20 Vegan Indian Recipes

By Hayley Sugg
January 02, 2020
Credit: -JC-

Indian cuisine is incredibly vegan friendly, whether you're eating out or cooking it at home. The only region that might give you trouble is Northern India, whose dishes are known for being dairy-heavy with ingredients like yogurt, cream, and ghee. But even then you can regularly find vegan-friendly dishes like daal or bhurtha on the menu. To recreate these flavorful, meals at home, try one of our 20 vegan Indian recipes. From creamy aloo gobi to crispy veggie samosas, you'll be whipping up a plant-based feast in no time. 

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Veg Biryani

Credit: Andy Lyons
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Fluffy basmati rice is cooked up with a variety of vegetables in this grain dish that works well as a main or side. You can find fresh curry leaves at your local Indian grocery store.

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Indian Chole Aloo Tikki

Credit: Allrecipes
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These potato patties might have a long ingredients list, but don't be intimidated; they just contain lots of spices to give a distinct flavor. This recipe is the perfect size for two main dishes, or it makes several servings when used as an appetizer. 

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Alicia's Aloo Gobi

Credit: Angela Brown Kehrer
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Made with a base of cauliflower and potatoes, this traditionally dry curry gets a bit of a twist with the addition of creamy coconut milk. If you're not a huge fan of spicy food, some reviewers suggest adjusting the level of cayenne in this dish. 

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Red Lentil Curry

Credit: Lea Eats
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When cooked, red lentils fall apart to create a thick and rich curry. Serve over a bed of basmati rice or with flatbreads on the side. 

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Indian Style Basmati Rice

Credit: Hungrymom13
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Don't settle for plain rice, add extra flavor to your meal with this spiced variety. "I love this rice!" says heathery. "I am awful at cooking rice and it usually ends up gummy and sticky, but this recipe produced rice like I'd buy in an Indian restaurant."

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Indian Eggplant - Bhurtha

Credit: Juliette VDH
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In this Northern Indian dish, eggplant is broiled until tender before being simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce. "SUPER easy recipe." says recipe reviewer Sharon. "We had an Indian night and this by far was our favorite dish."

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Best Vegan Naan

Credit: Fioa
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Traditional naan is made with ghee (clarified butter) but this variety is completely dairy-free. The secret ingredients to a rich dough are coconut oil and vegan yogurt. 

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Indian Curry Potato Fries

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These Indian-inspired potatoes make for a wonderfully crispy appetizer or side dish. Serve with tamarind chutney for dipping. 

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Indian Chickpeas

Credit: MsDowser
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This incredibly easy chickpea curry relies on store-bought chana masala mix (easily found in Indian grocery stores) to make for a short ingredients list. Sprinkle with a handful of chopped cilantro to give the dish a pop of flavor and color. 

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Easy Veggie Samosas

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Curried chickpeas are the filling for these crunchy pastries, which are often served as an appetizer.  "Love the idea of puff pastry instead of fussing with traditional samosa dough," says reviewer lightly salted.

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Tomato Cucumber Kachumbar

Credit: lutzflcat
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A staple salad for Indian cuisine, kachumbar (also known as kachumber) is great for off-setting spicy or extra rich dishes that need a lighter counterpart. 

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Spicy Vegan Potato Curry

Credit: -JC-
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Potatoes, tomatoes, and chickpeas combine in this creamy curried sauce that's perfect for spooning over rice or quinoa. Many reviewers have reported success with adding extra veggies, like cauliflower or corn, to the dish for more variety.

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Indian Tomato Rice

Credit: Soup Loving Nicole
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When you want a change from plain steamed rice, this tomatoey variety will check all your boxes. Fresh tomatoes and ginger add flavor, while turmeric creates a lovely golden hue. 

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Vendakka Paalu

Credit: Jon Reese
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Okra is a common vegetable in Indian cuisine, and you can often find it for lower prices at Indian grocery stores. "This was an amazingly flavorful recipe and a creative way to use okra." says Ann Marie Natal.

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Tofu Vindaloo

Credit: Chef'd
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Known for being a spicy meal, this vindaloo features tofu instead of traditionally-used meat. "We have had this dish several times in the last few weeks." says user vivajeffvegas, "Prep is actually very easy and the end result is a very good combination of ingredients texture and spice."

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Green Chutney

Credit: Marigat
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Your Indian meal isn't complete without a dish of chutney. This version uses cilantro as the base and the only step required is blending in a food processor. 

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Black Chana with Potato

Credit: Buckwheat Queen
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Black chickpeas, also known as kala chana or bengal gram, can be purchased at your local Indian grocery store. They have a darker color and firmer texture than traditional chickpeas, which makes them a fun change from the regular.

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Vegan Indian Curry with Cauliflower and Lentils

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Red lentils and coconut milk combine into an incredibly creamy (but still dairy-free) sauce for the vegetables. Feel free to mix-and-match what veggies you have on-hand that need to be used up. 

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Chana Masala (Savory Indian Chick Peas)

Credit: Elizabeth Faranda
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Traditionally chana masala is served with puri, a deep fried bread. You can try this Dahl Puri recipe and make it vegan-friendly by substituting vegetable broth for the chicken broth. 

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Spicy Indian Dahl

Credit: Allrecipes Magazine
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This curried lentil dish gains its heat from the addition of jalapeños. "Very easy to cook and a great compliment to the spicy foods associated with Indian cooking," says recipe reviewer eayers. 

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State of Home Cooking: Appetite for Adventure and Cultural Heritage

We're serving up and celebrating the biggest home-cooking trends from the most enthusiastic cooks we know: our community. We crunched the data from 1.2 billion annual Allrecipes.com visits and 2.5 billion annual page views. Then we dug even further, surveying Allrecipes cooks about what's in their carts and fridges, on their stovetops and tables, and on their minds. Appetite for Adventure and Cultural Heritage is just one of the topics they're most curious about. See more of the "State of Home Cooking" special report.

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By Hayley Sugg