40+ Fantastic Vegan Indian Recipes

Call me biased, but I think Indian food is one of the world’s great cuisines. From sumptuous curries to airy yet chewy breads to zingy chutneys, Indian food has a depth and complexity of flavor that you can’t find anywhere else.

Indian food has a reputation for being complicated and difficult, but once you understand some basics, it’s actually pretty straightforward. Sure, there are some recipes that can take 3 hours (like this vegan dal makhani – so worth it, by the way), but there are many others that be made in under 45 minutes (like my red lentil curry).

Below I’ve rounded up over 40 fantastic vegan Indian recipes from yours truly and other fabulous South Asian bloggers, along with a few tips you can use to veganize almost any Indian dish.

Table of Contents:
1. How to Veganize Indian Recipes
2. Condiments
3. Soups, Appetizers and Side Dishes
4. Bread
5. Rice Dishes
6. Main Dishes
7. Desserts

How to Veganize Indian Recipes

Many Indian recipes are naturally vegetarian, so making veganized versions is often easy. With a few ingredient substitutions, you’ll be on your way to veganizing many of your favorite Indian dishes.

Substitute Ghee with Vegan Butter. Ghee is a type of clarified butter that originated in India (and is used frequently in Indian cuisine). I’ve substituted vegan butter for ghee in many recipes, always with good results. And some Indian home cooks, like my mom, often just use oil instead of ghee, depending on the recipe.

Substitute Meat with Pulses. Pulses are a huge part of Indian cuisine (think lentils, chickpeas, beans, split peas), and are a great substitution for meat in curries, dals, soups, and even appetizers.

Substitute Cow’s Milk Yogurt with Plant-Based Yogurt. Plant-Based Yogurt is widely available these days and is a great substitute in most recipes that call for yogurt. Where yogurt is used as a sauce or condiment (think raita) or just used as an accompaniment to a spicy dish, substituting with a plain, unsweetened plant-based yogurt is super easy.

If the recipe itself requires yogurt (e.g., naan or dhokla), some experimentation might be necessary to see which yogurt works the best. In my experience, a tangy coconut yogurt is usually the best option. My favorite brands include Culina, CocoJune, GT’s CocoYo, Kite Hill Foods, and Coconut Collaborative (available in the UK).

Substitute Cream with Cashews or Coconut Milk. When an Indian dish calls for cream, blended raw cashews (i.e., cashew cream) usually work amazingly well. That’s what I do in my Dal Makhani, Vegan Palak Paneer, and Malai Kofta, all with spectacular results! Blended cashews are commonly used in Indian cooking so it’s a harmonious substitution.

Full-fat coconut milk or cream is often a good substitute for milk or cream because most Indian dishes are boldly flavored enough to mask any taste of coconut.

If a dessert calls for condensed milk, you can try sweetened condensed coconut milk, available at many grocery stores these days.

Substitute Honey with Maple Syrup or Agave. If a dessert uses honey, try agave nectar (it has a somewhat similar thick and viscous texture) or maple syrup.

Condiments

Vegan Raita (Indian Yogurt Dip)

Raita is made with unsweetened full-fat yogurt (if you try using Greek yogurt in raita, every Indian aunty I know will give you a disapproving glance). Of course, my version is vegan and uses a plant-based yogurt!

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Coconut Chutney 2 Ways

This Coconut Chutney by Dassana’s Veg Recipes is a delightful South Indian condiment that pairs beautifully with breakfast, snack dishes like idli, dosa and medu vada.

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Cilantro Chutney

Homemade Cilantro Chutney by Eva of The Curious Chickpea tastes so fresh and amazing! Enjoy with any Indian dish—Eva’s favorite ways include with samosas and pakoras.

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Easy Sweet and Spicy Indian Lemon Pickles

Here’s a delicious and easy recipe for sweet and spicy lemon pickles made in the Instant Pot by Vidhya’s Vegetarian Kitchen. This recipe makes lip-smacking lemon pickles made with Meyer and Persian lemons that’s perfect with both rice and paratha.

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Walnut Chutney

This Spicy Walnut Chutney by Sophie of My Dainty Soul Curry goes well with Indian rice crepes or dosas, fritters, and even idlis. And this versatile chutney can be used as a spread on pitas, sandwiches and wraps.

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Soups, Appetizers and Side Dishes

Indian-Spiced Black Beluga Lentils

Give lentils an upgrade with Indian spices and aromatics! My recipe calls for you to sauté onions, garlic, ginger, chile peppers and Indian spices before adding black Beluga lentils to the Instant Pot. The lentils remain somewhat firm but they’re cooked in a soft, gravy-like mixture so you get the best of both worlds. Note: This recipe is the second in my blog post!

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Kachumber (Indian Cucumber Salad)

This healthy and satisfying Kachumber Salad by Meeta of Piping Pot Curry is incredibly refreshing. It’s made with chopped veggies & seasoned with spices and can be served with any Indian food. It’s vegan, oil-free, and gluten-free.

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Vegan Potato Salad with Turmeric and Green Peas

Try this refreshingly different vegan Indian Style Potato Salad with Turmeric and Green Peas by Vaishali of Holy Cow Vegan, for a vibrant take on an old favorite. The dressing sparkles on your tastebuds and is made of ginger, turmeric, mustard seeds, and coconut milk.

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Aloo Matar Samosas

Make these crispy and flaky vegan samosas with melt-in-your-mouth filling at home any time of the year by following this simple samosa recipe by Kushi of Cook with Kushi. These samosas can be served as an appetizer or snack with chutney or tomato ketchup/sauce.

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Instant Pot Spiced Red Lentil Sweet Potato Soup

My creamy Indian-spiced soup is naturally creamy from red lentils and sweet potatoes, and made super simple thanks to the Instant Pot. With warming spices like garam masala and turmeric, this is a healthy yet hearty meal that’ll give you all the cozy vibes.

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Jalfrezi Fries

This is a hot & spicy Indian masala fries recipe in restaurant-style Jalfrezi sauce by Sanjana Feasts. They make for an extremely tasty side for fry lovers!

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Vegetable Pakora

Pakora are an Indian crisp fried snack, and this recipe from Swasthi’s Recipes is super quick to make. They’re deep-fried snacks that are extremely delicious with a great aroma of gram flour and spices.

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Bread

Vegan Naan

5 from 253 votes

Naan is a popular Indian flatbread, and this vegan naan is just as good if not better than Indian restaurant naan. It's fluffy and pillowy, soft and chewy yet crisp and flaky in some spots. It melts in your mouth and is the perfect bread for scooping up delicious Indian curries. Plus, it requires just a handful of simple ingredients.

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Dosa

Dosa is the ever-popular South Indian breakfast of crispy crepes made with fermented rice and lentil batter. With just a handful of ingredients and the help of Dassana’s Veg Recipes, learn to make the classic Dosa recipe from scratch with Dassana’s step-by-step video and photos.

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Roti (Indian Flatbread) – Vegetarian Gastronomy

Whether you’re an expert or new to Indian Flatbreads, this easy Roti Recipe by Anjali of Vegetarian Gastronomy has great tips and tricks on how to save time and make the perfect roti at home!

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Puri (Indian Puffed Flatbread)

This Puri by Manjula’s Kitchen is a whole wheat fried bread usually made on special occasions and is especially popular with children!

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Soft Gujarati Thepla

Sanjana Feasts shows us how to make her Soft Gujarati Thepla in this recipe! Thepla are a staple any-time-of-the-day flatbread in Indian homes. Fresh fenugreek leaves give them their signature bitter caramel flavour.

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Homemade Whole Wheat Parathas

Learn how to make everyday Indian flatbreads from Archana of Ministry of Curry. Unleavened dough is layered & rolled thin before cooking on a hot griddle to a golden brown perfection.

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Rice Dishes

If you have my cookbook, be sure to check out the vegetable biryani recipe in Chapter 5!

South Indian Style Instant Pot Lemon Quinoa

This South Indian style Lemon Quinoa by Cook with Manali is flavored with ginger, mustard seeds, curry leaves and cooked in the Instant Pot. It’s also vegan and gluten-free.

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Vangi Bath (South Indian Eggplant Rice)

This Vangi Bath by Vaishali of Holy Cow Vegan is a one-dish South Indian preparation of creamy eggplants melting into rice with a few simple spices, peanuts and coconut.

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Masala Fried Rice with Turmeric Onion Raita

Here’s a recipe for Indian Spiced Masala Fried Rice with Turmeric Onion Raita by Vegan Richa! Use up leftover rice or grains to make this quick spiced fried rice. Vegan, Gluten-free and Soy-free!

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Main Dishes

For an absolutely delicious and hearty Indian-inspired braised stew, head to the bottom of this post!

Vegan Red Lentil Curry

My Vegan Red Lentil Curry is a fan favorite and the BEST lentil curry you will ever try! It’s easy and quick, making it a perfect weeknight dinner! Plus, it’s creamy and indulgent but made with wholesome vegan ingredients!

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Tofu Tikka Masala

4.95 from 301 votes

In this Tofu Tikka Masala, tofu chunks get marinated in a homemade spice blend and creamy yogurt, then broiled until charred and coated in a rich tomato-onion gravy. It's a plant-based spin on chicken tikka masala and one of the most delicious Indian dishes you'll ever taste!

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Jackfruit Tacos with Pickled Onions & Cilantro Chutney

These Vegan Jackfruit Tacos by Cook with Manali are cooked with aromatic spices and served with cilantro chutney and pickled onions! They are jam packed with flavors and made in the Instant Pot!

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Vegan Palak Paneer with Tofu

Enjoy gourmet restaurant-style Indian food at home with my Vegan Palak Tofu Paneer! A fragrant, creamy spinach curry made healthier with tofu instead of cheese. An easy yet impressive vegan Indian dinner!

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Vegan Instant Pot Chana Masala

My vegan Instant Pot Chana Masala is packed with authentic Indian flavor and rivals any restaurant dish, but is easy and quick to make!

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Vegan Mattar Tofu Paneer

Try this Vegan Mattar Tofu Paneer recipe by Eva of The Curious Chickpea is a must-try! A garam masala spiced tomato sauce is made creamy with cauliflower and coconut milk and is simmered with tofu and green peas for a delicious, medium spicy, Indian dish reminiscent of mattar paneer.

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Vegan Dal Makhani

My vegan remake of the classic Indian Dal Makhani that is creamy, buttery, and perfectly spiced. It’s the best thing you’ll eat all year!

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Instant Pot Vegetable Korma

This restaurant style creamy vegetable korma curry from Meeta of Piping Pot Curry is a perfect blend of vegetables with a creamy coconut based sauce. A vegan & gluten free curry that pairs perfectly with naan or rice.

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Restaurant-Style Vegan Malai Kofta

My Restaurant-Style Vegan Malai Kofta is the ultimate Indian comfort food! Crispy dumplings in a creamy, spiced curry that will excite your tastebuds! I’ve included detailed instructions for frying and baking, metric and imperial measurements, a soy-free option, and an in-depth cooking video with lots of tips!

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Gujarati Eggplant and Potato Curry

This dish by Aayushi of The Whisk Addict is a deliciously rich concoction of a tomato based curry, flavored delicately with garlic, peanuts and roasted gram flour.

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Vegan Pumpkin Curry with Tofu

My Vegan Pumpkin Curry with Tofu pairs authentic Indian flavors with a creamy pumpkin-coconut sauce made from whole pumpkin! It’s protein-packed and hearty, vegan and gluten-free, and nourishing.

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Restaurant-Style Vegan Dal Tadka

My Restaurant-Style Vegan Dal Tadka is the most flavorful dal and inspired by my childhood! A deeply spiced Indian lentil stew that’s healthy, vegan, and gluten-free, yet pure comfort food. Stovetop and Instant Pot directions.

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Instant Pot Rajma Chawal

This Instant Pot Rajma Chawal by Anvita & Soniya of The Belly Rules the Mind is a delicious meal your whole family will love. The Instant Pot makes preparing this hearty recipe easy for a busy night.

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Instant Pot Jackfruit Curry

An easy vegan Instant Pot curry that is bursting with flavor! Made with warm and aromatic Indian spices, jackfruit, sweet potatoes, and coconut milk, my Instant Pot curry is both vegan and Paleo and incredibly creamy! Plus, it’s quick to make and perfect for those busy weeknights.

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Chickpea Cauliflower Coconut Curry

This Cauliflower Chickpea Coconut Curry by Ashley of My Heart Beets is a pour and cook recipe made with wholesome, everyday ingredients and is very straightforward to make! You can make this recipe in an instant pot (Ashley’s preference) and on the stovetop.

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Indian Chickpea Sweet Potato Stew

A hearty, filling meal that’s 100% wholesome, my Indian Chickpea Sweet Potato Stew is the best of healthy comfort food. It’s vegan, gluten-free, and made with whole foods like sweet potatoes, chickpeas, warming Indian spices, and greens, but it feels like a cozy hug in a bowl!

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Desserts

Vegan Rasmalai Cake

Vegan Richa shares a dairy-free spin on the popular Bengali dessert Rasmalai, which is is typically served for Diwali. Moist almond and cashew flour cake squares are immersed in a rich and creamy cashew pistachio “milk” scented with saffron and cardamom.

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Chewy Vegan Chai-Spiced Cookies

My Chewy Vegan Chai-Spiced Cookies are inspired by Indian masala chai as well as oatmeal cookies, and feature a homemade chai spice blend. They’re healthy, vegan, gluten-free, and have no added oil, making them the perfect cozy but healthy breakfast, snack, or dessert.

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Carrot Halwa Trifle

Veggiecurean’s Carrot Halwa Trifle is a modern take on a traditional Indian dessert made with shredded carrots that are roasted and simmered with nuts, spices, and milk. Gajar Halwa tastes like a moist and spiced Indian carrot crumble. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free and soy-free.

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Paleo Kulfi (Indian Ice Cream)

This delicious cardamom-infused Indian ice cream by Ashley of My Heart Beets is about to become a summer staple. It doesn’t require an ice cream machine and is paleo, vegan and gluten-free!

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