veggies nice and tender. Cashews create a satisfying nutty crunch, and fresh cilantro adds an aromatic garnish to tie everything together.
Curried Tomato-Lentil Stew
This simple yet satisfying stew lies somewhere in between an Indian curry and a vegetable soup. Chunks of earthy carrot pair perfectly with creamy lentils that are simmered in curry powder and fresh ginger. Ready in under an hour, this warming dish will serve you well when you’re in need of something easy, nutritious, and packed with energizing flavors.
Lentil, Chard & Sweet Potato Curry
An FOK reader favorite, this vegan Indian recipe is everything you could ask for—creamy, slightly spicy, and loaded with wholesome ingredients that leave you feeling nourished. Tender sweet potato is stewed with Swiss chard and yellow lentils to create a perfect balance of textures and flavors. One reader writes: “So yummy! The ultimate comfort food.”
Creamy Potato Curry
Can’t get enough curry in your life? Here’s a fun recipe to add to your repertoire! Yukon gold potatoes are turned into a thick, creamy stew that gets its richness from cashews and a hearty dose of Indian spices. Green peas add subtle sweetness, while chickpeas lend extra heft so this dish keeps you energized and full until you’re ready for a second round.
Red Lentil Dal
The ultimate vegan Indian dish, red lentil dal is simple, satisfying, and full of all the flavors that make your stomach (and your heart) happy. The lentils are simmered with coriander, cumin, turmeric, and fresh ginger to reach a creamy consistency that’s ideal for sopping up with homemade naan. Add a squeeze of lemon on top for a citrusy kick, and you’re all set.
Aloo Mattar
Savor the fragrant scent of cardamom, cinnamon, clove, and cumin wafting through your kitchen as this dish simmers on the stove. Potatoes and peas are the stars of aloo mattar, which is best enjoyed with a side of brown rice or naan. Garnish with bright green cilantro, and dig in!
Aloo Baingan (Potato and Eggplant)
Eggplant and potatoes team up to create a savory and satisfying dish that will become an instant hit even among the pickiest eaters. Traditional Indian herbs add powerful flavor to the tomato-based sauce that’s soaked up by the succulent veggies. One reader praises: “Perfect spicing and super easy to assemble!”
Mixed Winter Veggie Curry with Poppy Seeds
Nothing is more comforting than a warm curry laced with delicious spices, and this vegan Indian dish really hits the nail on the head. Green beans, carrots, potatoes, and cauliflower are cooked in the savory homemade curry sauce, which gets an extra pop of flavor from toasted poppyseeds. Ready in under half an hour, this is a great weeknight recipe for days when you’re short on time but don’t want to skimp on flavor.
Yam Chickpea Spinach Curry
Make this creative spin on chana masala when you have extra sweet potatoes lying around. Fragrant garam masala melds with coriander, turmeric, and cumin to create a beautifully balanced curry sauce that highlights all the best flavors of Indian cooking. Chickpeas offer extra substance and spinach brings additional nutrients to this dish that’s ideal for warming the soul.
This article was originally published on June 7, 2022, and has been updated.
About the Author
About the Author
Megan Edwards
Megan Edwards is a staff writer and content producer for Forks Over Knives. She is also a certified RYT-500 yoga teacher who is passionate about cultivating holistic wellness through plant-based eating, mindful movement, and meditation. With a background in journalism and marketing, she supports both the online presence and quarterly print magazine for Forks Over Knives.
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