25 Best Indian Vegetable Recipes

These hearty and delicious Indian vegetable recipes are proof you don’t need meat to make a meal filling.

They’re bright, fresh, and totally irresistible.

The Best Indian Vegetarian Recipes

Some of the best vegetarian food can be found on the Indian subcontinent.

They’ve pretty much mastered turning healthy veggies into soul-soothing comfort food. 

Indian cuisine is known for its bold dishes, loaded with spices and color. And these Indian vegetarian recipes are no exception.

So whether you’re on the hunt for meatless Monday meals or just feel like a healthy change, you’ll find more than one Indian vegetable recipe here to love.

20 Easy Indian Vegetable Recipes & Menu Ideas

1. Palak Paneer Bhurji

At first glance, palak paneer bhurji looks like a plate of scrambled eggs and veggies.

But it’s not made with eggs at all.

Palak panner bhurji features crumbly paneer sautéed with onions, garlic, chilis, tomatoes, and spinach.

It’s also very well spiced with cumin, ginger, chili, turmeric, and garam masala. Yum!

2. Malai Kofta

I’ll go out on a limb and liken this Indian vegetarian dish to grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Of course, there are a few differences. For example, there’s no actual sandwich element.

The “grilled cheese” in question is actually a vegetarian kofta.

The gravy is made with cashews, tomatoes, garlic, onion, and ginger simmered in water. Plus seasonings, of course.

3. Gobi Masala

If comfort food is what you’re looking for, you’ll find it in gobi masala.

It’s a rich, creamy cauliflower and yogurt dish that’s warm, boldly flavored, and utterly scrumptious. 

The sauce is similar to the gravy from the previous recipe. Serve it with naan or basmati rice. 

4. Matar Paneer

You’ll love this thick, saucy, and creamy matar paneer if you enjoy hearty stews in the winter.

It features a traditional tomato gravy, chunks of paneer cheese, and fresh peas. 

The resulting Indian vegetarian dish is healthy and textural yet creamy and completely soul-soothing.  

5. Hyderabadi Bagara Baingan (Indian Eggplant Curry)

This cozy recipe from Hyderabad is no mere eggplant dish. It’s no mere curry, either. This dish is special.

And it’s delectable.

Starring baby eggplants stuffed with a sweet and savory peanut coconut paste, it’s super unique and nutty. 

Add a spicy curry gravy, and the flavors are like fireworks in your mouth.

6. Misal Pav

This dish can be split into two main components: this misal and the pav.

Misal is a tasty, vegan curry made from bean sprouts, potatoes, and traditional spices.

Meanwhile, pav are traditional Indian bread buns that are wonderfully soft and pillowy.

Serve the pair together, and you’re all set.

7. Vegetable Sabji

Upgrade your roasted veggie game with this vegetable sabji recipe.

Here, the veggies aren’t roasted, the spices are too. And the veggies are sautéed in those spices until your kitchen smells fantastic. 

It’s quick, easy, and super yummy.

Serve it as a side dish to chicken, fish, pork, or tofu, and it might just steal the show. 

8. Rajma 

Rajma is to India as chili is to the southwest United States.

This vegetarian kidney bean curry is bursting with deliciousness. And it looks a heck of a lot like chili. 

You can eat it as a stew or serve it with rice. Either way, your taste buds will NOT be disappointed.

9. Bharwan Tinda

You’re gonna want to swipe right on this delicious bharwan tinda.

From the tinda squash stuffed with spices to the blend of curry and tomatoes, it’s hard to resist. 

If you can’t find tinda squash, you can replace it with summer squash or zucchini.  

10. Simple Indian Dal Tadka

Slow and steady wins the flavor race with this dal tadka.

Although I promise it’s not that slow – it only takes an hour. But in that hour, you’ll make a super delicious lentil curry. 

It features seasoned lentils topped with spiced, tempered ghee.

While it’s tempting to eat this by itself (and you certainly can), it’s extra delicious over basmati rice.   

11. Beans Poriyal

Beans poriyal is a super flavorful side dish you can serve with pretty much anything.

This dish highlights the deliciousness of green beans, stir-frying them in bold Indian seasonings, mustard, and curry. 

But my favorite part is the addition of toasted coconut.

It brings a light sweetness that’s makes these beans kind of addictive.  

12. Pav Bhaji

Remember the pav from recipe six? Well, it’s making a comeback in this delicious street food favorite. 

Bhaji is a curry made with tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, peas, and a ton of spices. It’s soft and delicious.

And it’s perfect for dipping. That’s where the pav comes in. 

13. Gobi Matar (Indian Stir Fry Cauliflower Peas)

You can’t go wrong with a good vegetable stir -ry. It’s simple, healthy, and in this case, super flavorful. 

Gobi matar calls for cauliflower florets and peas sautéed with onions, ginger, and plenty of spices.

Top with fresh cilantro, and enjoy!

Oh, and this dish is gluten-free and vegan, so it’s ideal for everyone at the table. 

14. Dal Makhani

This simple and delicious dal is extremely nutritious!

You can’t go wrong with ingredients like black lentils, kidney beans, tomatoes, garlic, and onions. 

It’s also surprisingly indulgent. Cream and butter add a level of lusciousness that makes this one of my favorite Indian vegetarian recipes.

Of course, it’s also bursting with flavorful spices. 

15. Aloo Methi

Are you ready to meet your new favorite potato side dish? This fantastically flavorful and simple dish is a dream. 

It features tender potatoes tossed in sautéed fenugreek leaves and green chilis.

You also get a savory, peppery bite from mustard oil and hing.

If you can’t find hing, add some onion and garlic powder instead.

16. Easy Palak Paneer

Think back to the very first recipe on this list – the cheesy spinach dish. Well, this one is very similar, yet somehow totally different.

But they both star paneer cheese and spinach. 

Here, golden chunks of paneer sit in a creamy spinach sauce seasoned with traditional Indian spices. 

I recommend making a lot because palak paneer makes for amazing leftovers.

17. Al Yakhni

This recipe might be simple, but its flavors are not.

It also makes a wonderfully light yet filling lunch. 

This recipe features fried slices of bottle gourd (calabash) served in a yummy yogurt curry.

If you can’t find calabash, you can substitute acorn or butternut squash. 

18. Chana Masala

This creamy and comforting dish is as delicious as it is wholesome.

Not only is it bursting with flavor, but it’s chock-full of plant-based protein, thanks to all those chickpeas. 

It also has cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, chili powder, garam masala, cumin, coriander, and more! 

It’s completely vegan, too. 

19. Kurkuri Bhindi

For many people in the States, fried okra is nothing new. But I bet you’ve never had it like this!

Kurkuri bhindi is the perfect side dish or salty snack. It’s incredibly flavorful, and it has a fabulous crunch.

The okra is first coated in a sweet and savory seasoning blend. And then, it’s covered in gram flour (chickpea flour).

20. Indian Vegetable Korma

There’s no better way to combat cold days than with warm, hearty food.

This Indian vegetarian dish is thick, creamy, and loaded with veggies. 

Filled with potatoes, peas, carrots, tomatoes, and green beans and served in a flavorful sauce, it’s insanely good.

The sauce is made with coconut milk, yogurt, cashews, onions, garlic, jalapeños, and ginger.

21. Aloo Palak

This Indian spinach and potato recipe is full of flavor and spices.

It also offers a burst of garlic and citrus flavors. It works well as a hearty main dish, thanks to the potatoes.

But if your menu doesn’t have to be vegetarian, you can definitely serve this as a side dish.

22. Paneer Jalfrezi

This tasty recipe is made with peppers, and it pairs perfectly with homemade naan.

It has chunks of onion, bell peppers, and tomatoes, all coated in a spicy gravy.

It couldn’t be easier to make and only takes 20 minutes!

23. Onion Tomato Raita

This incredible side dish combines yogurt, onion, tomato, and green chilies.

It works particularly well with Indian rice dishes.

But since it has a dip-like consistency, you can also serve it with naan or homemade pita chips.

24. Cilantro Mint Chutney

This chutney is so easy to make, and it’s superb on kebabs, sandwiches, and samosas.

In addition to cilantro and mint, this tasty sauce features garlic, cumin, ginger, green chili, and lime juice.

I love it on the above mentioned foods, but also veggies and grilled meats.

25. Homemade Naan

Perhaps no Indian feast is complete without homemade naan bread.

This recipe is one of the very best! It does take quite a bit of time to put together.

But believe me, once you try the homemade version, you’ll never want store-bought naan again.

It’s to die for!