India is a land of different cultures and food is one of the main components which makes India, India. So here are the most popular vegetable dishes from the country.
If there is one thing that is more famous than India’s culture, clothes, beautiful scenic views, sports, and the entire nation is Indian food. The country is especially known for its cuisine which has millions of fans all around the world. Even India’s chicken tikka masala won the honor of being the most popular dish in London! But not many people know that the country produces equally tasty and more diverse vegetarian dishes as well as its chicken tikkas, butter naans, and lamb biryanis. So let’s get on this tour where you will meet the most popular top 10 famous Indian vegetarian dishes. But we cannot guarantee that by the end of this read, you will not experience water in your mouth!!!
- Gobi Matar
If there is one dish that will explode with flavors of different kinds the minute you put them in your mouth is this Gobi matar. A very popular vegetarian dish that you can see being made in almost every Indian household at least once a month is this dish prepared with cauliflower and peas. This simple, lip-smacking, and rich with Indian flavors gobi matar can elevate any food but its real taste comes out when it is served with hot white rice or roti. This popular dish originated in this country and is cooked in a rich onion-tomato gravy that is popularly eaten in the winter.
- Chana Masala
Chana masala is a speciality of North India which is arguably the most popular vegetarian dish in the country. Tasty and rich in flavors, chana masala can be consumed with naan, roti, and white rice. It is almost a staple food of Indian households but can be seen eaten as a snack in street stalls. Made with chickpeas, and made with onion, garlic, tomato, and other rich Indian spices, Chana masala is often served with a dollop of cream or yogurt. Due to its popularity, it now has different variations where people sometimes throw in some potatoes to make aloo chana as well.
- BharliVangi
Who knew eggplants could be this good? If you are not a fan of this particular bright purple vegetable you might wanna think again because BharliVangi is completely addictive. Originating mainly from Maharashtra, India, this recipe of stuffed brinjal or eggplant is an absolute game changer. You might want to make it with baby eggplants where the stuffing contains Indian spices, roasted peanut powder, and dried coconut. BharliVangi is best eaten with roti and white rice.
- Rajma
When people think vegetarian food cannot be rich in protein and taste amazing at the same time, they never had Rajma in their lives. Made with red kidney beans, Rajma is yet another popular dish that originated in Northern India. Served best alongside roti or hot white rice, the main component of the dish, red kidney beans, was originally brought from Mexico. But the taste and preparations of both the Indian Rajma and Mexican beans are completely different.
- Palak Paneer
Panner is the Indian tofu that is high in protein and tastes lip-smackingly good at the same time. There are various dishes popular in India that are made with paneer or cottage cheese, but the most popular is when the dish contains both paneer and palak. Spinach is known as palak in India and together with paneer, it can make any meal feel fulfilled. Best served with roti, palak paneer has its roots in Punjab. Highly nutritious and made with Indian spices and love, this dish can be consumed at any time of the day.
- Methi Aloo
Indians are big fans of potatoes and they like it spicy! Methi aloo is a winter favorite that contains methi or fenugreek leaves and potatoes. Even if it sounds a bit bland, one thing is for sure, methi aloo will bring you the warmth in winter that you cannot escape. A staple in Indian household kitchens, this dish is one of the most popular vegetarian dishes in India that can create magic with the spices. This dish is best served with roti in the winter.
- Malai Kofta
We have another North Indian staple in this list which is malai kofta. If you are already a fan of the creamy and buttery texture of butter chicken then think of this as the vegetarian version of that. Malai kofta is a rich, creamy, spicy, and flavorful dish that contains potatoes and fried paneer balls in gravy. This dish can be seen served at family functions, festivals, or any special occasion as it is considered a rich dish due to its creamy texture. This is a part of typical Mughal cuisine which the cooks of the Mughal Empire developed during Medieval India, and works as a substitute for the meatball curry.
- Dal Tadka
Tadkewali dal or dal tadka is a lentil-based soup that is another staple Indian vegetarian dish that can be seen in almost every Indian household. Originating from parts of Northern India, the dish has different variations and is equally popular in every state of the country. Usually prepared with toordaal or split yellow pigeon peas, the most special part of the making of this dish is definitely the tadka, or known as tampering. Popular Indian spices like asafoetida, chili peppers, and garlic are cooked in ghee and then this tadka is put in the cooked daal to give it a rich aroma and taste.
- Dum Aloo
What was said about Indians and potatoes before? That’s right. So here is another popular Indian vegetarian dish that will explode your mouth with richness and flavor. This is another winter special dish that is usually cooked with small baby potatoes but you can try this with large potatoes and it will give you the same taste. The gravy is spicy, creamy and so flavorful that it will make you see potatoes in a whole different way. This popular dish is best served with flat Indian bread or white rice.
- Pav Bhaji
One of the most popular Indian street foods, Pav bhaji can give proper competition to any other vegetarian dish. This simple street snack originated in Maharashtra by street vendors as a midnight meal in the 1850s. The vendors cooked the bhaji with all the leftover vegetables from the day and then mashed and combined them with spices and ghee or butter. What started as a midnight meal of the vendors soon became really popular as a street snack, served with soft bread.
So, what are you waiting for? Order these or make it yourself at home today and feel the best taste of vegetables today!
